After four full days of conversations with members of the LDS community, many of us returned to the ranch at the end of our last day drained and burdened. My conversations throughout the week were a great encouragement to me, as I got to see firsthand the many ways God is working in Utah. But these same conversations were also a weight to me, as I had met so many sincere, kind, and selfless individuals, earnestly striving for a salvation they can never arrive at. Every person I spoke with was heavy on my mind as I entered our last time of worship together in Utah.
As we stood to sing, “King of Kings” began to play, and this song that hadn’t particularly stood out to me before suddenly became so meaningful to me.
As we sang lines and phrases like, “three in one”, “there was mercy in Your eyes”, “this Gospel truth of old shall not kneel, shall not faint”, and “in His freedom I am free”, I was filled with an awe and gratitude for the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He sent (John 17:3). These truths about Yahweh and His Son Jesus are seen far more clearly and beautifully when we obey and live for Him.
Although these things about God, namely His grace and Trinitarian nature, were already important to me, it wasn’t until I had talked with people who don’t have that God and fought for these truths that I really felt a true gratitude for who God is. Although I don’t believe mission trips and spiritual conversations are the only way to feel this kind of gratitude and awe, I now understand these things to be critical in deepening our understanding. We cannot expect to have a meaningful knowledge and relationship with God if we are not obeying His great commission to spread the Gospel. True thankfulness comes from faithfulness.
Overall, my time in Utah was both heavy and encouraging, breaking my heart for those with a false Gospel, propelling me to do something about this problem, and deepening my love and knowledge of God’s good character.
Elise Hermiz, Class of 2027
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