I recently read a book called Return
From Tomorrow by George Richie. It is a true story about a man that dies as
a solider and has an out of body experience where he meets Christ before
returning to his body. In this experience Christ shows him around the spirit
world. Richie is amazed by all the spirits in spirit prison that are so caught
up in their addictions (from drugs and alcohol to things like lust and anger)
that they are unable to feel the presence and love radiating from their Savior
standing right next to them. Even more confounding is when Christ takes Richie
to a place where everyone is a seemingly good person but stuck in their thirst
for knowledge that they completely miss the Being with all the knowledge of the
universe. This experience seems to be
trying to teach the same message as Dallin H. Oaks. It is not enough to simply
know something; we must be truly converted in order to become something.
Oaks further explains, “To testify is to know and to declare. The gospel challenges us to be “converted,” which
requires us to do and to become. If any of us relies solely upon our knowledge and
testimony of the gospel, we are in the same position as the blessed but still
unfinished Apostles whom Jesus challenged to be “converted.” We all know
someone who has a strong testimony but does not act upon it so as to be
converted.”
In order
to “become” we must look unto Christ in everything. In Return From Tomorrow
Richie stated, “If I wanted that nearness of Christ, I would have to find it in
the people He put before me each day.” I love that. Not only are we trying to
be like Him and follow in His footsteps but we can also seek Him in those around
us giving us a great capacity for love.
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