lying, crazy... or telling the truth

i have often tried to put myself in the shoes of an outsider, someone who happens to not be a member of my church. i wonder who it would feel to hear the story of the first vision for the first time, to hear that god and jesus christ themselves appeared to a fourteen year old boy - simply because he'd had enough faith to ask them which church to join. 

every time, i know it must sound crazy! why would someone listen to what i have to say to them about my religion once they know that? but the thing is - i know for sure it's true. that it really happened. and that anyone can know it's true if they want to.

every time it makes me think of the book the lion, the witch and the wardrobe by the great c.s. lewis. lucy, upon returning from narnia is shattered to know that her brother edmund (who accompanied her there!!) then tells everyone that it's just a joke, just a game they've been playing. in the end, her insistence is so great, that her other siblings approach the professor whose house they are staying in to ask his opinion... and here's what went down:

“Logic!” said the Professor half to himself. “Why don’t they teach logic at these schools? There are only three possibilities. Either your sister is telling lies, or she is mad, or she is telling the truth. You know she doesn’t tell lies and it is obvious that she is not mad. For the moment then and unless any further evidence turns up, we must assume that she is telling the truth.” (- an excerpt taken from the lion, the witch and the wardrobe by c.s. lewis.)

and to me, that's how the story of the first vision is too! any one who met joseph smith would have know that he was not a liar, and was clearly not crazy - so one can only assume he was telling the truth. man, c.s. lewis knew his stuff. 

how else could you possibly explain the 14782473 yes that's 14 million and some) members of our church - and the near on 75000 missionaries out in the world sharing this very message? simple. it's true, i know it - and you can too... so if you want to see what i'm talking about click here and order yourself a free copy of my favourite book. i'm either lying, crazy or telling the truth... so why don't you find out?