What do we think about when our minds ponder upon religions which, in belief and practice, differ from our own? Do we pause to consider the efforts put forth by those who have preceded us in making the world a place where religion exists?
I speak further about the contribution of the Jews, but there remain holy men and women throughout the ages of various religions that have shaped the global understanding of God.
There are many who honor and love and praise the Bible. What a beautiful Christian sacrament. They might praise Martin Luther, John Calvin, or William Tyndale, but they forget about the millions of people who claimed a part in the house of Israel, the Jews, who for centuries were responsible for the perpetuation of the stories we love and enjoy.
they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles?
O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jew, mine ancient covenant people? Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them. But behold, I will return all the things upon your own heads; for I the Lord have not forgotten my people.
Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?
2 Nephi 29:4-6
It is a small thing to put down in writing and does not serve a worthy recompense for all the Jews have given me, but I am so thankful that because of them I have the Bible and the Book of Mormon, written by many Jewish people to be enjoyed widely mostly by Gentiles. As I seek to become apart of the covenant people of the Lord, I look back gratefully towards my Jewish sisters and brothers.
We all desire to be in the right, and in proving others wrong we may feel powerful, but it will do more for us to acknowledge and give thanks for any religion’s best rather than rant about that religion’s worst.
Thank you to the Jewish people for suffering thousands of years of afflictions that I might know how to look forward in righteousness to the promised Messiah.
“And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed forever (2 Nephi 29:14).”