Confession of a Baby-Boomer (by Romeo Prado III)
Every day “Laptop,” my 3-yr old min pin and I walk for one hour at Cortez Park in Phoenix, Arizona. One breezy morning I suddenly pulled his leash as he was about to “bless” the foot of an olive tree. My rude interruption was moved by the sight of a pocket-size reproduction of Del Parson’s “He is Risen” painting which I saw at the foot of that often-blessed tree. I picked it up, placed it in my pocket and continued our walk.
On the way back home I was able to read without my eyeglasses these words printed in large font at the back of the card: Faith in Christ can help you resolve personal and family challenges. A toll-free 800 number was also printed to request for a free DVD. It was only after asking for the DVD that I read the fine print at the bottom of the card: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I do not regret that call. For me it was the beginning of many baby steps that now challenge me to make a quantum leap of faith.
As a baby-boomer with a chronological advantage over the “punk” generation of today, and who is proud of having read the Bible at least once from cover to cover, my questions proved challenging to the two young LDS missionaries who visited me shortly after viewing the DVD. One of the them, named “Elder Young,” is literally one year older than his companion, Elder Keele who, however, is five months his senior as a missionary in my area in Arizona.
What impressed me during their twice-a-week visit is their enviable zeal. These men are not paid at all. They pay for their own ride and room and board. With the patience of Job, they try to answer every tough question I hurl at them without mercy. Later, to console them, I told them something that would embarrass members of my own faith group. I sincerely said that putting aside our differing images of God, I could already count at least eight things I admire in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They are :
1) their emphasis on the family, not only in this life but also in the next
2) their specific ideas about eternal life,
3) their great respect for the temple,
4) their universal outlook, seeing the good in the world and in humanity,
5) their desire to save the souls of their beloved dead,
6) their systematic work for the underprivileged and needy among themselves and in the general public,
7) their seriousness in following Christ’s commandments especially chastity and honesty, and,
8) their detachment from the allurements of money, alcohol, tobacco and a life of ease.
As I see Elder Young and Elder Keele going about their missionary rounds dressed in their black pants and white shirt with a tie, standing out as heralds of the good news of salvation on two wheels, in season and out of season, I ask myself this question, “Do they know something I don’t?”
I’ve always considered myself a happy person, so when I see another person happier than me, I would like to ask that person, “What’s your secret?”
Part 2
The gospel records that when Jesus sent his disciples to prepare people for his coming he told them to go in twos, that they also eat what is offered to them. This the two missionaries did one late afternoon. After sharing with me a simple meal, Elder Young showed me his secret. He got a gadget from his pocket which I thought was a whistle. It was a bubble-maker. He said that kids laugh whenever he uses it.
What a simple gadget to make children laugh! I’ve seen children play with electronic toys of games. Alone and for hours they are glued to their gadgets, with the seriousness of a soldier shooting down an enemy. I seldom hear the laughter of children now, or see them play as children. How true it is that heaven is exclusively for children or adults with a childlike heart!
It is indeed refreshing to be reminded that unless we become children we cannot enter the kingdom of God. Now, going back to the things I like about the Mormons, I can enumerate eight more things, not necessarily lined up according to importance, which are:
1) Their unity. They seem to be united in mind and heart,
2) They remind me of the early primitive Church,
3) Their devotion to Christ,
4) Their simplicity of life,
5) The involvement of all members in the activities of their Church
6) Their intensive and continuous formation
7) The one-on-one attention given to children and spouses in the family
8) Their all-volunteer membership (they even pay their dues), making it easier to be detached from money, and their Church to be well-supported for religious and charitable purposes.
I hope I continue to learn from Elder Young and Elder Keele as I enjoy my sunset years.
