What a pleasant surprise to see people who have a purpose and objectives in their life. The young Mormon girl was very articulate and express herself well.

It is very interesting to hear about the Mormons from one of their own. Very interesting.

This was very good. The LDS girl expressed, and I think framed what it is like to be a Latter-day Saint very well. It is an incredible experience being LDS, and has been remarkably rewarding personally. Her experience is not altogether unique - but rather the more common experience LDS young people feel and enjoy as members of the church. We love Christ, and our relationship with Him through revelation to His prophets and to us personally through the Holy Ghost is a powerful, dynamic experience that shapes every aspect of our lives both spiritually and secularly. It is not uncommon for members of the church to pray about our life's work, difficult challenges we face for instance, and expect and receive answers through the Spirit to make correct choices in order to develop our talents and experiences in line with what the Lord would have us become to best make an individual difference in this world we are a part of.
It is pure Christianity as we feel that Christ leads and directs the affairs of the Church through His prophet - not unlike Moses, Abraham, and the other prophets who culminate a pattern of revealed. prophetic witnesses of Christ who act as a mouth-piece for God. Much like the process of 'coming unto Christ' in the days of Peter following the resurrection meant for the people to follow the revelation and commandments that came through Peter - God has again called prophets on the earth today, to lead His church, provide His ordinances, and teach the revealed truth that He commands his Prophet on the earth today to teach.

I am so grateful for the church in my life. I invite anyone to learn and experience more for themselves.

She already is a missionary! I want to give her a high-five.

You were outstanding! Very eloquent, candid, personable, honest, and informative. Thank you for representing all of the LDS youth so wonderfully. It's comforting to know that young women of your caliber are in the forefront of leadership as our nation is and will experience such difficult challenges ahead of us. Wtihout a doubt, you represent a Royal generation. Thank you.

What an awesome chance to express our faith. And so eloquently put too. Being LDS is the best thing I ever did. Thank goodness I had the opportunity to become one and raise my family in the gospel.
Thank you

Rachel Esplin is very bright and articulate. I would suggest she read D&C 1:30 to clear up one misunderstanding that came out in her remarks. That aside, keep being such a powerful witness for the restored gospel Rachel.

Rachel Esplin did a remarkable job in this panel on faith. She is an excellent missionary and is very well versed in explaining our faith to non-members.

Thank you Rachel for your strength and your testimony!

Rachel IS a missionary! Excellent job! Thank you for representing our faith so well.

Very well done, that looked like a great event at Harvard. Thanks for representing so well. I saw your last name and heard blackfoot and had to ask your mom if there was relation. :)

Hi Rachel ... and everyone,

[Sorry if this is a little long-winded]

Personally, I think the BEST comment you made was about God being "well pleased" with "anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy" (Our LDS Article of Faith # 13). I couldn't agree more, WHEREVER such virtue or loveliness may be found, in WHATEVER religion or setting it may occur, I am confident and the prophets without exception have taught the same: it greatly pleases our Father in Heaven above.

It reminds me of a comparative religion class I took while attending BYU many years ago (I was a convert myself, spent 9 years in the Army and have lived on 4 continents, traveled to 20 countries and 48 states ... so I'm not TOO close-minded). ;0)

As I was saying ... the multi-degreed religion professor, Dr. Roger Keller, had been a Protestant minister for 30 years in Mesa AZ before converting to Mormonism (his congregation in Mesa had asked him what "he thought" of all their Mormon neighbors. He was embarrassed to admit he knew very little about the LDS faith, despite his theological background and various PhDs. Long story short, he read the Book of Mormon and gained his own testimony of the book, the message, of Joseph Smith, and of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (He has a great book out comparing reformed Christians and Mormons that has "Let's Talk" in the title which I can't remember now). Awesome read....

Dr. Keller is one of the most amazing teachers I've ever had, and on our first day of class he announced: "We're not going to compare in this class everything GOOD about us with everything BAD about everyone else; that wouldn't be fair. We're going to look at strengths and weaknesses in all of us, including ourselves." And here's the main point. He continued, "There is good in ALL religions ... in ANYTHING that draws men and women closer to God." I absolutely agreed! We went on to learn about the beauty of Islam, the strength of Catholicism, the commitment and charisma and exceptional features of most of the major world religions. I absolutely loved it.

Unfortunately (Mark, et al), I hate to tell you, but YOU should be embarrassed by your post. Rachel is absolutely right! We as Mormons, because we do have the true Church, because we do have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and its fullness in our lives, at times become arrogant and even "exclusive," assuming (even subconsciously) that everyone else is going to hell. It's just not true (it's certainly not taught from the pulpit in the Mormon Church). The simple fact is this: all people, everywhere, will have the chance to not only KNOW but also UNDERSTAND the fullness of the plan of God. He's given us this promise. That's one of the reasons we do missionary work, to try to help. A great work, as you know, continues beyond the veil. Some have even caught glimpses of the sharing of the gospel that continues.

The gospel teaches us that, as our Father, He is (not just figuratively but literally) WAITING ... EXPECTANTLY ... for His children to return home to His presence, so he can embrace us, welcome us home, and bless us for the goodness that we showed in our lives ... HOWEVER it was displayed. True, He will then teach us more and make sure we are taught what bits and pieces of the broken mirror we may have been missing in our lives (us Mormons too, Mark) ... filling in the missing gaps and "making our joy complete." That is His promise. Some, still ... will choose to go another way. We know that. That's their right. That (free agency) is one of the things that makes the whole thing beautiful ... and authentic! But, I KNOW this--whatever your background, whatever your faith, wherever you grew up and whatever you believe--our loving Father is waiting with anticipation to welcome you home and share with you all that you missed out on, here on earth. I look forward to that day.

We each have our own experiences. We're all brothers and sisters. We're all working out our mortality, line upon line, here a little, there a little. We're each learning the truth, more and more, if we try. If we're not, if we've stopped, that is a sad day indeed.

That we can do so TOGETHER, as CLOSELY connected as possible, around the whole world, is my hope and prayer.

Thanks for listening. Phenomenal job, Rachel. You made me very proud to be LDS.

Patrick in Portland

P.S. Anyone with questions or comments is welcome to email me at jplaing@ gmail.com or if you’d like more info about Mormons go to lds.org. :0)

Rachel,

Thank for preparing yourself to deliver this simple, heartfelt exposition.
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I'm a born member and teenage convert who dated a wonderful non-LDS woman for nearly a decade before making the difficult choice between a very good life with her and a temple sealing. Your succinct answer for why you'll marry a Mormon is exactly where I decided to go. I then met the woman I'll marry next month at a fireside just hours after she was baptized. I know I made the right choice. I look forward to sharing your remarks with her tonight.
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Thank you also for your testimony of Jesus Christ and his atonement for us. This was something I learned first-hand a decade and a half ago as I hit the wall and had to change, with His help. The peace and joy that have come since have brought a newness to every day.
.
"I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell."
- 2 Nephi 33:6

That was a truly inspirational message. Thank you for sharing your message so eloquently. It is motivational to see a young person stand and represent what they believe in with such openess and conviction which gives me great hope for the future of the church and the world at large. No matter what religious affiliation one has, if they can live it with such devotion the world will be a much better place. I too believe there is good in all religions and we are all far more alike than most of us believe if we will but quit comparing our differences so doggedly and see the same goodness they possess then use those likenesses to join together in building a better world. Thank you Rachel for sharing your sincere testimony of your faith.

After I watched Rachel - absolutley captivated by her intelligence and remarkable poise, I knelt and thanked my Heavenly Father for the likes of such young women - the "face" of Mormonism. My son left Duke University after three semesters to serve a mission in Mexico. He is returning home in early March and is trying to decide whether or not to continue at Duke. He is contemplating going to BYU - largely because he now fears the social stigma of being at such a "secular" school. Seeing that women like Rachel are thriving at schools of such caliber as Harvard gave me the confidence that there are other such amazing "Rachels" out there. Her parents must be beaming with pride - she is a testament to the power of good parenting and the influence of a gospel centered home. Rachel - thank you for restoring my faith in our youth and for inspiring me with your insights, testimony and wisdom beyond your years. By the way - we live in RI, just a short jump to Harvard if you ever need a home away from home! I have great family connections to Harvard - the intellectual capital of the Northeast! Thank you again!

Well done. I am very impressed with the things you said and how you delivered the message.

The only thing I would add is that we all need to remember that the gospel is true and perfect but that people are people and thus make mistakes (which might have been what you were getting at when you said that religion isn't 100% true when it comes to it's cultural elements). Because someone you meet is judgemental, rude, prideful, etc, and LDS, doesn't mean that the religion is false. Too many people get hung up on the faults/misunderstandings of the members and therefore turn against the church. I would ask that people look into the gospel/teachings of the LDS church and decide for themselves if they believe it or not and then remember that we are only human and are going to make mistakes that might lead to hurting others but it's not the church's fault. As members we have a high standard to live up to and unfortunately we are all occasionally going to fall short of that.

I am grateful that we have members like Rachel who can sperad the message to others outside of BYU, :), and that she was able to stand for what she believes in and hopefully inspire people to look into the church and find the joy and happiness that I have found. I also hope that we will follow her example and become missionaries in our own daily lives. Thank you for preparing and delivering our views so well.

Thank you. I appreciate what you've said. I can't say how much. What you said helped me answer some questions that I had about some of the doctrine/cultural questions I'd had.

I hope you have a wonderful semester.

Rachel - You are a trooper for getting up and sharing about our views. I believe here at BYU its hard for many of our students/graduates to truly relate to others of different faiths.

But, through acts of understanding, those differences can be acknowledged and bridges can be made. You were a perfect example of that. Thanks so much. If only people can see what we are and how much having the fullness of the gospel has brought us happiness, they would lay down their arms, and seriously take a look at things.

Wow. Thank you so much for your eloquence and perfect representation of our church. It makes me want to transfer out of BYU and join a panel discussion at an Ivy League. Really, well done.

Rachel -you are an example of youth,the way you talked so secure of your feelings ,I could feel the Spirit through your words ,couldn't do it better myself ,you've made my day ,thank you so much for your testimony,I know for sure you've touched many hearts with your voice ,and if you go on a mission you'll do great because you're a great missionary now through your example,once again THANK YOU!

Fantastic job Rachel! You are well-spoken, remarkably thoughtful for someone of your age (well, perhaps any age!), and I appreciate your accurate representation of what it means to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thank you.

Rachel, that was excellent. Not sure about a mission? You are already a missionary. Not much else to say - it has all been said. Curious if you are in anyway related to Dave? Thanks for representing 13 million of us so well.

Truly impressive. I have, for years, questioned Harvard's standing as the preeminent educational institution. I have felt Harvard has allowed itself to slip from that pedestal. If Harvard continues, however, to recruit youth such as these - how can they fail?

Fascinating all around.

What an incredible young lady! I thought she was just so remarkably knowledgeable in her answers. I only wished the questions to her were not focused more into secrecy about temple covenants, garments, and if she was going to marry a Mormon and move back to Utah, etc, etc. I would've loved to hear what she would say about who we believe God is, what we believe about heaven and hell, life after death, eternal nature of families, etc. All those questions she asked the other Christian girl I wished were asked to the Mormon girl too. But all in all, this young lady was absolutely marvelous in her representation of her faith. She has made me even more proud to be a Mormon.

From a fellow Blackfooter (BHS class of '50)
Rachel, you did a very nice job, but I think you misrepresented the doctrine of your church regarding other religions. God told Joseph Smith in the "First Visiion" that all of the religions of that day were "abominations", the same word as in the Book of Mormon (1 Nephi 14:10) where it says that if you don't belong to the "church of the Lamb" (the true church, the LDS church), you belong to "the church of the devil, the mother of abominations, the whore of all the earth."
It is true that church leaders ALSO say that "there is a lot of good" in other churches, etc. but that is NOT what God said in the Mormon scriptures.

I find one of Rachel's comments fascinating. Rachel said that she puts some aspects of the Mormon faith on the shelf. That's slightly disappointing. For someone who values education, Rachel should be taking these things off the shelf and placing them under the microscope, or at least subjecting them to the light and observe they how they hold up. Part of the problem may be that like certain other religions, the Mormon faith discourages it's members from exploring aspects which are unpleasant or don't hold up to scrutiny. I don't think that anything worthwhile or trurthful should resist being examined. I hope that Rachel eventually gets round to taking these things off the shelf and having a good look at them.

Thomas,

I don't believe that Rachel's temporary placement of certain doctrines on the shelf is any indication of the verity of those doctrines. Clearly, Rachel has a profound understanding of many principles taught by the LDS church. This does not mean, however, that she has a perfect understanding of all things. Therefore, I think Rachel is simply trying to say that in her pursuit of spiritual truth and understanding, she is pacing herself, taking one bite of the apple at a time. Once Rachel has acquired sufficient knowledge concerning more pressing principles, she will likely move on to the next topic, inching ever closer to a perfect understanding, and applying her knowledge to action at every step of the way. In the video, Rachel explained that true faith leads to action. Her expression of her testimony regarding the truthfulness of the LDS faith is evidence of her applying this very principle. It would be foolish to not act on spiritual knowledge as God grants it, for one's ability to receive wisdom is often dependent on what they have done with truths revealed to them in the past.

Not to be contrary, but the LDS faith does not discourage its members from exploring its doctrines. In fact, a thorough investigation of these truths is requisite for acquiring membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Book of Mormon, the keystone of the Mormon religion, teaches that “when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:4,5). Clearly, the LDS church emphasizes personal conversion via individual study, pondering, and communication with God. There is no list of taboo doctrines to avoid when it comes to the application of this concept. As the verse says, the Holy Ghost can teach us the truth of ALL THINGS, even of those that seem daunting at first.

Once again, bravo Rachel for an excellent presentation of the LDS religion.

I got a link to this video on my email and I wanted to thank Rachel. (your video is making the rounds girl!!)Thanks for your words and testimony of the gospel. Your sincerity has spoken to me in such a way that reminds me of the reason why the gospel is so fulfilling and why is important to share it with others.

I can't say anything more eloquently than has already been said. Rachel, you were absolutely wonderful.

Rachel writes: "I assure you I'm putting them on a shelf, not in a wastebasket--and it's a shelf I can reach easily, when I feel impressed by the Spirit to do so. And just for good measure, I also find myself dusting off the questions on that shelf from time to time."

I've often found that many fellow LDS members will use the "on the shelf" excuse when dealing with specific questions that come along. In reality many are actually just digging their head in the sand like an ostrich because they never get specific. On my mission I was taught that this approach was wrong. Its best to be direct and specific.

I also have my shelf. On there sits several questions that I'm honestly searching for answers. First, I'm trying to reconcile the scientific evidences in many disciplines regarding the Amerinds and the statements of the Angel Moroni, early LDS leaders and the Book of Mormon itself. Second, the oldest known writing on the earth is the Book of Abraham papyri which Abraham must have written himself yet some think it should be hidden away like an ostrich with its head in the sand.

There are other things on that shelf of mine. I'd share them now except that the purpose of this thread is not MY SHELF. I just shared enough so ya'll would know its a shelf that can be seen/reached (and not a big hole to fit an ostrich's head).

Rachel! That was amazing....You portrayed our religion so well that I don't think i would ever be able to tell anyone as perfectly as you could. You have very good insight and i would have never been able to back up my thoughts on the equality of women and men. Although I know we are equal, I don't know why. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, you taught me more in a few minutes than i've learned in sunday school! You have the light of Christ in you for sure, and you may have changed the lives a many people in a short amount of time. Thank you so much! I know several people have already commended you, but I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your efforts in answering very difficult questions, (for me at least) and for being such an example to me! Thanks again.

Rachel, you were wonderful! I would ask you to marry my son if he was not on a mission and younger than you! :-) As a father of a young woman in the church and knowing what the lord expects of us, I know he is well pleased with you. I can't possibly add to what has been said but in reading all the comments here including your answers, I am pleased to see that we have young people like you to represent us. The leaders of the church are right when they say that the Lord has kept the best for these latter days. Well done!

Thanks Rachel,I love you and your efforts, you did all LDS proud! I remember my days in Boston well! I appreciate your comment about not attending BYU. So many BYU students are qualified for top tier schools yet choose BYU when they could be striking out as you have and representing the Church on many levels. I can testify to all you cougars, you can find other LDS people to date, I met my husband at the Cambridge Singles Ward. I'm not knocking the Y, it is a great school, just be sure to find out the Lord's will when it comes to college, not just your parent's or your wallets.

Rachel, I'm very impressed with how well you explained the details in a way that anyone could understand and even relate to. You are beautiful :)

I'm from Washington and I go to BYU-Idaho, I married a local and your name sounded familiar. When I found out you were from Blackfoot I asked if he knew who you were. And he knows your dad. My husband also farms potatoes here in/around Rexburg.

I think you did a wonderful job.

Rachel,
Thank you for your thoughtful comments and kind testimony.

I was in a similar situation some years ago while I attended the University of Oklahoma. I was serving as Institute Council President and was asked to present basic beliefs and doctrines of the church to a group from the Honors College. I had the chance to testify of the Restoration and of Jesus Christ as the Savior of all mankind and personally, my Lord and Redeemer and Friend. That, above all else, was the most memorable part of that experience; to share my love and knowledge of our Risen Lord who loves us more than we can understand.

I am grateful for your faith and understanding of the gospel. In that kind of scholastic environment, it can be easy to be technical and factual and less focused on the Spirit and faith. The truths (thank godness!) of the gospel are simple and pure and they are what effect change more powerfully than anything else. I know this to be true.

Thank you for represnting the church and the Savior so well. Each seed that is planted is worth the effort.

Take care.
Mitchell Sego

PS Congrats on your engagement! I am also getting married to my sweetheart this summer in Mt. Timp. Happy days, eh?!

Hi Rachel! Just watched your video. Awesome job. ;)

I agree with you, Patrick. Someday, somehow, someway, people will KNOW. It might be in this life or the next, but everyone will be given the chance.

However..

I think i understand where Mark's coming from as well. Although we believe that there is GOOD in every religion and that we should learn from them, that does not destroy or diminish the fact that the CJCLDS has the FULNESS of the Gospel. I agree with Rachel that "there is a difficult balance between ecumenical outreach and assertion of truth". Personally, i believe it all comes down to our attitude on how we approach people in sharing this "goodnews" (Restoration, Plan of Salvation, etc.).

1 Nephi 14:10 says that, "Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth."

That doesnt mean that everything else (i.e., every other church) is bad and not worthy of any "smile" from our Father in Heaven, but i think it means that what our Father wants is for His children to be EXALTED, and without the Priesthood and Faith in and Knowledge of the TRUE Gospel, His children would come short of exaltation, and that's what Satan wants. It's kind of a technicality issue...

In short...

I believe that without the saving ordinances performed by proper Priesthood authority found in the ONLY TRUE and LIVING Church, a person CANNOT be saved (or exalted, i think, is the more proper term), but we do not FORCE people to believe that and we DO NOT condemn them for that. That's not the Lord's way of doing things. What we do is we do all we can to help them see the light we have through our examples, and assist them in searching and knowing the Truth for themselves. We help them by leading them to ASK GOD. And He promises that He will answer them.

So... there. ;)

Once again, great job, Rachel. And best wishes. =D

Rachel-
Thank you so much for being so ready and willing to explain common misconceptions and questions about our LDS faith. You are an example to me and to everyone in our Missionary Prep Class. We watched this video as a way to learn different ways of responding to such questions as your professor presented. I was astonished by your calm, collected thoughts that were simple, yet powerful. I was especially impressed at your response to the question about Temple ordinances. Your testimony of Jesus Christ and His mission here on Earth was very powerful and I again appreciate your willingness to stand up and tell Harvard (and the world with the internet) about our faith. You are an inspiration to me as a high school student and as a member missionary. Thank you for your inspired words!

Rachel,
Part of me is afraid of leaving a comment that sounds so uneducated... I promise I won't cite any scriptural references. I felt that you were very eloquent, wise and diplomatic in your responses to Ms. Quinn. I also noticed those same attributes while answering many doctoral citations in the comment section. I am thoroughly impressed with you as a person as well as your obviously strong testimony of Jesus Christ. I was sent this forum in an email and loved watching each segment besides the LDS segment. It must have been a wonderful experience to participate in such a diverse panel. You rock the Casbah...
p.s- I totally think you're winning by way of comments- you have tons!

Rachel,

Nicely done... Ms. Quinn does not have much light in her... my vibe is although she gave you a chance to voice your opinion.. her intentions are not wholesome.. her body language speaks volumes.. her attempts to muck rake were embarrassing... steer clear of this woman... as she is a wolf and her motives are not pure.. she is in my view attempting to destroy..

You were tremendous..
Keep the Faith.. don't let her push you

Mark

Rachel,

I hope when my daughters are your age they are prepared to answer similar questions with as much conviction and knowledge as you did. We watched this clip for family home evening and had a wonderful discussion about being pepared in knowledge and spirit to share our faith with others. Your testimony of the Saviour was powerful! Thank you for sharing it.

Excellent job, Rachel. One additional thought about the temple garment. In other religions, only the clergy wears special robes and vestments. In the LDS faith, since all are considered Saints, everyone is able to progress to an equal degree. I like the thought that exaltation is possible for everyone, not just a chosen few.

Rachel,

I only wish that more of us could express ourselves in the same manner. You were amazing. Thank you for sharing your light.

Rachel did a very, very good job at expressing what we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-saints believe. I am impressed that she was able to hand herself so well at Harvard. As LDS we are taught to love all people in the world. I hear this on a weekly basis where I attend church. Thank you, Rachel.

Very good job Rachel. Excellent comments.

Richard Packham's comment wasn't fully addressed, although the explanation of 1 Nephi 14 was very good.

The way I understand the Lord's comments to Joseph Smith about the other religions is in the same vein as the Lord's rebuke to Peter in Matt. 16, referring to him as "Satan", and "an offense". The Lord is generous with both praise and criticism.

The Lord's specific criticism was “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men (i.e. too much culture crept in), having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof (i.e. no apostolic authority to perform ordinances).”

Now, of course, none of *us* would be able to legitimately deliver that criticism. The Lord says what he says, and like the brother of Jared, we should humbly reply "I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie". (Ether 3:12).

Clarification: the parenthetical remarks in the quote "they draw near..." were mine.

Rachel: I am a senior missionary serving in the Historic Kirtland Ohio Sites. My daughter sent me this video. We both feel that you did an exceptional job in representing the Church. I am grateful to know that the Lord is raising up such a righteous generation to prepare the way for His second coming. Excellent job. Keep that goal of marrying in the Temple.

Rachel,
Well done on all accounts.

I believe I agree with you in that there are lots of religions, many with great teachings and beliefs. While many religions have many of the same beliefs we do, they do not have the full truth. Does that make them wrong? No, just not complete.

The belief we are superior to all others is not an attitude of God. We are not superior, just more enlightened. We all believe in the same God, just with different understandings.

Best wishes.

Rachel,

As I watched and listened to your interview, many fellow Harvard Mormons so much like you came to my mind. I had the great privilege of being the Director of the LDS Institute at Harvard in 1978-1984, and through your words so beautifully expressed, I heard anew their voices and feelings often stated in our Institute classes, social gatherings, and especially ice cream parties or Patriots Day breakfasts at my house in Lexington following the reenactment of the Battle of Lexington.

I felt your interview was a great privilege for you and that you nailed it very well. I beamed with pride at your spontaneous responses and I reveled in the memory of so many like you from so many years ago--how I wish they had been given the same privilege. The United Ministry often held open houses intermingling students from all of the faiths represented in the United Ministry. The office space in the basement of Memorial Church restricted the number we could invite, but always our students anxiously participated and invariably answered the same questions you so beautifully responded to. Their convictions and manner were also felt and often commented about by fellow members of the Ministry.

I loved your ability to express the depth of beliefs--testimony, and how well you described what it was to you and how you account for it. Beyond the words that so well carried your convictions, the soft assurance, demeanor, and spirit that accompanied them carried the thoughts of your heart into mine, and I am sure have and will carry them into the hearts of most of souls who observe your interview.

Thanks for your comments about diversity and richness of your Harvard experience. I felt exactly the same. My upbringing was in Logan, Utah--totally LDS. I needed and relished in life at Harvard. My greatest friends (and defenders) were my fellow ministers, pastors, rabbis, priests, sisters (nuns), etc., who regularly searched my convictions and our view of key issues that presented themselves week after week. The kindness and respect they always showed me fit very well with your comments about the truth and goodness in all denominations and our need to expand our tolerance and respect for all faiths and all people of faith. One of the greatest compliments of my life was being chosen by them to be President of the United Ministry, and a member of the Executive Committee for several years.

Please pass on my love for the LDSSA and the students and staff of the Institute of Religion--my heart is still there though I am now on the religion faculty at BYU.

Congratulations,

Alan K. Parrish

My respect goes to Rachel for her courage, confidence, and principled example. Thank you also to Harvard for providing such an open-minded and respectful forum.

While many in the media are looking to divide religions (religious intolerance seems to sell papers) it is nice to see people of different faiths and understandings coming together to learn and share ideas.

I think this has been a deathblow to the media's on-going stereotype of the "Utah" Mormon. My favorite moment was near the end when each of the other panelists, each of a different faith, showed respect for Rachel.

Rachel: Aloha! What a wonderful presentation and question/answer session. You unofficially represented the Church extremely well. Good luck in your educational endeavors.

Thank you!

Rachel!

The Spirit was definitely present when you spoke! You were direct, candid, and honest...it reminds me of the scripture: "For I am not aashamed of the gospel of Christ.."

You were great!

Hi Rachel!

Just wanted to also say how wonderful it was to watch this question/answer session. Thank you for being a light that anyone can appreciate!

For those who question if the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is Christian or is a cult, or why Evanglicals disparage it, go to:

MormonsAreChristian.blogspot.com

If you question if temple worship was practiced during Jesus time, go to:

NewTestamentTempleRitual.blogspot.com

I am a61 yrar school teacher whi has felt a call to the Church of LDS since my high school days and recently spoke with missoinaries in my home.
Thanks for a very honest heart felt explaination of Moronism in the life of a young adult. Oh, that more twenty yeay olds were more centered and had as good a graps on faith and spirtuality.

Bless You

Rachel
Thanks for adding to my testimony of Jesus Christ , Moroni says that the Father has bestowed charity upon all who are true followers of His Son , I know that makes one humble as you are, I see many couples at the Idaho Falls temple making marriage covenants under proper priesthood authority for time and all eternity and hope as you do so this summer that I might get a glimpse of that sacred occasion in your family's life. Your Brother

Go Rachel! It's been so long! You are such a beautiful young woman with an exraordinary understanding of the gospel. The last time I saw you, I think you had just come home from the doctor when you shoved wrapping paper, or something up your nose! You are already such a fine missionary making little Blackfoot, Idaho proud!

Love
Kayleen

Rachel,
In light of the TV guide and the HBO series "Big Love" coming out with an article and show about the sacred temple ceremony, I applaud the reverence that you showed regarding the sacred nature and the wearing of temple garments. Even without the experience of the Temple Endowment or having them yourself, you answered the questions with grace. Your parents and teachers have taught you to reverence the experience and they also deserve kudos. The moderator said; "they can be ordered online" almost as if that made them less than what they are. Our knowledge and learning make them sacred to us. It's too bad that some are not inclined to that respect. Thanks for the whole show and for representing our faith in such a good light.
Most Sincerely
Kathy Ford

You're an inspiration Rachel. Our ward missionaries visited our little family other day and mentioned this video clip. Apparently they'd forwarded the link to all sorts of people who'd expressed interest in our church... thought you'd like to know. Your comments struck a chord within me; I've had similar feelings to what you described while being away from Utah. Ultimately, we're all children of God. Regardless of affiliation, He sincerely and deeply loves each of us. Most every religion's purpose seems to be similar: we're all striving to recognize and thank the Creator and to follow His commands. I know this greatly pleases our Heavenly Father. I know that true joy can be found in any selfless, service-filled life, and that the opportunity to seek salvation and exaltation will be made available to all. So, first and foremost, ours ought to be a message of love and acceptance... and that's what you projected. It was so nicely done. Thank you.

David

P.S. Props from my wife Chantel. She's from Blackfoot too!

Very impressive

Rachel,

Just watched the Day of Faith few minutes ago. You did a wonderful job. I will have this portion download to show our youth here in the Philippines what a prepared young woman of your age could do to" make a dent on the universe " by truly living our religion.

Carlo V. Crisanto
Iligan City, Philippines (City in the Southern Philippines where Muslim and Christian co-mingle)

Rachel,

Your video clip was forwarded to me from another seminary teacher. We are showing your clip tomorrow in a combined seminary AM class emphasizing Romans 1:16-17, as you epitomize what it means to "not [be] ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

I am amazed at the level of difficulty of the questions that you fielded; and moreso with the ease in which you answered them. Your non-confrontational approach was instrumental in bringing down others defenses and attributed greatly to the positive and lasting inroads that you created (2 Nephi 33:2). The members of the Church really benefited from your heartfelt and insightful responses. Thank you so much for being so courageous.

Rachel,

You did a terrfic job- so concise and with such clarity.
You checked the moderator again and again.

Your poise, vocabulary and grace ruled the forum.

Only the Jewish fellow held his own as well, but had so many questions that he was struggling with.

Good job you.
:)

dbs

Very Nice! I have been inactive for more than 20 years and felt that she was the best spoken on the panel. Thanks for your efforts to speak the word of truth. I think the Lady asking the questions had a body language that was totally different from the other panel members......Just a observation....thank you for your great words.

Thanks to Rachel for a wonderful expression of her beliefs and to Harvard for the panel discussion. We are in desperate need of more of this kind of communication and I resonate strongly with your comment, Rachel, on experiencing a strengthening of your own faith as you learn more about other religions. A professor of mine both encouraged and gave a name for it--holy envy--and I hope that others will see the goodness and understanding in you and the LDS faith and feel the same.

I would love to know what kind of experiences you have had and responses you have received since this forum

Rachel,

That was truly wonderful. I am so impressed with your humble testimony and the articulate and respectful way you expressed yourself. I found out about this through my niece Shae Snarr (from Rexburg, ID) who apparently knows you through debate. I generally delete forwarded emails but I watched this today and was so impressed and touched by your remarks. You did an outstanding job on every single question. What a great opportunity for you. I have no doubt many, many lives have been touched by your simple, honest, testimony including MINE.

Thanks!

Tracy Smith (Rexburg, ID)

Wow, Rachel I'm so impressed. You have a wonderful talent for expressing yourself and your feelings in such an eloquent way. You are a beautiful girl and are definitely making an impression on the world. Also, congrats on the upcoming wedding. Be sure to say hi to Janel and all of the rest of your family for me.

Jenny

Thanks for that touching interpretation of LDS. You really did a great job!

Wonderful job. My husband and I are from Blackfoot and Shelly. His Uncle was Wayne Esplin. Dean Esplin is his son and we lived as neighbors. You are a wonderful missionary and will make a difference in many lives.
Congratulations on your wedding. We were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple in 1965.

Hi Rachel,

I have been converted since 1986 in Venezuela. I was sealed 1992 in Salt Lake Temple. It was my dream to be sealed there since my baptism. Now, I have two beautiful daughters 11 and 9 and I'm so thankful to the Lord for them. I am also thankful that he gives you the opportunity to be viewed through internet.

Brother Parrish wrote about his experiences in Harvard and all the young and bright LDS students he met, when he was working in Harvard. I am also so thankful for these beautiful spirits the Lord is sending to earth to be the new generation of human beings. And my prayer is to the Lord to watch all the time for Gina Cecilia y Sofia Alejandra, so they can grow not only intellectuality but more than anything SPIRITUALLY.. Unfortunately I do not consider myself a wonderful example for them. I am working on it, sometimes and now realizing that I have a lot of "things on MY SHELF" and probably a lot more under ground or maybe in "WASTEBASKET". I'm very thankful to Heavenly Father to inspired me to keep working my part in his beautiful Plan of Salvation. I wondering if your Mom and Dad can share some tips with me about what to do to help our Father in Heaven to raise their children.

I have a friend in my ward and she has a 16 or 17 years old son who always inspire me to have faith in the young people.. I asked her once and she answered: "He was born like that. We haven't done anything extraordinary".

I am so thankful to the Lord for the missionary work, for my LDS and non-LDS friends, because I can see the Lord's love for them also. I am also thankful for my husband and the great support I have from him in spite of all the challenges we faced and we still face.

Congratulation for your marriage. That's the most teaching experience a human being can have.

I will include you and Scott in my prayers.

Norka Ortiz-Camargo Carr
P.S. Sorry for my grammar and spelling mistakes. This other thing a need to keep working on! ;+)

Yeah, you are an awesome missionary!

Thanks Rachel, This was a great missionary clip for all of our young people. We saw this in Tokyo.

Rachel, i was emotional when i heard your testomies. Yes, you are a great missionary. Me and my friends here in Tonga think you're great. We love you and may the Lord bless you.

'Ofa Atu

I appreciated finding this "Day of Faith" interview! Rachel has not only given a beautiful face to Mormonism, but is an excellent example of the vibrant, articulate and intelligent community of Latter-day Saints. This reporter moderator chose to tackle the "big gun" questions, and Rachel handled them in a poised, graceful and mature-beyond-years manner. I am particularly impressed with her honesty and candidness. It is not possible to know or understand all things about the gospel of Jesus Christ, however that does not prevent us from receiving a personal witness of truth. Being willing to admit that we have much more to learn is embracing the truth that each of us are dependent on God for our knowledge, and He reveals it to us "line upon line", step-by-step. As Jesus taught, we must be able to digest the milk, before we can tackle the meat. Kudos to Rachel Esplin. May you be blessed on your life journey, and continue to brighten the world in whatever part of His vineyard the Lord takes you.

I was informed of this presentation by a good friend and I appreciate the opportunity to listen to such thoughtful and well informed young lady. Rachel you are a credit to your family and to your church.

Thank you for your willingness to bear testimony of the truths you know. I would be honored to make your acquaintance someday.

Why do smart people believe the unbelievable? Well, most of them believed before they were smart. There is no way this girl, had she not been raised Mormon, would have joined the Mormon church had she not had any exposure until she was at college. I can't imagine any thinking adult joining this church, not without googling it first, and that would rapidly puncture the entire myth.

In response to Kris, most people don't receive their education from "google." lol

Religion is based on faith.

Mary Ann, what you see as faith, I see as blind trust, in spite of all evidence to the contrary. In fact, the more contrary evidence you show a believer, the more sure they become of their own faith.

Here's another question. What is the difference in faith between the young Mormon girl and the Muslim woman next to her? Each knows that they have the one and only true path to God. Each knows that their prophet is the true prophet and the other one is false. Each one has a set of scriptures that is better than the Bible, the most correct book and the most correct book conceivable. Each is willing to make great sacrifices for their faith. Yet they both can't be right because they are mutually exclusive propositions.

To the Mormons reading this, as soon as you can figure out why you reject Islam and the Qu'ran, you'll know why I also reject Mormonism and the Book of Mormon.

Bless you Rachel. You are a beautiful honest and lovely young lady. I appreciate your candor in this discussion and I will forward this video to my young adult children who struggle with these doctrines and hesitate to verbalize their questions. Each member a missionary. You are.

Rachel, you have really put Blackfoot on the map. The First American scholarship from the Stufflebeam family that you received is a very good investment. We are very proud of you. I hope you will someday share some of the Asian beliefs and philosophy. I was born in China. Best Wishes to you and your family.

Rachel, as an early morning seminary teacher I couldn't have been more excited or grateful to see you testify with such humility and confidence. Your comments lend themselves perfectly to our study of the New Testament this year; Romans 1:16 for instance :) I've encouraged my students to watch and learn from your experience. We will be discussing their impressions tomorrow. More than anything I want them to learn from you that we who search for truth have much to learn from one another no matter what our religion. And we can do so in the spirit of love and friendship. I want my students never to be afraid of examining the gospel. Thank you for your example and honesty about sometimes 'struggling' with certain doctrine as you seek personal revelation to their truthfulness. The youth are strengthened by you and Im so grateful to have heard your message. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!
ps. you didn't mention if you attended seminary. I can't imagine you didn't. :) Any advice you'd like to impart to me as a teacher or my students looking back on your seminary experience?

Rachel,

I sat and watched the video with my 11-year-old daughter. She was completely absorbed in what you had to say. I always pray that my children will be blessed with good friends and people who will influence and inspire them to good things. It didn't occur to me that one of those people might come through an Internet video. I will be viewing the video again with my 15-year-old daughter. Thank you for living your life in such a way that you could be prepared for this moment. By the way, you remind me very much of a young woman I know at Harvard - Stephanie Brinton - who is also engage to be married this summer. Do you happen to know Stephanie and her sister, Lindsey?

I shared my feelings of Rachel's interview with my YW class this morning. Our lesson was on "Growing and Maturing in Self Reliance." Thinking is such a virtue. We all need to connect our feelings (heart) with our intellect (head) and the only way to do it is to think. Thanks for being such an example of where thinking can get you!

Thankyou for your example....New Zealand

Truly all that have watched this video in the proper spirit have a greater understanding of what Nephi means when he mentions speaking with the "tongue of angels."

The following scripture also came to mind after watching this video.

D&C 100:5-8

5 Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men;
6 For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say.
7 But a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall declare whatsoever thing ye declare in my name, in solemnity of heart, in the spirit of meekness, in all things.
8 And I give unto you this promise, that inasmuch as ye do this the Holy Ghost shall be shed forth in bearing record unto all things whatsoever ye shall say.

Thank you Rachel for living your life in such a way that the Spirit can work through you to bless the lives of others.

I find it interesting that there is such a great response to Rachel's question and answer session. Why is there no similar response for the other young representers of their faith? I know we LDS think of yourselves as close and supportive of each other but shouldn't other faiths have done the same?
Having said that, Rachel, you were and are a wonderful spokesman for all young women in this time.
In these days it is actually "comforting" to know there are young people like you out there.

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelation 22:18-19
What has Joseph Smith done?! He has added to the Holy Bible!
Referring to Rachel's comment on "the Fall" she states that she(Eve) made a wise choice!? Choose the better part? The decision that needed to be made in order to replenish the earth with children? That Eve REJOICED and was GLAD!? WHAT?!? No where in the BIBLE does it say that she rejoiced. God's punishment was the Pain of child birth for the woman. No where does it say that she wouldn't have had children if she chose not to sin. It just says that "In pain you shall bring forth children;" Genesis 3:16
How was bringing sin upon the earth a thing to rejoice about? Seperation from God.That is pretty twisted.

She believes that the LDS church is not the only truth...
CHurch DOctrine : Joseph Smith "You take all your other religions bring what truth you have and we will add to it"

The true scandal of the Holy Bible is that Jesus is the Only way! "Jesus said to him, "I am the way , the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6

Bottom line: We are all sinners. Have you ever told a lie? God's word says,"all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire.." Revelation 21:8
Ever stolen anything? Used God's name in vain? Ever been angry with a sibling?Called him/her an idiot? God's word says you have commited murder in your heart. "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgement." Matthew 5:22
Ever looked with lust? "You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not commit adultery.' "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already commited adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28
James 2:10 "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all."

Do you see how impossible it is to measure up to God's Perfection. We CANNOT. Are you concerned that you fall short of Gods perfect standards and are on your way to hell? aka "outer darkness"?
This is why Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
You must repent(turning away from sin)
"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" Acts 3:19

With Love
~God Bless~