To those who distanced themselves from the church: we are sorry

Today I address those who have chosen to distance themselves somewhat from our church or who think differently about their faith in Christ. To them, I want to say sorry. Sorry if you made that choice because a leader in our church made a wrong decision or did something that hurt you. Also, if it is because we are a living church that learns rule upon rule and therefore changes, which sometimes makes it seem that eternal truth is not so steadfast. Or because our church with some more difficult issues fromthe past has not yet fully come to terms.

I also apologize if your disappointment in us has come because a member at some point was not a perfect saint and said or did something that hurt or offended you. Or did not do something, leaving you out in the cold. If something happened that made you feel that Christ was not there for you because His followers were not there for you, then these apologies are certainly for you too.

I also want to apologize to those who had questions for which no answers came. To those who were told they had to pray more and read the scriptures themselves to get better. Or when the gospel suddenly became less clear due to an explanation from a teacher in the church or after listening to a Sunday talk.

Apologies also to all those I am not directly thinking of now and yet are hurt, lonely, or confused. That is not your fault. We, as saints, certainly also have our part in that.

Whoever seeks a perfect church with perfect followers of Jesus Christ who make no mistakes, I can tell you right away that they should not be with us. We, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gather every week precisely to partake of the sacrament because we are not perfect. To express regret for our mistakes towards God but also towards each other.

The Book of Mormon is precious to us. I quote from the first page of the book: And now, if there are faults, they are the mistakes of men; therefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ. Or, in other words: do not condemn Christ because His followers make mistakes. Christ said, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). But we can only be perfected through Christ. Without Him, that is simply impossible.

I understand that people seek perfection in a church. We are representatives of Christ, and He is perfect. Our unspoken expectation is therefore that His perfection radiates onto His church and followers. That is, by definition, not true. Perfect people do not need a Savior. And those who think they are perfect are even less inclined to that.

I don't want to use that as an excuse. As Christians, we must do our best, and if we fail, we must apologize and try to do better. That's why I'm writing this. I hope that in this way we can open doors that are now closed so that none of us are a reason why you allow Christ not to show you that He loves you unconditionally. Christ does not keep the door closed.

Therefore, with my apologies, I immediately extend the invitation: come (back). Give us the chance to do better, but most importantly, give yourself the chance to feel Christ's love. Let us go together to Christ and lay our mistakes at His feet. Each of us has sorrow to bear. You don't have to bear it alone. We can make many mistakes, but let us not make the mistake of rejecting Christ because of the mistakes of others.