In 1998, President Gordon B. Hinckley, one of the most media-savvy Presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an incredible bridge builder to those from different faith traditions, shared thoughts on the essence of missionary work: “Let me say that we appreciate the truth in all churches and the good which they do. We say to the people, in effect, you bring with you all the good that you have, and then let us see if we can add to it. That is the spirit of this work. That is the essence of our missionary service.” (meeting, Nairobi, Kenya, 17 Feb. 1998).
I would not only second President Hinckley’s thoughts, but I would broaden his use of the word “church” to include our brothers and sisters of all spiritual and religious backgrounds.
A Pew study in 2017 revealed that 84% of the world’s population is affiliated with religion.
Our spiritual beliefs influence our worldview, bond communities and families, and impel us towards acts of good.
When groups of believers and the mainstream media misunderstand one another . . .
Faith literacy diminishes, leading to misrepresentation and hostility
Faith communities have a shrinking place in the public square
People of faith are afraid to talk about, or exercise their spiritual life in public
The best faith-related content is left out of mainstream media
Controversial news is miscommunicated
And as the world becomes increasingly secular, often denying the very existence of Deity and the Divine, many people, even believers, often ask themselves: “Why should I bother connecting with God?”
This question is especially pervasive with the rising generations.
But there is hope.
Every day, all around the world, people are experiencing God, Allah, Adonai, Brahman, The Great Spirit—feeling divine love, healing heartache, and building deep spiritual resilience.
And, when people share their stories, both the person sharing their experiences and those who hear their experiences are uplifted and strengthened (see D&C 50:22).
To elevate these voices of faith, there is a new interfaith initiative called The Spirituality Project. They are gathering—and sharing—the world’s largest collection of personal spiritual stories.
In all the places people congregate, from TikTok to influencer vlogs, they’re amplifying narratives that inspire more people to reach upward to the divine.
I’ve shared my story, and I invite you to share yours. Learn more at https://lynxshort.com/8lxcb
View this post on Instagram
