Will ye also go away?

“Will ye also go away?” This was the question the Savior posed to his Twelve Apostles. He had just given the Bread of Life sermon (see John 6:26-65). There were parts of it that were hard to understand. John records the reaction of some of Jesus’ disciples to the sermon. “This is an hard saying,” they said, “who can hear it?” This was followed by a short interchange between Jesus and his disciples, after which the record says, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then Jesus said unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” (John 6:66-67)

I have thought of this question in the last few weeks when I have read or heard about some from our ranks who have chosen to leave the church, or who have been excommunicated. I don’t intend to address those issues here. They have been addressed elsewhere. But I would like to respond to the question, “Will ye also go away?” In my case the answer is, “No.” But why? What is it that holds me to the faith of my pioneer fathers and to the faith of my faithful mother?

So why do I stay? I stay because I am fed spiritually here. I stay because of a testimony that burns in my heart that I try to renew every day. I stay because I know that the Book of Mormon is true and because I know the Brethren who lead us are God’s Apostles and Prophets. I stay because of what I feel when I attend church and partake of the sacrament. I stay because of what I feel and how I am edified when I go to the temple. I stay because of thousands of witnesses I have received—spiritual confirmation that the truths we teach are true. I stay because of sacred covenants I have made before God not just to “stay,” but to be true to those covenants. And I stay because I have felt God’s love here. I have partaken of the fruit of the tree of life. I have tasted living water. I have been lifted and edified so that I have faith and hope in my heart, both of which are born of, and confirmed by the witness of the Spirit. And how could I not stay? I have been born anew by the cleansing, purifying, sanctifying fire that comes with being born of the Spirit. I am not the same person I was and I don’t want to become what I would become if I chose to turn away from my covenants and from the supernal gift of the Holy Ghost.

When Jesus asked the Twelve if they would also go away, Peter responded, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life? And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” (John 6:68-69) This is what I believe also. I believe that the words of eternal life, and the covenants and ordinances that will lead us there are found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And I believe that Jesus is the Christ and that He leads the church through chosen Apostles and Prophets. My prayer is that I will be true to my convictions—that I will endure in faith to the end. Then I expect to have the same experience my mother had when she stepped into the next world, firm in the faith and clean before God. I believe I will be welcomed by the Savior into the Paradise of God where I will "rest from all [my] labors here, and shall continue [my] works" (D&C 124:86)--there I hope to be able to continue the work of bringing souls unto Christ (see D&C 138:57).