Welcome to One Minute Scripter Study, a Come Follow Me podcast.

We are your host, Kristen Walker-Smith and Callie Black.

Hey, it's Callie Black here with today's thought. Let's open up to Article of Faith number one.

I remember one day in middle school when I was hanging out with my friends at someone's house.

Suddenly, one of my friends turned to me and

asked, Callie, what does your Mormon church believe? I remember this so distinctly because it was the

first time that someone asked me this question and I was like really excited to answer. I decided to

launch into an explanation of the plan of salvation.

I even remember drawing a diagram with arrows and circles, ending with the three kingdoms of glory.

But as I spoke, I realized I was just confusing my friends and the topic eventually changed.

Should I have started with Joseph Smith instead or maybe the book of Mormon?

I thought about this for a long time.

I wanted to find the right way to start religious conversations so that other people

would really like get our religion without me launching into obscure or confusing topics right off the bat.

And then, years later, I saw the opening lesson in the Preach by Gospel Manual.

The first concept taught was, God is our loving heavenly father. That felt so right to me. That's where I should

begin. And then I made the connection. What is that first article of faith I had learned all

those years ago? We believe in God, the eternal father. That statement was much simpler

than the answer I thought I had been looking for, but it was also much more powerful. I believe in

God. And when I share that joy and belief with others, I can give them the quickest

glimpse into what truly matters to me. So the takeaway of the day in five words or less,

Believe in God. Thank you so much for being here today and for coming closer to Christ with me

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