A More Determined Discipleship

My friend Debra posted this talk, and I thought it was just too powerful and prophetic not to do the same. As most of you know, California voters passed Proposition 8, banning same-sex marriage. It suprised me to know there were still many people who were willing to stand up for their morals. It also surprised me to see the anger and hatred from other people. There are people who are "blaming" the fact that this proposition passed on the Mormons. The one thing that doesn't surprise me is that the Church is being attacked once again. Yesterday there were protesters marching in West Hollywood, and somehow they ended up at the Los Angeles temple grounds. There were so many people, carrying signs calling the church bigoted, and saying go back to utah, so many people that the temple had to close. I haven't heard anything today about it, because I don't always follow the news, so I don't know if they are still there or if the temple is open again. It makes no sense, because there were so many other churches and organizations backing the amendment. But of course, they chose the true church to hate on... Anyway, here are some words from Elder Neal A. Maxwell. They gave me a renewed perspective and motivation, and confirmed my own personal faith. Like I said, very powerful and prophetic. (this is from 1978, by the way)

From Elder Neal A. Maxwell:

"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. 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..'

"This is hard doctrine, but it is 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. . . . 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.' Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat."

A More Determined Discipleship By Elder Neal A. Maxwell