Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. (See 1 Kgs. 18:21 President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had "never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1941, p. 123). This is a hard doctrine, but it is a particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ!
Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. M. J. Sobran also said, "A religious conviction is now a second-class conviction, expected to step deferentially to the back of the secular bus, and not to get uppity about it" (Human Life Review, Summer 1978, pp. 58–59).
This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions. Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened. Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, "summer is nigh" (Matt. 24:32 )
Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat!
The Latest Wedding Cake
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This is the wedding cake I did for Trent's wedding this past weekend. Two
of the cakes were chocolate/chocolate chip with a chocolate mousse filling
and th...
14 years ago
1 comment:
Bobejo,
Thank you for taking the time to post that. It is enlightening and encouraging. It is a topic that is on all of our minds right now as our country is in turmoil. Hypocrisy and lack of tolerence reign, fed by the very people screaming those words. It is a very uncertain time and yet we may be certain that all will be well as we follow the council of the leaders that God has provided for us and as we love and pray for those who rage against us.
A couple of weeks ago I was teaching a lesson on "Standing Strong During the Storms of Life". One of the stories was about when Joseph Smith was tarred and feathered. One of the women in the class raised her hand and tearfully told us the her great-great grandfather was one of those men that tortured the Prophet. Eventually, because of the way that Joseph Smith conducted himself, with dignity, love and forgiveness, (you have to know the he prayed for those men, even after the death of his infant son!) her grandfather was forgiven by Joseph and was baptized.
My point is that we must hold strong to our convictions, but conduct ourselves as Christ did. "Forgive them for they know not what they do."
Take heart, these are hard but AMAZING times that we are in! We will see it all work to His glory and to the Second Coming of His Son! (I have chills!)
I love you! Thank you for sharing with me! (and us!) LOL
Kimberli
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