To My Family, Friends, and Those Who Know Me Not

I have a relative, many actually. This one particular relative has expressed how he/she thinks that I am too religious! This proclamation has been something that has befuddled me for a while since. I grew up without religion. I believe that man has distorted religion I have come to know the truth about religion. I don't think of myself as a religious person! Sure I go to church regularly, try to do what is right, believe in Jesus, Heavenly Father and The Holy Ghost, but I don't consider myself religious at all! How can I go to church and not consider myself religious? I have already stated that I think mankind has distorted religion. I just know why we are here, where we came from and where we are going after this mortal life. With that being said there is one church upon this earth that teaches all truths about those 3 aspects of our lives. It is Jesus' church and He and Heavenly Father will always help us when we are humble and pure of intent. I had a grandmother who passed away a little over a year ago and her funeral was conducted by a church that she attended that was not Jesus' church. I am not going to name this denomination but her funeral was a big let down. I had heard that even with non-secular funeral ceremonies, not long before her passing, that the spirit can still be way strong even with a ceremony carried out by a church that is not of Jesus' church. I went to this ceremony/funeral with an open mind and high hopes that we would be able to feel of the spirit strongly and know that there was love in the room. It became apparent that during this so called "family prayer" before the funeral was to take place that this wasn't going to be one of these strong spiritual experiences! This person, whom was the leader of this particular congregation, had no clue what he was saying. I don't like to go to funerals period, so I don't go to many but this was the worst one I had ever attended. Sure I loved my grandma and I now know that her funeral wishes were met with this church. I am 99% sure that she, having the veil removed her after passing from this mortality, knows now that this particular church wasn't even close to preaching the truth. I say 99% because even beyond this life we will still have the right to believe what we want and still deny Christ if we so desire. Why, would one deny Christ let alone his church after having all knowledge from before is brought back to us once the veil has been lifted? I have thoughts/knowledge on that subject as well but won't dive into those as of yet. This leader of this church, whom is a paid clergyman (which is wrong within itself) of this sect just liked hearing the sound of his own voice. Sure he mentioned some passages out of the bible, which I am pretty sure wasn't a King James version unless they just totally misconstrue a ton of things in their church? Who knows? I have told other family members that I cannot see how anyone can go through life without the church in their lives. I am not saying any church obviously, example above! This one relative, mentioned above, also says that he/she doesn't believe in Jesus! This is heartbreaking to hear. He/she has had a rough life and is probably soured to the entire idea of "why/how could God let this happen to me?" You have heard the same story from all of those non-believers who blame God for what has gone wrong in their lives and/or shut Him out of their lives thinking that He can't exist. He can't exist because if he did, these things wouldn't have happened to me! On that note I always have the same 2 responses! A. Everything that is bad upon this earth is brought about by Satan! B. Who suffered the worst in this existence? If you are a believer you know that answer to also be the only person whom was "perfect!" So on that note about people's arguments about life not being fair they should take into consideration that God, gave his only begotten son. This Son was the perfect example, led the perfect life, and yet was the one who more than we will ever know or imagine! Back to the funeral for my grandma I wanted to grab the microphone from this person and just tell everyone who was there that this wasn't right. He is not telling you truthful things and he is most likely upset he had to give up his Saturday for this funeral, but the blow was softened when he received his paycheck for giving up his Saturday. I am not saying this gentleman is Satan or anything like that, he is just ignorant to the truth or if he knows the truth has chosen to follow natural urges over trying to live the way Heavenly Father and Jesus wants us to live. Why didn't I grab the microphone from this guy? It wasn't the right time. It was my grandma's time no matter how wrong the information was. It was her earthly/mortal wishes that were met and I didn't want to intrude on her wishes. I did hope that whatever this dude was saying wasn't sinking in as doctrine that was to be followed by my family members who have no religion! I haven't heard of anyone from the family suddenly taking up this religion since her funeral so for that I am grateful. What is Jesus' church you may be asking if you have taken the time to read this much? It is the Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder-Day Saints. The LDS (Mormon church-which is a nickname) church is the only true church on this earth. As a little lad growing up I had seen the Idaho Falls temple and I knew that I was going to go there someday. Why would a pre-teen think/know this if he hadn't ever been to church before in his life? I also knew that marriage was an eternal concept. Why would anyone only want to live with the person that they fell in love with and be devoted to only him or her for this short mortal lifetime? It is the only church that has the priesthood power to marry couples for all eternity and not just until "death do you part!" how did I know of these things without ever being taught them? It was the Holy Ghost that gave me this knowledge! There are hundreds of churches upon this earth and it can probably seem overwhelming to those who want to know God and Jesus and just do not know where to start. This was the issue that a young boy in New York was plagued with in the year of 1820. After reading a scripture in the bible (James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him) was decided to do just that! When Joseph Smith was 14 years old, he wanted to know which church he should join, so he asked God in sincere prayer. In response to this prayer, God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph and told him the true Church of Jesus Christ was not on the earth and They had chosen Joseph to restore it. I had felt the Holy Ghost in my life before, telling me not to steal, to obey the teachings of my parents, when to avoid danger and so on, but it wasn't until I was taught the fundamentals of this church that I was so struck with the spirit (Holy Ghost) so strongly that I was unable to speak! I was asked a certain question after hearing the truths of the gospel that were being taught one day by the missionaries and I could not respond. Tears filled my eyes and my chest could barely contain that heart within my chest! I have had this glorious feeling time after time since that day and since being baptized and confirmed a member of Jesus' church. Knowing that I am going to be together "forever" and not just until "death do us part" with my wife gives me this feeling. Knowing that I am sealed together forever with my children also fills me with the spirit as well. It baffles me that people go throughout this life without the one true church let alone any church at all. I cannot remember where I heard this analogy before but it conveys my thoughts on the subject. If our life was a simple walk and from time to time we had to cross fast flowing rivers there would be a few of us who would simply walk over a bridge that is there for us to use. Most of mankind, however, would try with all their might to cross these rivers by wading across or renting rafts that are not strong enough to withstand the fast flowing waters! The Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder-Day Saints is that bridge! You don't have to drown in the rough waters of life. There is a bridge that Jesus has built to help you cross those rivers each and every time you come to one of these trials in life. Sure the wind may blow, or there may be rain or snow, or the bridge will be icy but why would you ever try and swim? Life is hard enough why would you let Satan win? Satan wants you to be discouraged and hopeless! He doesn't want you to know that Jesus and Heavenly Father love us and want nothing more than to have us find the gospel! I am here for that one relative that thinks I am "too religious," I am here for those family and friends that are struggling and don't know where to turn. I promise you that I know the Church is true. Life doesn't have to be a hard journey upon which you have no hope. I love each and every one of you so much. It is my prayer that you all can know of this truth and the blessings that come with it. It is my prayer that I be not the only one in my family that has these blessings! It is my prayer that you don't wait until you pass from this life and realize that I was correct about this church. If that is the case then Satan was able to throw wrench in the works and hinder your happiness as well as your eternal blessings.