My Hidden Faith

My Hidden Faith

After serving a year as a counselor to the bishop in our ward, I was called to serve as a stake missionary. It seemed like it was something that I had been waiting for (with some amount of dread, I must admit). It wasn't difficult at all for me to start talking to people about the church and start identifying people I particularly wanted to pray about. I have always enjoyed home teaching and so member activation wasn't difficult for me to really get into. But the problem that I have always had with stake missionary work was motivating other members to get involved with missionary work. It just never seemed like their approach was very realistic.

When you are approaching someone who has very carefully avoided mentioning religion where they work so that the office clowns won't have a field day at their expense, it isn't wise to suggest that they ask the folks at the office what they know about the church and would they like to know more. I'm sure there are many cases where this is the right approach but it takes a lot of faith and yes a lot of nerve. So I started thinking about some ways that a person could get those who are really seeking the truth to come to them. The first thing that came to mind was President Bensons admonition for everyone to read the Book of Mormon. I had heard stories of people getting into gospel discussions with people that they work with by simply have a Book of Mormon lying on the seat of their car. If this could happen by accident why not plant it some place conspicuous?

The major thrust of my plan was to simply advertise the fact that you are a member, privately. This could be done in your office or in your own home. That way anyone coming there could not possibly be offended because after all it is your space and they are coming into it and if anything is going to be said about it, they are going to have to say it.

After sitting down and making a list of some non-threating ways that a person might interest others in the church, this poem was the natural outcome (at least it was for me).

Gale L. Wolfenbarger

2 December 1990

My Hidden Faith

I haven't yet the faith to share

What Christ has told my heart.

I know my testimony's meant to share

But I just can't seem to start.

At times it seems my LDS

Slips out where others see.

With burning cheeks, I tuck it in

And search for whence to flee.

If only they would wear a sign,

Their interest there to show,

Then I would walk right up to them

And tell them what I know.

But alas it seems it's up to me

To find the pure in heart.

It seems I've waited all my life,

And now it's time to start.

But how can I with trembling knees

Approach those folks I know

And tell them of the plates of brass

Or Nephi's broken bow?

Now wait, perhaps there is a way

To bring my friends to me,

And none of them will I offend,

I think that you'll agree.

A Book of Mormon I will mark

And set beside my chair

Where all who come to visit me

Will see it lying there.

And pictures with a gospel theme

I'll hang upon my wall

Of temples here and far away

With spires bright and tall.

And when I speak of what I did

For Sundays day of rest,

I'll tell them that of lessons heard

Priesthood was the best.

I will not make for what I am

Excuses in the least

Or hide the priesthood that I bear,

Though deacon or high priest.

For how can I expect that they

Will want the thing I hide,

Or question me of things I keep

Buried deep inside.

The Lord has blessed me with so much

And I must share my light,

My testimony of His truth

And things I know are right.

May the Lord find uses for

A simple tool like me.

And may I seek to spread my light

Where all the world can see.

Gale L. Wolfenbarger

2 December 1990