I’ve been really disgusted and discouraged lately about the Proposition 8 issues and how a few of my friends and former team mates at Ricks, BYU and even Burley, feel about the whole thing. Proposition 8 is an amendment to ban gay marriage in California. It recently passed and there are gay rights activists raising a ruckus at temples in California. Makes me wonder, "How close are we to the second coming?"
Anyway, the point of this study is to tie what I’m learning about TRUTH in the program to the truth the world is attempting to create in their shallow and shaded minds.
The "Key Principle" in Step 4 about Truth is to "Make a searching and fearless written moral inventory of yourself". This is something I’ve been working on for some time now and it’s a pretty challenging task. The purpose of this step is to "survey or summarize the thoughts, events, emotions, and actions of [my] life, making [my] inventory as complete as possible" (p. 21).
Joseph Smith knew that no enemy then present or in the future would have sufficient power to frustrate or stop the purposes of God. We are all familiar with his prophetic words: “The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done” (History of the Church, 4:540). (The Truth Shall Go Forth )
And this is happening today: persecutions are raging, mobs are combining, armies are assembling…but the truth of God is going forth boldly.
Soon after the Martyrdom and in fulfillment of Joseph’s vision, Brigham Young and the Church began preparations to move to the Rocky Mountains. Hardship, affliction, death, and apostasy were ever present. Still, the work moved forward. (The Truth Shall Go Forth )
I feel we are in the same situation now with the Proposition 8 issues. There are members of the Church who are going against the words of the Prophets. There are members of the Church who are rallying at temples. There are members of the Church who are justifying their actions. It’s SO important that I re-dedicate myself to building my testimony and teaching what I know to be true to my children.
I love Caleb and Madi so much. Becky is my best friend. I’m grateful to be so blessed ("seriously so blessed" :)).
M. Russell Ballard goes on in his talk about the Truth:
…while the Church and its doctrine were still under public attack, Elder Reed Smoot was elected to the United States Congress and had to fight to be seated. A great deal was said of the Church and its teachings during that time—much of it hurtful and directed towards President Joseph F. Smith and other Church leaders. However, some newspaper articles began to speak of members of the Church as contributing citizens and good people….
None of this was easy. Challenges, obstacles, and persecution accompanied every attempt to take “the truth of God” into every continent and country so that it could “sound … in every ear.” Still, we moved forward in faith; challenges were met, and obstacles were overcome…we have experienced unprecedented prominence in the worldwide community of faith. Probably not coincidentally, we have also experienced unprecedented ideological attacks on our people, our history, and our doctrine through the media.
“The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught.
“For God doth not walk in crooked paths, … neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round.
“Remember … that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men” (D&C 3:1–3 ).
Wow, this is amazing stuff – how right on. The philosophies of men are the "crooked paths". "The work of men" is frustrated. As long as I hold to the rod, do my part, and live my testimony, myself and my family will be blessed and protected.
his is a great time to live, brothers and sisters, and it is up to us to carry on the rich tradition of devoted commitment that has been the hallmark of previous generations of Latter-day Saints. This is not a time for the spiritually faint of heart. We cannot afford to be superficially righteous. Our testimonies must run deep, with spiritual roots firmly embedded in the rock of revelation. And we must continue to move the work forward as a covenanted, consecrated people, with faith in every footstep, “till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”
This is what I love about the Gospel of Jesus Christ – when it doubt, search it out and you can always find answers from prophets and apostles who share the words of truth and inspired direction. I have a testimony of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that Christ lives. I know that He guides us today via his apostles and prophets. I know that as I seek to follow Him and keep His commandments, I have no need to fear.
Sincerely,
Nate
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