by their fruits

Preface to this post: we belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Have any questions? Just ask!

A few weeks ago, our bishop got a call from church headquarters in SLC. He was informed that Elders Scott and Bednar wanted to do a video conference call with our youth. WHAT?! We were besides ourselves with excitement and got the youth pumped up too. We wanted them to understand what a once in a lifetime (and for most people, a never in a lifetime) experience this was. They would be talking one-on-one with Apostles of Christ. Wow.


It was all we cracked it up to be. The youth, along with youth from another Philly ward and a ward in Georgetown, connected via satellite to SLC. They took turns with the youth from Georgetown asking questions to the Apostles. They could ask anything they wanted to, and we were blessed with insightful answers from the Lord's servants. I had to hold myself in my seat- I wanted so badly to grab the mic and have the hour to myself.

It was candid, funny, spiritual, and enlightening. At one point, Elder Bednar leaned over and gave Elder Scott a knuckle bump. How cool is that?

Some of the questions were better than others (we're dealing with teenagers here). Below are those I wrote down.

Q: How do you read your scriptures and how do you know if you are feeling the Spirit?
A: Elder Scott: Reads his scriptures to look for answers to a specific question.
Elder Bednar: There are 3 ways to read the scriptures. 1. Read from beginning to end so you can get the basic story. You need to do this before you can dig in deep. 2. Study by topic 3. The most exciting way is to find themes. For example, study the themes of "One by One", and the differences between "faith in" "faith unto" and "faith on". He then asked Kenny to read D&C 18:33-36, twice, because it was doubly important.

Q: How was Philadelphia chosen for a temple?
A: The apostles explained that they choose locations based on how much work is going on in the area, how many recommend holders there are, and then the 1st Presidency prays about it.

Q: How to help a spiritually numb friend who goes to church but doesn't feel the spirit?
A: The greatest tool of conversion is the Book of Mormon. More than anything other thing, this will help to get their spirituality back.

Q: What is the best thing to do to prepare for a mission?
A: Read your scriptures, study Preach My Gospel, start being a missionary now, look sharp and live now by the standards missionaries follow.

Q: When was your first spiritual experience?
A: Elder Bednar: Grew up in the gospel, and gained his testimony bit by bit, starting when he was a child and his mom would read scripture stories to him.
Elder Scott: Grew up with a non-member father and a less active mom. He really gained his testimony while he was on his mission. He had an experience where he went head to head in a debate with the South American head of the Jehovah's Witnesses. It was then when he gained his testimony.

Q: What is the Prophet like in person?
A: He needs a big body to hold his huge heart! He is always doing service, and when he asks a member of the 12 to serve, he says, "How would you like to paint a bright spot on your soul today?" He doesn't see congregations, he sees individuals.

Q: How do you do everything you need to do- with work, church, etc.?
A: Whatever the Lord commands is attainable, even if it takes all the energy we have. One of the blessings of the Atonement is to do good and be better than we ever could do on our own. We will be magnified and enlarged to do what we need to do. In His strength we can do anything He needs us to do.

Q: Why isn't our Heavenly Mother mentioned in the scriptures?
A: Elder Bednar: I can tell you with absolute confidence that I don't know.
Elder Scott: Amen.

In closing, they bore their testimonies and told the youth to never forget that two Apostles bore their testimony to them- that is a singular event. Elder Scott said, "I know He lives".

I know these men are Apostles of Jesus Christ, and I am grateful for this testimony. We were having the first discussion with a young man in our home on Sunday, and the Elders were talking about the Prophets (specifically Joseph Smith) and how "by their fruits ye shall know them". My testimony of Joseph Smith and this gospel is strengthened as I look at the fruits of the gospel, including the Prophet Thomas S. Monson and the Quorum of the Twelve. How blessed are we.