Written by Bok-Joo, Park, 박복주 朴福主
I was born during the Korean War. My mother was
pregnant with me when the war started. I have four brothers and
one sister. My hometown was one of the most important strategic
areas. Many of my family, friends and neighbors fled the Communist
invasion in order to survive. In those days of Korean War, my mother buried a Genealogical Book in the ground of my family garden with a jar. Because there were many blazing houses in our village in accordance with bombing. This Genealogical Book is treasured as an heirloom in our family from generation to generation. Many were killed by the enemy from the North, but my family miraculously survived. Years later, when I finished high-school, I moved the capital city of Seoul. I needed more education. I wanted more knowledge of life. At that time, I tried to get into university, but like most of Korea, my family, was very poor. This poor life frustrated me. I became discouraged, disappointed with my life. But I made a firm determination and had worked my way through university. I had many questions, such as "Why am I here?",
"Why was I born into poverty?", "Why is life so unfair?",
"Why do bad things happen to good people?". Also, I wondered,
"Does God exist?". No one had answer this questions for
me. One day, when I a freshman of Jung Ang university in Seoul, Ever since the sayings of Jesus and accounts of
the Apostles were written down, Christian missionaries spread their
message of faith out into the world. The story of Jesus touched
me deeply. He spoke the language of the common people. He was a
great teacher. He reached into the minds and hearts of people -to
the poor, the uneducated, and to the crowds of needy It is written that western missionaries were not allowed in Korea until the 1880's, but copies of Gospels translated into Korean had been sumggled across the Manchurian border some years before. When missionaries were finally admitted, they found converts ready to be baptized because they had the Gospels and accepted their message. Many years later, during the Korean War, U.S.
Servicemen brought in this true Gospel of Jesus Christ into Korea.
Since I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
I have learned many things. Looking across the centuries and many
religions, whether inprimitive or more developed faiths, one finds
that heart of religion is man's desire to feel at home in the universe,
to find out some meaning in life, to cope with the unknown, to deal
with uncertain, to find answers. I know that Joseph Smith was a God's prophet in
the Latter-days. He was honest with himself, with his neighbors,
and with God. He received revelations from God. We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet [download]
When I sing this hymn, I always think of Joseph
Smith. Latter-day Saints are not narrowly patriotic. We are loyal
to our country, but not in the spirit of "right or wrong, my
country first." Our first and greatest loyalty to God and humankind.
We looks beyond the boundary of our own country. We are world citizens.
All men are our brothers and sisters. I think religion is more than
feeling, more than hope, more than a mystery.
October 5, 2001 *E-mail: pcway@hanafos.com / pcway@korea.com *Church* |
All Contents Copyright by 1999-2009
For questions and comments, send e-mail to
pcway@hanafos.com
http://www.ldskorea.net
TEL: 010-4236-9900
/ 070-7620-9900 / 031-726-9900 / FAX: 031-726-9966
I
have often been asked why I became a Christian, a Latter-day Saint(LDS,
Mormon).
First of all, let me explain a little about my background. 
and my mother is Ae-Soon, Choi(崔愛順, 최애순, 1910.8.20∼1995. 2.1). 
two missionaries visited at my boarding 
people who
gathered around him. Jesus is the Son of God, the Redeemer of the
world, the Savior of mankind and the organizer of the Kingdom of
God upon the Earth. Although his ministry lasted but a few short
years, Jesus' influence was profound. I know that he died on the
cross for us. The Gospels tell the brief ministry of Jesus that
transformed the words! When I sing hymns in sacrament meeting, my
heart ponds in rhythm with atonement of Jesus Christ.
*Home
Page: 
