"A More Determined Discipleship"

I thought this was appropriate, in light of all that has been going on, this election year. Many members didn't agree with the Churches support of proposition 8. I, for one, am compelled to follow the voice of the Prophet. It astounds me that others find fault in the same voice. How many times have we said, while reading the Book of Mormon, "why can't the Nephites just figure it out? When they follow the Prophet and obey God's commandments they are blessed and when they don't, they have to endure mass destruction, bondage and poverty." I don't think it's much different today. Will those who come after us, say the same things about our generation? Will they wonder why we blatantly disobeyed our Father and disregarded the pleadings of our Prophet to stand up for the sanctity of marriage and the preservation of the family? I thought this quote, given nearly 30 years ago was inspired at least. I marvel at they way these out of date words may be more applicable now than they were then.

"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."--- Elder Neal A. Maxwell Feb. 1979 Ensign

For the record, Proposition 8 passed. We have protected marriage for the time being and are now "knowing the joy of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds...". The fight is far from over. There is already a pending lawsuit, fighting to overturn the peoples will that was expressed yesterday. Summer is upon us...