Stand Up

I got to talk with one of my favorite people in the world this week. We met up at a local park so our little ones could play and talked about the state of the world and the messages and themes from conference. This beautiful and insightful friend of mine expressed her great frustration and even anger with the way so many people are trying to force their evil philosophies into society as normal and right. She was particularly concerned with the new trend in many "professional" spheres to stop telling people about right and wrong and to simply support them in their choices and respect their freedom. She said she was frustrated because she does not know how to make a difference or how to stand up. She said she simply won't do what the "professional" recommendations are in her field of work because she actually wants to HELP people. That is standing up. The bravest way possible.  I have struggled with similar thoughts of: "How can I make a difference?" "What can I really do? I am at home with my babies all day. I can't go out and save the world?" "What can I possibly do to help the Christians all over the world who are suffering and dying for the cause of truth?" The impressions that have come to me have been to work within my sphere of influence and give to the Church. The greatest impact I can have is within my own family. I will arm my boys to the teeth with Gospel truths and examples of how to apply them in everyday choices. I will counsel with them, warn them, cheer for them, support them and set clear rules for them. I will make sure they understand the WHY of the commandments and of our family rules. I will serve my primary class and cub scouts with a full and sincere heart. I will do all I feel prompted to do to reach out to them and their families. That is where my influence will be the most powerful right now. That is my call. As as far as "saving the world" goes I believe what Elder Holland said, we are doing better than we think we are. As we pay our tithing, give generously to the missionary, temple and humanitarian funds, fast and pay fast offerings we are literally saving the world. The Church reaches out to help all over the planet. The church is run, as testified by many lately in conference, by skilled businessmen and women, by seasoned lawyers, negotiators, and those filled with the Spirit of prophecy. There could not be a better way to lift and serve the good and righteous of the world than to support the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

The prophecies of the last days are being fulfilled all around us. Wrong is made to look right. Right is made to look wrong. The hearts of so many are turning to stone. Persecutions are befalling all who follow Christ. Wars, tumults and suffering are ever present. The restored Gospel is flooding the earth and temples are being built up all over. Family history work is turning the hearts of the children to their fathers in remarkable and unprecedented ways. Satan is raging. He knows his time is short. He is trying everything. He is taking those flaxen cords he has so carefully been weaving around the necks of so many people and turning them to strong chains. We are being warned so often about the everyday little things because they are the very things that will protect us from his influence. Daily prayer, scriptures study, fasting, delighting in the Sabbath, being with and working with our families, making time for indexing and family history, the list can go on and on. These things fill our days and hearts with the Spirit which is exactly what we need to withstand the evil of our day. Without the Spirit we can't Stand Up or Stand Out.

As I read from 2 Nephi this morning I was impressed with the comforting counsel that Nephi gave to his future posterity. He was warning them of the destruction of the wicked among his people that would occur at the time of the Savior's death then he reassures the righteous with these words in verse 8 of chapter 26: "But behold, the righteous that hearken unto the words of the prophets, and destroy them not, but look forward unto Christ with steadfastness for the signs which are given, notwithstanding all persecution—behold, they are they which shall not perish." I felt as though this promise is for our day too. If we can look forward with steadfastness in Christ for the signs of His coming and continue to hearken to the words of the prophets and cling to the commandments we too will not perish but find the peace and comfort that is promised by the Lord. We will rejoice in the Spirit and do as Nephi did. We will "talk of Christ, rejoice in Christ, preach of Christ, prophesy of Christ, and write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." Let us not be discouraged by the magnitude of the conflict before the world. Let us simply Stand Up in our spheres of influence and do all we can to get and keep the Spirit.