Well That Was Easy

Work started late today, as it is Saturday and Manasseh and Elizabeth believe we need to rest, so we planned on being picked up to go to the office about 10. By the time 12:00 rolled around, someone was on their way to get us. Now the biggest reason that this was highly unfortunate is that we were supposed to have a meeting today on Microfinance, where it is going, and how Kingsbridge fits into the new development. This meeting was with a board member (1 of4) and it was now too late for us to go through all the information needed. So we talked with him for awhile, along with two others who accompanied him (friends, not tied to Kingsbridge). Josh and I received assignments to report on what we learn while we are here, specifically doing a kind of feasibility study, and growth plans for Kingsbridge’s future. It should be interesting…

Through this discussion it was mentioned that I was from Utah. After our semi-group meeting ended, one of the board member’s friends – Ben – asked if, being from Utah, I was Mormon. He apparently listens to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir nearly every morning (he has several of their CD’s, including the Christmas Program) and has visited several temples that he describes as “beautiful”. He also especially likes the song “I Believe in Christ”. He confirmed that the founder of the church is Joseph Smith, and asked if it was he that stands on top of the temples. I told him, no, it is actually angel Moroni who stands atop each temple. This drew the question – and who is Moroni? He is the last prophet in the Book of Mormon. What is the Book of Mormon, like the Bible? We believe in the Bible, but also that there is more scripture, the Book of Mormon. A family who lived with the Jews at the time of King Zedekiah received revelation to leave. They were led to cross the ocean and lived in the Americas. The Book of Mormon is a record of their prophets and revelations, just like the Bible. When Christ told the apostles that He was going to visit his other sheep, we believe He came and visited the people in the Americas. It talks about Christ’s coming. Is that before or after Christ ascended? I’m not sure… I actually have my scriptures here, we can pull it out and look at it. (Pull out Book of Mormon) We get caught looking at the pictures in the front – who is this? Joseph Smith. What is this picture? This is Lehi – the first prophet – and his family. This picture? Samuel the Lamanite. This one is Christ when he appeared to the people. This last picture is of the prophet Moroni. He looks like a native American, Yes we believe that the current native Americans are descendants from these people it talks about in the Book of Mormon. All of their prophets and apostles were killed, just like in the Middle East, and so they did not have the gospel anymore. But some of the Native American religious ideas really tie into the Book of Mormon. For example, the Aztecs believing Cortes to be Quezotcoatyl.

Can I hold it? Of course! We turn to 3 Nephi 10, where Christ appears. He starts reading through the first few verses.. I pull out my scriptures (my quad, he has my Book of Mormon from Alan) and start looking up the same to find when exactly Christ came. So is that your Bible? Yes, well, it has the Bible in the front, and Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants in the back. D&C is a record of the revelations of Joseph Smith. I’ll have to look this up when I get home. Oh, no, have this book. Really. (A debate continues of whether he can accept the book, because I have a letter in the front couple pages from Alan. We conclude that he can, and I tear out the front two pages that include the letter.) It all ended with me writing my name and email address on the title page, and I’m hoping to get an email! He is flying out of Ghana later today, headed toward home in Michigan.. I hope he decides to do some reading!