Fun Surprises

Something fun and awesome happened today. I basically live in the mission field, but I am strictly forbidden from preaching. What a fun balance that is. Well I found out I am validating a final, and have an A in several classes! And then one of my friends, who constantly challenges my beliefs and seeks to use logic to modify my faith, decided to ask me a real tough question. One that any member of the church who wishes to stand by true doctrine will struggle with. He asked, "So did Joseph Smith (he's educated enough to know it's not John Smith) really say that the Book of Mormon was the most correct book on earth?" Dang! Either someone did their research or read something anti. Especially to have the quote so perfect.

I told him matter of factly yes he had. My friend is not particularly religious, but loves to punch holes in faulty religions. So he got a confused look on his face and said "even the bible?" Dang, this is really getting tough fast. Yep, even the bible I told him. I can see the thought cross his mind, "Ok, now Deakins has lost it." So I quickly jump in to tell him to think about the time, there were so many versions of the bible and many of the doctrines and truths had been changed through bad translation that at the time the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth. Because he is of a strong logical mind he immediately grabbed the idea and accepted it. He knew/knows the bible has errors because he likes to exploit those errors, and so it would make sense that a book recently translated by a prophet could say that the book is the most correct on earth. 

I knew it was a close call, and then he asked "so are you allowed to drink hot chocolate?" Now I know what happened, he encountered anti. Nothing else would get a the specifics of doctrine like anti would. So I thoroughly confirmed that I love hot cider and chocolate. Then he admitted his friend had sent him an e-mail, I looked at him and said "it was anti-mormon wasn't it?" This big smile crossed his face as he knew he'd been had. "yeah." Thankfully, he trusted me to shoot straight with him and was willing to consider me a higher authority than the anti. I know this is not typical of him because he would never ask a catholic or protestant to clarify, he would consider them uneducated about their own religion. But not me, and may have been the biggest compliment I have received in a while. 

Moral of the story. Study to know your doctrine in life. Question your doctrine so you will " be ready always to give ban answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you." (1 Peter 3:15) If you can question your doctrine and find answers, your own faith grows and you are more prepared for tough situations. I have to say I never thought this friend, my old roommate and main bully for several months, would develop this trust in me nor did I think we would become this close of friends. Happy stuff.