DAY 35 - GENERAL CONFERENCE PROTESTORS

There are a few things that I truly enjoy about living in Utah: the variety of seasons throughout the year, the beauty of the fall colors, the pleasant nature of people in general, and being able to attend General Conference. Yesterday morning I drove up to SLC and spent the day on Temple Square and at the Conference Center.

   It was a beautiful day, with blue skies, gentle breezes, and happy and friendly people filling the streets of Downtown Salt Lake. I took my laptop along, did a little scripture reading, a bit of journaling, and a short nap on the lawn near the Tabernacle. Lots of families with young kids running around, hordes of teenagers traveling en masse, and older couples walking along hand-in-hand – everyone just enjoying a beautiful day.

   General Conference is always uplifting and cup-filling. Words of hope and affirmations, gently encouraging us all to be better people and live better lives. And I have been blessed in my life to know a few of these outstanding leaders, and they truly live the types of lives that they compel us all to live. And it really is simple: just do good things with good hearts every single day.

   Along with the spiritually buoying messages of conference is the simple comfort of being part of something of such positive influence in the world as the LDS Church. When you sit there in the Conference Center among 21,000 other Mormons, you realize just how big an organization the now 15 million member LDS Church has become.

   Regardless of your religious affiliations or opinions, organized religion has a dynamic power around the globe. No one can discount the power for good that Mother Theresa had – not only because of her good-natured heart, but because of the strength of organized religion that she was able to rally.

   Which is why I don’t understand the zealots that stand on the street outside of General Conference bellowing their dissent. Did Mormons show up outside of his peaceful religious gathering and shout unkind words about his beliefs? I find it offensive that people would intrude on an event that brings me such peace and happiness. It baffles me that people can be so offensive, and claim their acts in the name of God. That is not the God I know – the God I know is a God of love, who welcomes all and allows us each to honor Him in our own loving ways.

   Quite honestly, I think that some of them show up to protest – just to protest. From their rants it's obvious that they haven't done their homework and they know nothing about the Mormon Religion. These radicals have the gall to tell me that I'm not Christian and I don't believe in the Holy Bible and other such nonsense. Really? Because I AM Christian, I DO believe in the Holy Bible, and I am a Mormon. If you're going to stand on the street corner and raise a ruckus, at least get your facts straight.

   How grateful I am for the Spontaneous Choir that gathered, standing against the walls of Temple Square, and beautifully sang hymns in peaceful retort. These Mormons (mostly Young Adults) did not confront the zealots, did not respond with taunts about the beliefs of the protestors, did not try to Bible-Battle there on the sidewalk. They simply sang. They stood there with hymnals in hand and sang songs of praise to God. And singing hymns of love is the perfect response to the hatred being shouted.

   Now THAT is the type of protest I can get behind. Maybe next Conference I will grab a hymnal and stand on the street corner and sing hymns.