Sunday, November 09, 2008

Blessed are ye: a svithe

While I expressed some concern after the election, I have to say that I am not bitter that Obama is now our President. I have actually felt pretty peaceful that we are where we need to be. What does that mean exactly? I'm not sure. I know it doesn't mean life will be all roses and no thorns. I have a feeling that both good and bad things will come. All I know is that what comes will come (good or bad), and we should worry most about the things directly in our control. What is in our control? Our hearts. Our words. Our actions.

This svithe is actually inspired by my cousin's 8 year old daughter. My cousin posted that the other night in prayers her daughter said,
"We are thankful for President Monson (the leader of our church) and for President Obama. Please bless him, and bless us that we will like him soon..."
From the mouth of babes! I think she hit the nail on the head. President Obama is the President of the United States and he needs our prayers.

Luke chapter 6 also holds some very pertinent lessons for those of us who weren't quite elated at the election outcome.

vs. 27 "Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you."
vs. 28 "Pray for them which despitefully use you."
vs. 30 "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."
vs. 36 "Be ye merciful"

Another verse I thought was relevant to the outburst and protestation of Prop 8 and The Church.

vs. 22 "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall separate you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake."

My cousin pointed me to an amazing talk given by Neal A. Maxwell way back in '78. I swear it could have been written yesterday!

"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."

"In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ!"

"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. "

"If people, however, are not permitted to advocate, to assert, and to bring to bear, in every legitimate way, the opinions and views they hold which grow out of their religious convictions, what manner of men and women would we be?"

"If the challenge of the secular church becomes very real, let us, as in all other relationships, be principled but pleasant. Let us be perceptive without being pompous. Let us have integrity and not write checks with our tongues which our conduct cannot cash."

Amen.

8 comments:

Erin said...

Thanks, Celia! This something I really needed today.

I have been getting so caught up in the Prop 8 fiasco. It is supremely frustrating to me when people will not allow us the right to base decisions upon faith. It is quite obvious to me that I need to learn to "be still and know that [He] is God"!

Unknown said...

wow that is an awesome talk I loved it also erins comment be still and know that He is god wow people have a hard time with both of these things

Th. said...

.

Allow me to share.

Celia Marie (W.) B. said...

TH. try that one again. It didn't work.

Erin S. said...

Great talk! I've been thinking the same thing recently. Our church is now in the spotlight, and will be for the indefinite future. It's time to decide who to follow, and not just sit back and watch. There needs to be active following. If that means that we're the minority, than so be it!

J D C and N said...

Really a great post Celia! And that talk by Elder Maxwell was awesome.

Amanda said...

I really want to know what Th. said.

Celia Marie (W.) B. said...

Amanda, I finally found the article. The permalink to the article is broken for some reason. The article is on this page, just scroll down until you see the title "If elected, Obama will be my president." It's a good article.