Apocryphal Scripture of the Week: (see Doctrine and Covenants 91)
“Show regard for no one at the expense of your soul,
And respect no one, to your own downfall….
Contend for the truth to the death,
And the Lord will fight for you.”
(Wisdom of Sirach 1:22, 28)
***
This scripture reminds me of how vital it is for us to fear God more than man. I don’t think it’s saying we should not respect or value other influences in our lives; rather, it’s saying that in our giving deference to people, to worldly wisdom and experience and culture, we just need to be careful not to allow those things to take priority over what God wants for us. No intellectual philosophy, or political ideology, or cultural trend or movement, or even well-meaning advice of loved ones should ever override prophetic counsel, such as was received during the general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this weekend.
But why do this? Why take a stand for some guy who lived over 2000 years ago halfway across the world? Because Jesus Christ has given us extraordinary promises. As we form our understanding of the world based on Christ’s gospel, pure and undefiled–instead of the opposite, forming our understanding of the gospel based on our understanding of the world and pushing doctrine into the opinionated boxes we want it to fit into–we may be looked down upon by some. In some cases, championing unpopular beliefs may even feel like committing social suicide. But God does not leave us to contend for our testimonies alone; as you “contend for the truth to the death…the Lord will fight for you.”
The Commonplace Notebook 