4 posts tagged “faith”
This is a warning issued in 1978 but is more applicable than ever.
"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."
(Elder Neal A. Maxwell, BYU devotional address, Oct 10, 1978)
30 years ago - almost to the day - Neal A. Maxwell said the following at a BYU devotional.
In 1995, Gordon Hinckley, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sought to bring clarity to many of the questions at stake in modern debate. (And what's the role of a prophet if not to provide the long-range view on these kinds of matters!)
Over the years I have loved the simplicity and clarity of the language that outlines the fundamental organizing principles for a healthy society. I remember thinking how timely the announcement was in 1995 but it seems all the more timely given recent legislation in Massachusetts, Canada parts of Europe and in California.
This is a defining moment and here is what I believe a modern Prophet has to say on the matter.
1- Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
2- Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.
3- We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
4- Children are entitled to birth within the
bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor
marital vows with complete fidelity.
5- We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere
to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family
as the fundamental unit of society.
The full text is here: http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,161-1-11-1,00.html
The Wall Street Journal posts this fairly unbiased article illustrating an under current Romney faced in his bid for the Republican nomination.
What surprises me is the outpouring of positive feedback about Mormons coming out of the Salt Lake Olympics -- people extolling Mormon families, praising our humanitarian aid efforts, commenting on how clean Salt Lake City is (where the Church is headquartered) and how welcoming the place was. Is that good will gone? Or have the anti-Mormon evangelicals stirred up unwarranted fear by putting forth false ideas about Mormonism.
We went window shopping for homes today. Drove out to Dublin California, 36 miles East of San Francisco, to look at homes to see what we could afford. After 2 years in this 1942 fixer we're just really tired of constant and overwhelming projects and feeling like the end is never in sight. (Ever see the movie Money Pit with Tom Hanks? It's part comedy; part tragedy.)
So now seeing that we could get a brand new home in an area where the Church is more established (we're Mormons) and the schools might be worth attending the internal debate begins. (I say might because if Schwarzenegger passes his mandatory sex education bill I'll have a harder time putting the kids back in public schools.) Do I really want to double my commute from 40 minutes to 1.5 hours? Is it worth the drive to have closet doors that close all the way and a yard that is groomed by an HOA? To trade authentic Indian and Thai food for the standard Chevy's and El Torito fare?
Is it worth giving up a huge back yard and proximity to some great friends, and a really great view of the San Francisco Bay for a smaller space in a brand new home in a community where there are no gangs and I might want my kids to find an eternal mate some day?
Do I really want to walk away from a fence that is falling down, 2 broken windows, a basement that floods yearly, a tile floor that the contractor never finished (and he's been paid in full for 8 months now), a rusted out chimney pipe that leaks H20 in and C0 out, unfinished baseboards and a kitchen that we tore out so the rats would know they're not welcome?
After hearing the Church broadcast tonight I feel so at peace with the idea of leaving this place and putting my family in different surroundings. I feel like we were obedient in moving here. That feeling of inspiration to move to this home is the only reason I agreed to buy this place. Jean's answer to prayer about this was stronger than my own, but I know to trust her on those matters since it's usually me on my knees asking God if her inspiration is correct.
But what has changed? Does God ask you to live somewhere for only 2 years so you can pass an unwritten test? I don't doubt that, but I wonder what lessons we should've learned here. Maybe it's because we got to move across the street from a really great, Christian homeschooling family and help them find out that Mormons are Christians. Despite what Huckabee thinks of Mormons and even what he thinks of home schooling. But that's for a different rant! Or is it all about the housing market? Did God put us in a temporary house so that when the suburban housing market falls out from under it that we could afford to move there? Maybe.
All I know is, today I feel like I have something to dream towards. And something to ask God about.
