Sabbathought: "even if I stand alone in it"

The Prophet Joseph Smith said, "It is our duty to concentrate all our influence to make popular that which is sound and good, and unpopular that which is unsound" (HC 5:286). The context of this trenchant remark was Joseph's wish to speak on "political economy" in 1843, as he contemplated running for the Presidency of the United States. He was martyred in June 1844.

The statement is good counsel for us as we look at the political climate of our country and with a pivotal November election in the USA. But surely this has application too for our defense of spiritual principle as well as the ethical and political. It is a companion to what we discussed recently on being defenders of the faith.

More to this point is the following from the Prophet: "The object with me is to obey and teach others to obey God in just what He tells us to do. It mattereth not whether the principle is popular or unpopular, I will always maintain a true principle, even if I stand alone in it" (Teachings, p. 332, emphasis added).

Of course, the implication in both of these statements from Joseph is the assumption that we have the knowledge and wisdom to discern clearly between what is sound and unsound, between a true principle and a false one, between truth and error. This is why the Lord and His representative servants constantly urge an ongoing study of the gospel as found in the scriptures and words of living prophets. We must be able to draw from a deep well of understanding rather than shallow personal opinion. "No man's opinion is worth a straw," said Brigham Young. It is the opinions of heaven that we seek, otherwise we'll be deceived by the sophistry of the philosophies of men, mingled with scripture.

President Monson has emphasized this same theme of boldness in the defense and maintenance of truth many times in his ministry, most recently in October 2008 general conference: "President John Taylor warned us, ' If you do not magnify your callings, God will hold you responsible for those whom you might have saved had you done your duty.'" A sobering and incisive challenge from the third President of the Church (1877--87), which President Monson repeated in April general conference two weeks ago in the priesthood session. Then the living prophet continued:

"And who of us can afford to be responsible for the delay of eternal life of a human soul? If great joy is the reward of saving one soul, then how terrible must be the remorse of those whose timid efforts have allowed a child of God to go unwarned or unaided so that he has to wait till a dependable servant of God comes along" (Nov. 2008 Ensign, p. 62).

Note that President Monson is not just speaking of a soul's temporal needs or physical welfare, he is speaking of eternal life, of warnings, of teaching and saving souls, and of bold not timid efforts, of being dependable servants of God. These are incisive words.

At many funerals it is common to hear praise of the deceased as such a kind and loving soul that he or she did not have an enemy in the world. But in the battle for the souls of mankind, is this truly a virtue?

You have no enemies, you say?
Alas! my friend, the boast is poor---
He who has mingled in the fray
Of duty, that the brave endure,
Must have made foes! If you have none,
Small is the work that you have done;

You've hit no traitor on the hip;
You've dashed no cup from perjured lip;
You've never turned the wrong to right---
You've been a coward in the fight!

Charles Mackay

For those of us who may doubt that we are in a battle for the souls of men that requires courage and bold action and faithful testimony, just flip through our hymn book and note the number of hymns on battle and preparedness and duty and "defending truth and right."

Of course, we are to "use boldness, but not overbearance" (Alma 38:12); we are not advocating being awkward or captious over the lesser things, or annoying people without warrant. This is not the intent of Joseph's and President Monson's counsel. But be bold we must, if we are to stand for the truth in any kind of effective way. There is an ongoing need to be "sweetly bold" (in Neal A. Maxwell's phrase), both in spiritual and civil matters.

President Ezra Taft Benson said, "No compromise with error," and the ministry of this war horse reflected this in some courageous ways, as a member of the Eisenhower cabinet, and as one of the Lord's anointed. He once said to a colleague before a certain general conference address, "I'm going to catch it on this one." Fact is, it's not possible to teach the gospel without offending somebody. Let's hope the only ones offended are Satan's minions in the nether regions.

I want to be bold and true, and right before the Lord, even if I stand alone in it. You too?

Please give your comments on this one. Thanks to all who have written with such positive feedback in the past.

Steve