Sunday, November 15, 2020

Inclusive

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is inclusive. It is the gift of our Heavenly Parents unto all their children.

If only the children of these loving Parents would also be inclusive!

2nd Nephi 26:25
Come unto me, all ye ends of the earth, buy milk & honey, without money, without price.

2nd Nephi 26:28
Behold hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, nay, but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.

2nd Nephi 26:33
. . . and He invited them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness, and He deny it none that come unto him, black and white, Bond and free, male and female, and He remembered with the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and gentile.

Mark 16:15 
Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

And who is my neighbor?

Elder Ballard October 2001 
"I have never heard the members of this church urge to be anything but loving, kind, tolerant, and benevolent to our friends and neighbors of other faiths. The Lord expects a great deal from us. Parents, please teach your children and practice yourselves the principle of inclusion of others and not exclusion because of religious, political, or cultural differences.

First presidency statement February 15th 1978
Our message... is one of special love and concern for the eternal welfare of all men and women, regardless of religious belief, race or nationality, knowing that we are truly brothers and sisters because we are sons and daughters of the same Eternal Father.

Elder Ballard continues:
"That is our doctrine - a doctrine of inclusion. That is what we believe. That is what we have been taught. Of all people on this earth, we should be the most loving, the kindest, and the most tolerant because of that doctrine.

Great Article: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is inclusive - not exclusive. Deseret News December 30th 2012 Christine Frederickson
"We all have our own unique comfort zone and its accompanying exclusions. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ we are asked to break down those walls and to welcome everyone into our circle. We aren't going to be best friends with everyone but after all, we claim to be disciples of Jesus Christ and he said "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples. If you have loved one to another."

We are all exclusive to some extent.  We are not comfortable around everyone in the world.  We seek our own comfort zone as regards to many, many issues.  But that does not mean we are mean or unkind.  We are never excused from treating others kindly and with respect.  And more importantly, to acknowledge that we are all children of God and He loves all of us equally.  We are not "special" in His eyes and more favorably looked upon because we are members of His church.  He is just counting on us to reflect what we have been taught of Him so that others, seeing us, may be drawn to seek for Him. 

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