This is a General Conference Odyssey post for the Saturday afternoon session of the April 2009 General Conference.

Isn’t it sad that all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are going to Hell?

Well, at least that’s what many other religions believe. We’re the ones who believe in a different God. We’re a cult. We don’t believe in the Trinity. We’re strange and perverted. And it goes on and on.

Quentin L. Cook spoke about early members of the church, and the great sacrifices they made as they recognized truth in the gospel of Jesus Christ and left everything behind to follow Him. Someone in our ward recently shared a story about the very thing he mentioned; that the gathering is for everyone.

This man’s great-grandmother was a teenager, in Scotland, when her family heard the missionaries. A neighbor family shunned them, screaming at them in the public square that they were all going to Hell. The family slowly made their arduous journey to the Salt Lake Valley. As they arrived at one of the staging cities to prepare to go out west, they ran across this neighbor who had berated them in public. Being so taken by these young members of the church, the neighbors had to know why they were willing to leave all that they knew, and ended up gaining a testimony and setting off for Zion.

Pres. Hinckley said,

This must be our great and singular message to the world. We do not offer it with boasting. We testify in humility but with gravity and absolute sincerity. We invite all, the whole earth, to listen to this account and take measure of its truth. God bless us as those who believe in His divine manifestations and help us to extend knowledge of these great and marvelous occurrences to all who will listen. To these we say in a spirit of love, bring with you all that you have of good and truth which you have received from whatever source, and come and let us see if we may add to it. This invitation I extend to men and women everywhere with my solemn testimony that this work is true.

Our message to the world is beautiful and inclusive. We don’t care what your past is, we care what your future holds. We believe in eternity; an eternity filled with family and love.

Richard G. Scott’s talk spoke reverently of his testimony of eternal families. He cried at the pulpit as he shared his love and great conviction of seeing his children and beloved wife again in the eternities. This is what we all want more than anything, to be with those we have loved on this earth. 

And I might add that it isn’t hard to love just about anyone we serve, work with, engage in conversation, or see in any capacity. And when we love them, we accept them and wish them joy and an eternity of happiness. 

Not Hell.

Our gospel is one of healing and inclusivity. All are welcome, no matter where your belief begins. Bring what you know and let us add to it. And you will love what we add. The blessings of the temple surpass any earthly happiness.