A religion that takes over your whole life? Let’s just worry about it one day a week and forget about it for the rest.

Prayer that requires thought, mental devotion, and faith? Let’s just write a script so it’s easier.

Worship that means becoming introspective, emotionally mature, and honest with ourselves? Let’s make that look a little cooler with a fun tower so everyone can see when we are being righteous.

But even today, where pretty much everything is more convenient than it was 2,000 years ago, we know that religion, at its core, is not meant to be convenient.

Although modern technology and abundance can help us learn about new service activities, bring temples closer to our house, make video-chatting with people a breeze, allow us to stock up on extra food…

It doesn’t make the actual heart of true religion easy.

Loving people is hard work.

Serving people is hard work.

Forgiving people is hard work.

There are no shortcuts.

And that’s the point, right?

As Neill F. Marriott eloquently said, NOW is the time to do all of these things. In our messy, inconvenient mortal life filled with obligations and pain and exhaustion.

We are supposed to serve when it’s inconvenient, love when it’s difficult, and forgive when it stretches our souls.

Because that’s what our Savior did.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post An inconvenient religion first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.