Blogger of Jared

I had not realized until I read the talk at lds.org that President Uchtdorf had entitled his talk ‘Faith of Our Father’ instead of ‘Faith of our Fathers’. The singular form of the word is important and central to his intended message.

After the expected expressions of gratitude for the privilege of serving in the First Presidency, and his testimony of President Monson as prophet, his talk turned to the religious traditions. He spoke of the fact that many members of the church think of valiant pioneers when they think of the ‘faith of our fathers’ phrase.

He spoke of his own family and their background in the Lutheran faith. He instructed that we should honor and respect sincere souls of all religions, in keeping with the eleventh article of faith.

He then spoke of other fathers that we have, and of their religious traditions. He asks, what of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, Enoch, Adam and Eve? He then introduces what I think is a very key and important idea - that the faith of our Father in Heaven has been consistent since the beginning of time, even from before the foundations of this world. In explaining just what this faith consists of he makes mention of the first and third articles of faith. He then gives what I think is the climax of his address with a very quotable testimony:

I testify that the doctrine of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is the faith of our Heavenly Father. It is His truth, revealed to His servants the prophets from the days of Father Adam until our own time. The Father and the Son appeared to Joseph Smith to restore the faith of our Father on this earth, never to be taken away again. God desires that all of His children receive it, irrespective of their background, culture, or tradition. True religion should not originate from what pleases men or the traditions of ancestors, but rather from what pleases God, our Eternal Father.

I would like to add my small testimony to President Uchtdorf’s large one. I agree that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the faith of our Heavenly Father, and that He desires all to receive it. This does not mean that we do not value and respect other cultures and traditions, but that we have great love and hope for our brothers and sisters, wherever they may be. And that we desire them to share in the happiness and peace that comes from a knowledge of the restored gospel.