I'm grateful

Before I went in to work today, I was checking out Facebook... of course, and I noticed a message thread for a TV station.  I'm guessing it was for Utah, and I didn't really look into everything so I'm not 100% sure about the topic.  However, I do know that it was dealing with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and possibly a new temple opening soon.  But that's not what this is about...

Some of the things people were saying in this thread was really breaking my heart.  I do not care what you believe as we are all different.  Yes, I would love everyone to believe as I do, but then where would the challenges and trials come from.  Where would the drive to be a better person and a missionary come?  At least that's how I see it.  Plus, people believing differently than I do allows for good conversations.  Okay, back to believing differently than me... I think what is most important is that we have a respect for the different beliefs and respect for the places that are important to those it is important to.

The temple is a very important place to me.  It has become more and more important to me here lately than it ever has been, and that's for my own reasons.  I hold it sacred just as anyone else holds places sacred.  I do not expect understanding, but I do expect respect.  That's what I feel we as humans need to have more of... respect.

I am truly grateful for my membership in the church, and I am grateful for my testimony.  I know without a doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and whole.  I know that people are not perfect, and that's okay.  Yes, it has bothered me in the past, but it was because of me, not them.  I just wish people could understand that more.  I wish... I wish a lot of things.

If anyone reads this, I have one request... be a better person to those around you.  Ask questions if you don't understand what they believe, but respect what they believe.  You won't always understand, and they won't always be able to explain, but some things, we just know in our heart, our mind, and our soul without every truly having the knowledge of why.  Respect the places that are sacred to them, and respect what it takes sometimes to be a part of those places.  I am truly grateful for my personal beliefs and what I have gone through in my life to get there.