Sabbath Reflections - Obedience

In the face of societal shifts and subtle nuances that tend to redefine good as bad and bad as good, it is reassuring amid the clouds of fog that hang low that we have constants, standards and divine principles with which to adhere. It isn't easy as "flaxen cord" temptations or persuasions tend to draw many away from eternal truths and principles. Although our society is like unto many in history, the destructive forces around us seem to be gathering strength, and at times they can be very persuasive. Even so, it is comforting to find safety and refuge within our homes and families amid the societal storms without. In our homes and families we are the determinants of our individual and family course. We determine what curriculum or subtle nuance we invite in. There are many that would seek to invade our safe havens of refuge, but at the end of the day, they have no cause of imposition unless we extend the invitation. The opportunities for inviting the subtleties of society into our homes are abundant, in Television, Music, the Internet, books, politics, language, contention and many other avenues or mediums. However, it is our heart, our attitude and our desire that determines ultimately what influence these societal shifts and impositions may have in our homes. The decisions we undertake in these defining moments are critical. If ever their was a time to stake our claim and establish a righteous home, a safe haven and refuge, a home that has righteous defenses to guard against the fiery darts that are constant in their barrage, it is now! If ever there was a time for obedience to divine and eternal principles and constants, it is now! And yet, there are many who straddle with a foot on both sides, whether they fail to see the line of demarcation or choose to ignore it. These are times that will try men's souls; these are times that will separate the wheat from the chaff; even times that will set our eternal course. Elder Neal A. Maxwell once stated of these societal shifts and our responses thereto, "...there are some who try to serve the Lord without offending the devil." Obedience to these divine directives may not make us popular in today's world, and may even draw the ire and even ridicule, at times, of friends and associates. But what price do we pay if we open the doors of our hearts and homes to the subtle (sometimes not so subtle) nuances of society's shifting winds? It is ours to decide, to be obedient to what is right and eternal, or to have enmity with the giver of the eternal gift. There is not a nuanced position.

In making decisions there is a story told of 5 frogs on a log; 4 decide to jump off. How many frogs remain on the log? Many would say 1, but the answer is 5; deciding to jump off and jumping off are not the same. Now is the time to decide, and in deciding - act, before the societal storms gather greater strength. Fortunately, amid these storms He who suffered all things for you and me, whose love for each of us is without measure, has given us wonderful resources with which we may draw strength. Resources that when applied, with exactnesss, become unbreachable defenses that protect our homes, our families and our hearts. Even so, it demands obedience with exactness. Obedience, a perfect attribute found in the Master, is what we should be striving to perfect in us. As He was obedient and willingly submissive, so should we be!

Our resources are abundant - we have the scriptures that provide answers and roadmaps to us today, they keep us grounded, when we search and ponder them with diligence; we have our tender supplications to a loving and wise Heavenly Father that loves us when we pray; we have the Sabbath day to recharge, renew and keep us grounded in Christ; we have our families that in drawing near unto us provide solace, strength and peace amid the outward storms; we have the Temples, Houses of the Lord, wherein we draw strength, inspiration and revelation to our personal needs; we have opportunities of service that provide perspective and selfless hearts; we have the Prophets of the latter-days whose counsel is constant in its declaration of truth and the realities of Christ; and we have Christ whose perfect empathy and love are constant in our lives. And yet, there are some, perhaps many, that fail to draw upon these resources. Be it through the buffettings of our society, our hope to not "offend the devil" or whatever the course may be, we struggle.

Harold B. Lee and Neal A. Maxwell have provided some critical counsel in this regard, which for some may be difficult. Notwithstanding, their counsel is applicable more today that at any other time in the past, as the nuances in our society today are clouding the course with a low lying fog.

President Harold B. Lee taught: “The power of Satan will increase; we see it in evidence on every hand. … “Now the only safety we have as members of this church is to do exactly what the Lord said to the Church in that day when the Church was organized. We must learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through his prophet, ‘as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; … as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.’ (D&C 21:4–5.) There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory.’ (D&C 21:6.)”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell stated: "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."

May we so live!