Today was a rough day. Mark had surgery again, which is always stressful because you just never know what could happen. One of his hernias wasn't fixed properly and needed to be redone. He did amazing and is up and pretty much himself. He is under strict Drs orders though not to lift the kids for at least 2 weeks, so bedtime will definitely be my job for awhile.
So with the stress of that, I also was online a lot looking at all the stuff going on with the passage of Proposition 8 in California. What I was reading was hurting my heart. Although the Church was one of many churches fighting for the passage of Proposition 8, it seems that the LDS church is the one being given all the criticism now that it passed. It was frustrating to see all the negative articles, blogs and online discussions. Seeing thousands of people flocking to the LA temple to protest was frightening and sad. The mistruths and lies being spread about the gospel of Jesus Christ was weighing on me heavily.
Again, thank goodness for prophets and apostles. Realizing tonight that I was angry and ornery and that much of that was due to stress and frustration over things I can't control, I decided to read the General Conference address from October. I came across one from the Sunday morning session from Elder Hales. His words spoke directly to me and finally helped me to release that frustration and anger and trust in the Gospel and in my Savior. The talk is called "Christian Courage: The Price of Discipleship". Click here for the full talk, it is amazing, but I will also post a few excerpts.
To respond in a Christlike way cannot be scripted or based on a formula. The Savior responded differently in every situation. When He was confronted by wicked King Herod, He remained silent. When He stood before Pilate, He bore a simple and powerful testimony of His divinity and purpose. Facing the moneychangers who were defiling the temple, He exercised His divine responsibility to preserve and protect that which was sacred. Lifted up upon a cross, He uttered the incomparable Christian response: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
Some people mistakenly think responses such as silence, meekness, forgiveness, and bearing humble testimony are passive or weak. But, to “love [our] enemies, bless them that curse [us], do good to them that hate [us], and pray for them which despitefully use [us], and persecute [us]” (Matthew 5:44) takes faith, strength, and, most of all, Christian courage.
The Prophet Joseph Smith demonstrated this courage throughout his life. Though he “suffer[ed] severe persecution at the hands of all classes of men, both religious and irreligious” (Joseph Smith—History 1:27), he did not retaliate or give in to hatred. Like all true disciples of Christ, he stood with the Savior by loving others in a tolerant and compassionate way. That is Christian courage.
When we do not retaliate—when we turn the other cheek and resist feelings of anger—we too stand with the Savior. We show forth His love, which is the only power that can subdue the adversary and answer our accusers without accusing them in return. That is not weakness. That is Christian courage.
Through the years we learn that challenges to our faith are not new, and they aren’t likely to disappear soon. But true disciples of Christ see opportunity in the midst of opposition.
And my favorite four lines.
As we respond to others, each circumstance will be different. Fortunately, the Lord knows the hearts of our accusers and how we can most effectively respond to them. As true disciples seek guidance from the Spirit, they receive inspiration tailored to each encounter. And in every encounter, true disciples respond in ways that invite the Spirit of the Lord.
