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Cold, Hard Faith

peter

March 6, 2015

peterPeter van der Walt

Read the Book of Mormon daily. Ponder its meaning. And pray. Don’t forget to pray. Why?

Sure… I’ve heard it all before: The book is fiction, written by a man. And not a very good man, at that. The book has problems and issues throughout. It’s a waste of time. Why can’t you just get on with life and leave all that behind you? Turn your back on it – it’s all nonsense and they’ll NEVER accept you.

I’ve seen all the memes telling me everything that is wrong with the Church, its founding Prophet and the Scripture. I’m regularly (if not, so to speak, religiously) outraged at the latest utterances and/or political activity out of Salt Lake.

As an aspiring member (an incorrect assumption, but not an unfair one, I suppose) I won’t be allowed to smoke, drink, visit Starbucks, watch Game of Thrones or same-sex marry. Cool with everything on the list… except maybe Game of Thrones. I love that debauched show.

Oh yeah… and the gay marriage thing.

I’m gay, you see. Not same sex attracted. Not struggling with unwanted feelings. Not confused about my gender. Not fallen into immorality. Just plain gay. In a loving, committed, supportive, complementary and awesome relationship. So the marriage thing is kind of relevant to me. It’s personal, see? That’s why I take it personally.

I live in challenging times in a challenging place. I work for a living and I have enough dysfunction in my dirty-bomb nuclear family to keep me busy into the next three decades. I have to be many things to many people… an employee, a supplier, a customer, a hack, a counselor, a friend, a brother, a son and a partner.

Also – I’m relatively well educated and semi streetwise. I didn’t grow up home schooled on some compound. I’ve been exposed: to Christopher Hitchens and Bill Maher and Richard Dawkins and all the others. I really am far too smart to be religious, surely. I really have to evolve beyond some petty, unfounded, misguided belief.

Thing is… life is never that clear cut. Or simple. Or black and white.

Because, as bad an example as I may be for anything “Mormon” – the fact is that the Book of Mormon changed my life. In a way no one but a convert can ever truly understand.

I read it – cynically at first, then skeptically, then critically and finally… with reverence.

My facebook feed can throw every meme in the manual at me… it wouldn’t change this fundamental truth:

I did not believe in God. Then the Book came. And then I believed… and once I believed, I could never again un-believe.

I don’t expect people to universally respect my faith. I can’t even expect most people to understand it.

And I can’t claim to be worthy of whatever it is that would cause anyone to recommend me for a temple.

My life is my temple. I wasn’t nurtured to get here… there wasn’t the option.

I just somehow got this far by myself… and I know now that God helped me. Carried me, even.

That much I can unequivocally state I KNOW to be true.

You see… I’m no one’s idea of a spiritual person. I was an outsider, an outcast, a homeless youth, a banished child, a not-nearly-good-enough pervert, most of my life.

I heard THAT message from my family, I heard that message from my schools and I heard that message from certainly every church I came into contact with. At some stage I even decided that was okay. I’ll just reject them long before they even get the chance. And more – I’ll actively combat them.

But then came the curveball.

I won’t argue with the learned scholars about what they say is true. Or historically accurate. Or the nature of 18th century literature. Or the evidences for the Book. One way – or the other – I don’t particularly care.

You see… when God found me… it didn’t matter that I wasn’t the Poster Boy from a TBM background that stretched back a zillion generations to handcart pioneers who ate nothing but cabbage and drank nothing but pure spring water.

It didn’t matter to Him that I was a hard living, over thinking, angry young gentile with more character flaws than letters in my full names.

It didn’t matter that I already studied, and knew, and rejected, all the religions of the world. And disliked their followers profoundly.

It didn’t matter that I left home early… or did what I had to do to get by and live.

When faith came – it arrived gradually. But soon it grew. It became real to me. And it became big.

Sure – that is subjective. Sure – that isn’t empirical evidence. Sure – it won’t stand up in a religious court.

But in the middle of a dark, lonely and hopelessly Non Mormon world… through the pages of whatever kind of book written by whatever kind of sources…

A hand came down and lifted me up.

I didn’t deserve it.

I wasn’t qualified.

It made about as much sense as all the ridiculous doctrines I’ve already rejected, with extreme prejudice, for years.

But there it was.

There was a force in my life… one that I couldn’t measure, or quantify, or explain. OR explain away.

There was something around that wasn’t contrary to science or reason – but above it.

There was a glimmer of hope. The seed of the idea that I was not an accident of circumstance who came from nowhere and was on its way to nowhere. A plan. A home. A people. A Heavenly Father.

There was right and wrong – outside and independent of men with their little views and their little ideologies. Something bigger and greater than all of us. Even me. Even you.

And once that was revealed to me, there would be no turning back.

On the one hand: No outrageous proclamations. No amount of political doublespeak. No rejections. But also: No amount of mockery or disdain. No amount of oversimplification.

That may not sit well with you… whether you are an angry Ex-Mo, a Recommend Wielding Priesthood Holder, or anyone of a million different kinds of Mormon.

But you see… I don’t particularly care. Unless you were the one who lifted me up… who saved my life… who took me in… who welcomed me into the loving, awesome presence… I really don’t care what you think of my faith. I believe now… and I answer to God alone.

It may not be something you understand, or want to. It may not be something you feel is worthy. It may not be True, according to your definition of the word. It may not be as gentle and compassionate and respectful and accommodating and orthodox and traditional as you are accustomed to.

And this faith has grown… as I’ve met people who inspired me. Waters… even oceans… have parted. The impossible has become commonplace. Blessings have come about. Miracles worked. Ask me about it one day… and if the time is right I will tell you.

It’s what I have.

It’s all I have.

And it is what it is. It’s mine. It’s meaningful. And it matters to me.

That’s it. It’s not an agenda. It’s not zealotry. It’s not craziness. It’s just the cold, hard, faith.

12 Comments

  1. Terri Barnett on March 9, 2015 at 10:54 AM

    Thank you for you heart felt honesty. I hope that one day someone or thing will lift my son up to know what you know. God lives he loves all his children. And will go to and will go to any lengths to gather them under his wings of love. He is infinite Love and want all His children to be lifted and return to Him. I have faith that my son will be reached and saved from his destructive path.

  2. Cindy Yaxxie on March 10, 2015 at 11:13 PM

    Thank you for your testimony. It’s beautiful. You did deserve it…you do deserve it. God loves you. He knows your name.
    Thank you for sharing.

  3. James Weller on March 10, 2015 at 11:43 PM

    Peter, if that be your actual name (“Van der Walt” ‘From the Woods’), it sounds really cool either way, thank you. Thank you for articulating what has to be one of the most moving testimonies I have ever read. For the first time I desire to attend an Affirmation conference. That was beautiful. Thank you.

  4. Robert on March 11, 2015 at 4:50 AM

    This made me re-evaluate my position. Thanks Peter. I don’t know what to do with this, but thanks for making me think.

  5. Kay Johnson on March 11, 2015 at 10:52 AM

    This is the most powerful thing I have read on this topic. It’s all about faith and you clearly get that! I am blessed today because you shared your testimony! Thank you.

  6. Garret Cook on March 11, 2015 at 2:44 PM

    feel in love with your heart…

  7. Anita Stephens on March 12, 2015 at 8:23 AM

    I was at the conference that day and heard this testimony. and reading it again today has brought back all those feelings and emotions as when I was there. Thank you for your courage and example. Very powerful

  8. Susan on March 12, 2015 at 11:07 AM

    Thankyou for your comments and your testimony. I’m a Recommend Wielding RS sister who has two gay daughters. Obviously they have struggled with the church’s view on same sex attraction, and now they no longer attend church. How do you do it? I hope you don’t mind me asking, but do you go to church? I would love to know how you make it work.
    Sue

  9. Jules on March 12, 2015 at 11:30 AM

    Profound and inspiring. Thank you for being willing to put yourself out there and share your story and your conviction of what you believe.

  10. leon on March 12, 2015 at 11:34 AM

    you don’t have to be LdS/Mormon to believe the Book Of Mormon … you can be a member of the church called Community of Christ.. you don’t have to give up coffee in that church and you can be married to your same gender partner, all the while believing and accepting the Book of Mormon.

  11. renee raiteri on March 12, 2015 at 11:37 AM

    absolutely tripping over myself with a grateful heart & good fortune to read this most poignant & beautiful testament of faith…thank you for sharing your eloquent & thought provoking message. I stand , raise my right hand & sustain you as my brother. I know our Father smiles upon you. love

  12. Frank W. Hays on March 29, 2015 at 9:43 PM

    I felt touched profoundly by your words and faith. I can so relate in many ways I cannot begin to explain. My life has been a long journey touched by so many souls. You have joined that list, even if we should never meet, we have had a meaningful connection. Hope you write here again soon.

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