My worst member-missionary moment

[_Equality]

Here is my worst:

When I was a Ward Mission Leader in South Carolina, I had a personalized license plate that read "CLD2SRV." I was getting out of my car one day and a guy asked me what my license plate meant. Did I sell beer or ice cream or something? No, I told him earnestly, it's my favorite church hymn! And then, feeling the Spirit fill me with the courage of a lion, I started singing "Called to Serve." He looked at me like I had three heads, said "Oh, I see," and went on his way. At first I was disappointed that he didn't ask me more. But I just chalked it up to planting seeds. I half expected to open the Ensign one day and see a convert's story that began with "One day, I saw a car with a license plate that read 'CLD2SRV' and I was prompted to ask the vehicle's occupant what it meant . . ." But no such luck.

[_Buffalo]

Here is my worst:

When I was a Ward Mission Leader in South Carolina, I had a personalized license plate that read "CLD2SRV." I was getting out of my car one day and a guy asked me what my license plate meant. Did I sell beer or ice cream or something? No, I told him earnestly, it's my favorite church hymn! And then, feeling the Spirit fill me with the courage of a lion, I started singing "Called to Serve." He looked at me like I had three heads, said "Oh, I see," and went on his way. At first I was disappointed that he didn't ask me more. But I just chalked it up to planting seeds. I half expected to open the Ensign one day and see a convert's story that began with "One day, I saw a car with a license plate that read 'CLD2SRV' and I was prompted to ask the vehicle's occupant what it meant . . ." But no such luck.

It's amazing how clueless we were as believers as to the impression we were making on non-Mormons, isn't it? Always thinking some absurd display of conspicuous faith would end in someone's conversion.

Now when I see crazy street preachers I know exactly what people thought of me.

[_zeezrom]

Here is my worst:

When I was a Ward Mission Leader in South Carolina, I had a personalized license plate that read "CLD2SRV." I was getting out of my car one day and a guy asked me what my license plate meant. Did I sell beer or ice cream or something? No, I told him earnestly, it's my favorite church hymn! And then, feeling the Spirit fill me with the courage of a lion, I started singing "Called to Serve." He looked at me like I had three heads, said "Oh, I see," and went on his way. At first I was disappointed that he didn't ask me more. But I just chalked it up to planting seeds. I half expected to open the Ensign one day and see a convert's story that began with "One day, I saw a car with a license plate that read 'CLD2SRV' and I was prompted to ask the vehicle's occupant what it meant . . ." But no such luck.

That is great, Equality. Thanks for sharing.

[_Abaddon]

Here is my worst:

When I was a Ward Mission Leader in South Carolina, I had a personalized license plate that read "CLD2SRV." I was getting out of my car one day and a guy asked me what my license plate meant. Did I sell beer or ice cream or something? No, I told him earnestly, it's my favorite church hymn! And then, feeling the Spirit fill me with the courage of a lion, I started singing "Called to Serve." He looked at me like I had three heads, said "Oh, I see," and went on his way. At first I was disappointed that he didn't ask me more. But I just chalked it up to planting seeds. I half expected to open the Ensign one day and see a convert's story that began with "One day, I saw a car with a license plate that read 'CLD2SRV' and I was prompted to ask the vehicle's occupant what it meant . . ." But no such luck.

That is sooooo chessy, LOL. I literally LOLed at work (on my lunch break of course).

But so far the best story of this thread.

My worst was testifying to my in-laws at the dinner table.

I specifically remember saying "I testify to you in the name of Christ; I promise you this church is true."

I remember feeling all charged up about it and like the Spirit was making my skin shine or something....but nothing.

My in-laws just looked at me, went back to eating their meal, and we had an awkward silence for a few minutes.

[_son of Ishmael]

Hello beautiful people!

I was sitting in a truck with my nevermo boss driving out to a dam site in 2001. He point blank asks me, "So, how did Joseph Smith write the Book of Mormon?" I reply, "He translated it from an ancient record, engraved on gold plates." He then asked, "So, where are these gold plates?"

I was suddenly very uncomfortable with this question. Why didn't anyone ask me this on my mission? Well, I suppose everyone wonders this, but maybe they didn't want to ask me.

I told him that an angel came and took the plates away.

Even while I said those words, I could feel how silly it sounded. I was pretty embarrassed about it, to be honest. He responded with, "Oh..." Silence filled the air for another 15 minutes of our drive until he finally changed the subject.

I have often reflected on this situation since then. As a TBM, I felt a little guilty that I didn't answer his questions the right way. According to what I believed at the time, the Spirit should have guided me to say the right things and make him feel it is truth. Chalked up to more evidence that I didn't have the Spirit with me like I should have. Likely some sexual sin of my past...

The problem was, it doesn't matter how you say it. This issue of the gold plates disappearing is simply a real downer on the Spirit.

Have a Wonderful day!

Zee.

Hey, well at least we have the papyri that Joseph Smith used to translate the Book of Abraham….um..yeah…never mind

[_bcspace]

But there are quite enough ancient MSS to convince us that the Bible was not made up in the 19th century

Indeed, the Book of Mormon situation mirrors the Bible as there is nothing to convince us it wasn't made up by Jews and then 1st century Christians on top of that.

[_zeezrom]

Indeed, the Book of Mormon situation mirrors the Bible as there is nothing to convince us it wasn't made up by Jews and then 1st century Christians on top of that.

What a crazy mirror you look into, BC.

[_Buffalo]

But there are quite enough ancient MSS to convince us that the Bible was not made up in the 19th century

Indeed, the Book of Mormon situation mirrors the Bible as there is nothing to convince us it wasn't made up by Jews and then 1st century Christians on top of that.

You mean the stories themselves? True, they're historical fiction. But historical fiction Trump's ahistorical fiction.

[_Chap]

But there are quite enough ancient MSS to convince us that the Bible was not made up in the 19th century

Indeed, the Book of Mormon situation mirrors the Bible as there is nothing to convince us it wasn't made up by Jews and then 1st century Christians on top of that.

What does the man mean?

My point - we can be sure that (for instance) major portions of the Old Testament date back at least two thousand years because of the MSS found as part of the Dead Sea scrolls collection, archeologically dated from 150 BCE - 7 CE. We therefore know the Old Testament was not made up in the 19th century.

His point - (maybe?) the complete lack of any archeologically dated MSS of the Book of Mormon still leaves it open for us to imagine that there once were some ancient MSS.

Or what? I suspect bcspace is is just babbling to give the illusion of having an apologetically effective comment.

[_Nightlion]

Hello beautiful people!

I was sitting in a truck with my nevermo boss driving out to a dam site in 2001. He point blank asks me, "So, how did Joseph Smith write the Book of Mormon?" I reply, "He translated it from an ancient record, engraved on gold plates." He then asked, "So, where are these gold plates?"

I was suddenly very uncomfortable with this question. Why didn't anyone ask me this on my mission? Well, I suppose everyone wonders this, but maybe they didn't want to ask me.

I told him that an angel came and took the plates away.

Even while I said those words, I could feel how silly it sounded. I was pretty embarrassed about it, to be honest. He responded with, "Oh..." Silence filled the air for another 15 minutes of our drive until he finally changed the subject.

I have often reflected on this situation since then. As a TBM, I felt a little guilty that I didn't answer his questions the right way. According to what I believed at the time, the Spirit should have guided me to say the right things and make him feel it is truth. Chalked up to more evidence that I didn't have the Spirit with me like I should have. Likely some sexual sin of my past...

The problem was, it doesn't matter how you say it. This issue of the gold plates disappearing is simply a real downer on the Spirit.

Have a Wonderful day!

Zee.

Zee, it would have been a damn sight ( Pun fully intended) better if you had mentioned that two thirds of the plates were not translated and were too sacred to remain so they are kept by the Lord until a day of greater faith.