Juliet's Sacrament Meeting Talk written by me :-)

Juliet informed me a few weeks ago that she was to speak in Sacrament meeting on Father's Day.  She asked if I would help her write her talk.  The topic was to be based on Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk from the last General Conference -- which happens to be what I did my last Relief Society lesson on.  So I was very familiar with the talk.  Anyway to make a long story short, I ended up just writing the entire talk for her.  I wrote it as if I were speaking except for the few instances where I had to speak as Juliet in the first person.  That part was kind of weird.  Anyway, I worked really hard writing this talk so I thought I would share it with all of you.  :-) Enjoy!

 By the way -- we went and watched Juliet deliver my talk today in her sacrament meeting.  She did a great job!  Job Juliet, job!  :-)


Juliet’s Sacrament Meeting Talk – June 15, 2014

Good afternoon brothers and sisters.  My husband Aaron and I recently moved into the ward with our two children, Kingston, almost 6 and Kylee, 2. We have enjoyed getting to know some of you and look forward to getting to know all of you a little better.

Throughout the history of the earth members of the Church, including missionaries, apostles, and prophets have been persecuted and rejected because of their faith.

Some examples from the scriptures include: The Prophet Abinadi – who suffered death by fire for proclaiming the Gospel to the wicked King Noah and his people and calling them to repentance. Abinadi stood firm in his faith, and declared the message that God sent him to deliver, taking no thought as to what might happen to him.  He was very courageous and bold. 

After boldly testifying, the Scriptures record:

“And now, when Abinadi had said these words, he fell, having suffered death by fire; yea, having been put to death because he would not deny the commandments of God, having sealed the truth of his words by his death.” 2

Even during the great apostasy, there were men of great faith who gave their lives in defending truth. William Tyndale, who was an English scholar, well-versed in Greek and Hebrew, translated the Bible into English. Knowing that it would result in a death sentence. In 1536 he was executed and burnt at the stake for translating the Bible into English. Much of the King James version of the Bible, which we use today, is the result of William Tyndale’s work.

Another more recent example from church history is the prophet Joseph Smith. Who suffered much persecution including being tarred and feathered and being falsely imprisoned under deplorable conditions, and ultimately dying as a martyr, simply because of his faith and willingness to follow the Lord’s commandments and his membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A lot of the early saints in this dispensation have suffered similar persecutions as the prophet Joseph Smith because of their faith. A lot of them were driven from their homes and many died, or suffered much physically, in defending the Gospel.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, “Surely the angels of heaven wept as they recorded this cost of discipleship in a world that is often hostile to the commandments of God. The Savior Himself shed His own tears over those who for hundreds of years had been rejected and slain in His service.” 1

I doubt that any of us will be called upon to give our lives in defending the Gospel, as Abinadi, William Tyndale, and Joseph Smith did. But at some point in our lives, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland declared, “that if you haven’t already, you will one day find yourself called upon to defend your faith or perhaps even endure some personal abuse simply because you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” 1

Anyone who has served a full-time mission can probably tell you several stories of being called upon to defend their faith.  Whether it be persecution from nonmembers in the form of slamming doors, cussing, or yelling at the missionaries. Or persecution from members of the Church who have fallen away from the Church and have become apostate. Or even persecution from current members who are active in the Church but don’t agree with some of the church doctrine which they feel is outdated, bigoted, unkind, or provincial.

President Boyd K.Packer said this, “Atheists and agnostics make nonbelief their religion and today organize in unprecedented ways to attack faith and belief. They are now organized, and they pursue political power. You will be hearing much about them and from them. Much of their attack is indirect in mocking the faithful, in mocking religion.

The types of Sherem, Nehor, and Korihor live among us today (see Jacob 7:1–21; Alma 1:1–15; 30:6–60). Their arguments are not so different from those in the Book of Mormon.

You who are young will see many things that will try your courage and test your faith. All of the mocking does not come from outside of the Church. Let me say that again: all of the mocking does not come from outside of the Church. Be careful that you do not fall into the category of mocking.” 3

Elder Neil L. Anderson, shared the following experience: “Recently, I spoke with a Laurel from the United States. I quote from her email:

“This past year some of my friends on Facebook began posting their position on marriage. Many favored same-sex marriage, and several LDS youth indicated they ‘liked’ the postings. I made no comment.

“I decided to declare my belief in traditional marriage in a thoughtful way.

“With my profile picture, I added the caption ‘I believe in marriage between a man and a woman.’ Almost instantly I started receiving messages. ‘You are selfish.’ ‘You are judgmental.’ One compared me to a slave owner. And I received this post from a great friend who is a strong member of the Church: ‘You need to catch up with the times. Things are changing and so should you.’

“I did not fight back,” she said, “but I did not take my statement down.”

She concludes: “Sometimes, as President Monson said, ‘You have to stand alone.’ Hopefully as youth, we will stand together in being true to God and to the teachings of His living prophets.” 4

This young woman is a great example of standing for truth and righteousness while still respecting others’ beliefs and not being confrontational.

A short time ago my sister was going to the temple with one of her acquaintances from her ward.  This Sister from her ward brought up the fact that a new movie remake was just coming out.  Knowing that my sister does not watch movies that are offensive to the Spirit or that contain material that is spiritually damaging. My sister’s acquaintance made the following comment, "You probably didn't see the original did you? It was probably (in best mocking voice) too scummy for you." My sister replied that she, indeed, had not seen the original movie. Precisely because of the “scummy” content. This mocking persecution came from a supposedly strong active member of the Church, who ironically happened to be on her way to the temple at the time.

Just to reiterate the Church’s stance on movies and television, “Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

“The choices we make in media can be symbolic of the choices we make in life. Choosing the trendy, the titillating, the tawdry in the TV programs or movies we watch can cause us to end up, if we're not careful, choosing the same things in the lives we live.

”If we do not make good choices, the media can devastate our families and pull our children away from the narrow gospel path….This pernicious evil is not out in the street somewhere; it is coming right into our homes, right into the heart of our families. . . .

“The time has come when members of the Church need to speak out and join with the many other concerned people in opposition to the offensive, destructive, and mean-spirited media influence that is sweeping over the earth.” 5

President Boyd K. Packer said, "Largely because of television, instead of looking over into that spacious building, we are, in effect, living inside of it. That is your fate in this generation. You are living in that great and spacious building." 3

I attended college at the University of Hawaii.  I often felt persecuted when people would ask me where I was from, and I would reply Utah.  They always asked me if I was “Mormon” and would generally make snide comments about the Church.  

Another example is from my sister’s mission. She and her companion were out tracting one day and came across a young man who seemed very interested in learning the Gospel and hearing the discussions. As they made an appointment to return to teach the first discussion, the young man asked the missionaries if he could invite some friends over to also listen to discussion.  Of course as missionaries, my sister and her companion were ecstatic, thinking that they were going to be able to teach a group of people.  They eagerly agreed and made the appointment.

As they returned for the appointment, sure enough, there was a small group. As they began building relationships of trust and making small talk with the group it became apparent very quickly that they were ex-members of the Church who had apostacized and began attacking the Church and my sister and her companion.  It was obvious that this group of people had no intentions of listening to the first discussion.  And were, in fact, hardhearted and stiffnecked and drove the spirit away with their confrontational attacks and much contention, while trying to drag my sister and her companion down with them. There was nothing left for my sister and her companion to do except bear testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and leave. Which is what they did.

So even though we might not have to suffer persecutions like the prophets of old, we will be called upon to defend our faith and will be mocked and perhaps even have to endure some forms of personal abuse, simply because we are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We might ask ourselves if it’s worth it. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said the following, “You may wonder if it is worth it to take a courageous moral stand…only to have your most cherished beliefs reviled or to strive against much in society that sometimes ridicules a life of religious devotion.

Yes, it is worth it, because the alternative is to have our “houses” left unto us “desolate”—desolate individuals, desolate families, desolate neighborhoods, and desolate nations.” 1

I find it interesting that the very people who preach tolerance and acceptance are usually the ones to be first in line to ridicule and persecute those who are trying to live a righteous life.

The Prophet Abinadi said the following to the wicked King Noah, “Because I have told you the truth ye are angry with me. … Because I have spoken the word of God ye have judged me that I am mad” 6

If anyone derogatorily calls me names, such as Molly Mormon or a religious zealot, I kindly thank them for the compliment.  What greater compliment could you receive than for others to think you’re doing your best to follow the Lord’s commandments?

I have a niece who is in high school and one day at the lunch table some of her classmates were mocking her standards and called her, “Virgin Mary”.  Her reply to them was, "You're going to compare me to the mother of Christ and act like that is an insult?  That's the best compliment anyone could give me." Nobody said a word after that.

Being a disciple of Christ – or in other words a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – can be both pleasant and painful at times.

Elder Holland said, “In addition to teaching, encouraging, and cheering people on (that is the pleasant part of discipleship), from time to time these same messengers are called upon to worry, to warn, and sometimes just to weep (that is the painful part of discipleship).” 1

I’m sure all of us know someone either directly or indirectly, who has lost their way and fallen 

into inactivity or worse yet, apostasy. If it is someone we are very close to, and love deeply, it can be very painful to watch them lose their faith and make poor choices.

Because of the wonderful plan of our Heavenly Father, we were all given agency to make our own choices.  Therefore, no matter how much we want to help our loved ones who have fallen away return to the iron rod and get back on the straight and narrow path, the only thing we can do for them is love them and pray for them.  And try to be a good example.  And hopefully one day they will return.

Speaking of holding to the iron rod and staying on the straight and narrow path as noted in Lehi’s dream, found in 1 Nephi, President Packer said, “One word in this dream or vision should have special meaning to young Latter-day Saints. The word is after. It was after the people had found the tree that they became ashamed, and because of the mockery of the world they fell away.

“And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost. …

“And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also.” 3

We read in the New Testament, in the book of Matthew, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” 7

Let us not be among those who are deceived “after we have tasted the fruit” and are ashamed and fall away because of the mockery of the world.

Let us not become like my sister’s acquaintance, who as a member of the Church, mocked her for living the gospel.  Let us have both courage and courtesy as we defend our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His teachings and commandments.

Elder Holland counseled, “Be strong. Live the gospel faithfully even if others around you don’t live it at all. Defend your beliefs with courtesy and with compassion, but defend them.

In courageously pursuing such a course, you will forge unshakable faith, you will find safety against ill winds that blow, even shafts in the whirlwind, and you will feel the rock-like strength of our Redeemer, upon whom if you build your unflagging discipleship, you cannot fall.” 1

I add my testimony to that of Elder Holland. As we boldly and courageously defend our beliefs with courtesy, we will develop an unshakable faith that will withstand all blows from the adversary. [Add your own testimony here, Juliet]

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Works cited:

1— The Cost- and Blessing- of Discipleship, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, April 2014 General conference

2—Mosiah 17:20

3 -- President Boyd K. Packer, August 2010 Ensign, Finding Ourselves in Lehi’s Dream

4 – Elder Neil L. Anderson, Spiritual Whirlwinds, April 2014 General conference

5 --https://www.lds.org/topics/movies-and-television?lang=eng

6 -- Mosiah 13:4

7 – Matthew 24:24