Stand as a Witness Part II

The weekend is over -- what an experience!!

It would take a month to write out everything I did and thought over the weekend, so I'll try to summarize it the best I can.

Beth Moore has a very large following and is popular around the Christian Born-Again scene. She travels all over the world giving seminars and conferences and "spreading the Word of God." It's not just her business, it's her life. She has a band that was with her at this seminar... Travis Cottrell and the Praise Team... they play typical Christian music with rock beats and phrases like: "You took the shackles off me so I can lift you up Lord..." and "Let's raise the roof off the sanctuary with our love, Lord" etc.

Each phase of the conference started with the band playing and everyone stood to dance and raise their hands in the air. I just stood and quietly bounced to the music, trying to not look as out of place as I felt. When Beth Moore came out, everyone cheered and clapped, and continued to cheer and clap and shout "Amen" or "Praise the Lord" to punctuate her message.

The main message of the seminar was God's immeasurable love for us. I agree wholeheartedly with that.. but the way she went about delivering that message left me often shaking my head and feeling very confused. She bounced all around the Bible, and I took notes to try to keep up. I'll say this much for Beth Moore -- she is a very dynamic speaker and she loves being on the stage. Unfortunately, she lacks emotion. She spoke of some very tough times in her life, yet she showed no real emotion. She spoke of her great love for Jesus, yes she showed no real emotion. Her voice went loud and soft for emphasis, but it lacked real emotion.

After 6 hours of her speaking and the band playing, I was ready to go home and leave the world of Beth Moore behind. I realized how grateful I was for the reverence of the Church and for the Priesthood that leads us and for personal revelation that guides me in the ways I should go. I just didn't realize how grateful I was until the next day (Sunday) back in my home ward, in my home chapel, with my husband and family by my side.

It was Fast and Testimony meeting and the testimonies borne by my ward family touched me deeper than they have in a long time. And, it just got better in Sunday School where the teacher was discussing the lesson on receiving His image in your countenance and then he showed excerpts from "Finding Faith in Christ" where I witnessed again, up close, the miracles Christ performed during his earthly ministry and the great love He has for all of us. I also watched as he was crucified and felt again the incredible sacrifice the Atonement really is. I was so deeply moved that I just sat in my seat and wept. It's so amazing to me!!

What did I gain from the seminar? I felt the stark contrast of what it is to be immersed in the Spirit and to be alienated from it. I realized how blessed I am to know there is a prophet on the earth today and that I have direct access to the Priesthood, the ability to act in the name of God on earth, through my husband any time I need it. I KNOW my Savior loves me. I KNOW he atoned for my sins. I KNOW He is there for me any day, any hour, any minute that I need Him.

Do the women at that seminar know who they pray to? Do they fully understand the Savior's love for them? Do they understand what it means to be a daughter of God? Do they understand? Do they?

I do.