Islam: My View Point for September 11th

Lately, as 9/11 comes close I have seen much in the media (via Internet and TV) that there is much opposition to a monotheistic religion called Islam. I am not yet an expert on this matter but I want to express my outright disgust of the hatred towards Islam that is coming from so many people. It is the feelings I had while in Nauvoo and hearing anti-Mormons talking so negatively about Joseph Smith. The complete ignorance of what they were saying left me in awe with how stubborn we can be. How stubborn and ignorant are we towards our brothers and sisters of the Muslim faith? Let's just say there are some that are exceedingly ignorant. But I should precede it that my testimony of the Book of Mormon, prophets in latter-days, and the power of the priesthood is in fact very strong and deep within my soul. My apologetic feelings towards Islam or any other religion and culture does not weaken my testimony, it builds it. 

For Pastor Terry Jones of  Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla. it not a question of understanding but rather a christian duty (yes, a little c) to destroy sacred writings of a religion that consumes over 1.5 billion people of this world. Why? Because "Islam" is the one that attacked the country on 9/11/2001 and is built upon falsehoods, a false prophet and a culture that seems to be too aggressive for him. I have seen other obscene pictures depicting the fanatic Muslims saying death to America. My understanding is this, that there is in fact insane Muslims that attack our country. But this let me tell you that this is a small minority. Imagine that even 1% of any group or society was just nuts, completely and totally nuts, they loved to do exactly what each person of that group would want to never do for sake of doing what is right. Is that 1% enough to ruin the reputation for the group? Sure, it can be for everyone, or in some cases like Islam it is mixed. In the LDS faith, what about the Fundamental LDS church? The one with polygamy communities in Texas. During my mission, I had so many people think we were "that mormon church in Texas, with kids being hauled off because of the polygamous fathers." That certainly was not the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that I preached so fervently for. In fact, they are not even part of the church at all! Could these terrorists or antagonists not be considered Muslim to the rest of the Muslim world? 

From an Latter-day Saint perspective, those of you that belong to my faith, do you not remember the drastic persecution while the saints were in Kirkland? Liberty? Far West? Nauvoo? Did they not destroy our printing shops that were distributing the Book of Commandments? Now known as the Doctrine and Covenants. Did they not murder and rape women and children? Did our own beloved prophet Joseph Smith not seal his blood and testimony by the balls from gunshots of martyrs? Was there not false accusations made of the religious teachings and social practices? These false accusations led to many imprisonments of the church leaders, is that fair? Are any of these actions just? Alright, my point is, whomever wants to distribute anything negatively of the Islamic faith, stop. It is only being part of the mob that persecuted the early saints. When does the church grow the most? When there is opposition to the church. 

"But this church is true and their religion is not." My response is, SO WHAT?! Yes, their early history and the spread of Islam seems a little sketchy, but can I tell you how far away we are from the real truth of the spread of Islam as Americans and even Mormons to understanding what it is really about? I know there are books out there that strongly oppose the Islamic religion, calling them blood thirsty, 'convert or the sword' type of people or simply to dominate the world. Aren't we as Latter-day Saints trying to spread our faith to all the world? Do not our own scriptures say this? 

D&C: 68: 8  Go ye into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature, acting in the authority which I have given you, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

(see also Matt. 24: 14, D&C 134: 12, Moses 5: 59, Morm. 9: 22)

They were doing what was fit for the time and place that they lived in. And still do today, in fact, they are the fastest growing religion in the world, all converts that I have met were never forced to join, it was an act of their own free will. 

I have two professors that recently have returned from, one being a mission president in Italy and the other teaching in the Jerusalem Center for a few years. Both of which are amazing men in the gospel of the LDS faith. Dr. Toronto, the professor that taught in Jerusalem and recently returned as a mission president, mentioned that as he would help teach Mormon tours to the holy lands he would receive many comments during and afterwards through emails about how wrong he was to preach positively of Islam and the prophet Muhammad. His response then to us as a class and to those individuals was, "I taught the truth and some weren't ready for it."  


My personal opinion, Islam was and is inspired by God because of the good that is in it. I recall of kindness and thoughtfulness was when I was helping my friend Mohammad Al-Nasser from Jordan buy a car while he was at BYU studying Law. As we were driving back after seeing a few cars to buy, he made the comment that he wanted "a car that is safe and reliable for his family." His family were in Provo at the time, he had and a wife two little children. It sounded exactly like something my Dad would say. It taught me a big lesson, first to take care of your family (I'm going to have a very safe care for my kids) but I think most importantly that they have the same love and concerns as we do. 

Alright, I'm done. I spent way too much time writing this when I should have been studying Arabic or for my Humanities of Islam class. I hope this helped and I apologize to be so brief on many principles I am trying to express. I simply did not have the time to really do this but wanted to voice my opinion against the hatred of our Muslim brothers and sisters. If only we could realize and remember that they are our brothers and sisters. God knows what He is doing. I have a testimony of that. 

God bless America! May we all be righteous and God fearing men. 9/11 will not be forgotten in my heart.