Friendly Fire

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, one of the Lord's current 12 apostles, gave a talk at BYU to faculty and staff last week.  I was aware of this talk and read a few quotes from it.  Then I heard that there was controversy and uproar from some members of the Church.  I thought back and couldn't think of anything that was controversial in what I had read.   

Yesterday after watching my usual devotional for the Come Follow Me lesson next week, Elder Holland's talk automatically started playing so I was happy to watch it.

Knowing there was controversy, I listened to it carefully for anything that might be offensive.  Interestingly, Elder Holland was quite unusually emotional during the whole talk and the vibe that I got was that Elder Holland was more meek and loving than in some of his talks.  I didn't hear anything that anyone should be offended by.

Ironically, Elder Holland mentioned the "friendly fire" from BYU students and members of the Church attacking the school and it's policies based on the doctrine of the Church which sponsors it.  And attacking church leadership.  Seems to me that friendly fire is the most deadly.  At least when it comes to those attacking the Church.  It seems to be the members and former members of the Church who are the most critical and fierce in their attacks.

Elder Holland quoted Elder Neal A. Maxwell, a former member of the quorum of the 12 apostles, which apparently offended the easily offended pansy liberals.  Here's his quote:

“In a way (Latter-day Saint) scholars at BYU and elsewhere are a little bit like the builders of the temple in Nauvoo, who worked with a trowel in one hand and a musket in the other. Today scholars building the temple of learning must also pause on occasion to defend the kingdom. I personally think this is one of the reasons the Lord established and maintains this university. The dual role of builder and defender is unique and ongoing. I am grateful we have scholars today who can handle, as it were, both trowels and muskets.” 

In the early days of the Church, members faced much hostility, including violence against which they had to defend themselves.  Thus the mention of a trowel in one hand and musket in the other.  The members weren't on the offensive, on the contrary, they were merely ready to defend themselves should they be attacked.

Elder Holland went on to say:

“Musket fire? Yes, we will always need defenders of the faith, but ‘friendly fire’ is a tragedy — and from time to time the church, its leaders and some of our colleagues within the university community have taken such fire on this campus. And sometimes it isn’t friendly — wounding students and the parents of students who are confused about what so much recent flag-waving and parade-holding on this issue means.  Beloved friends, this kind of confusion and conflict ought not to be. There are better ways to move toward crucially important goals in these very difficult matters — ways that show empathy and understanding for everyone while maintaining loyalty to prophetic leadership and devotion to revealed doctrine.”

So of course the easily offended pansy liberals immediately took offense claiming that Elder Holland is encouraging gun violence against LGBT++'s.  These people are so ridiculous, delusional even.

All Elder Holland was doing was pointing out that as members of the Church we should be defenders of the faith.  But for those who have left the Church or who don't like the doctrine for whatever reason -- usually because it no longer aligns with their lifestyle -- they are always quick to attack the Church, it's doctrines, leaders, and faithful members.

Ironically, it was Elder Holland who prophetically declared in April 2014 General Conference, “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.” 

Now, he is facing "friendly fire" backlash for merely speaking the truth in defending doctrine.

The easily offended don't like hearing the truth.  They want to change doctrine to align with their chosen lifestyles.  I'm sorry to inform them but doctrine will never change.  It can't.  Homosexuality will always be a sin.  Fornication will always be a sin.  Adultery will always be a sin.  Murder will always be a sin.  Lying will always be a sin.  Stealing will always be a sin, and so forth.

Just because someone sins doesn't mean that we shouldn't love them.  In fact, that's the greatest commandment -- to love God and to love our neighbor.  But we don't have to embrace their sinful lifestyle to love them.  Just because God loves everybody unconditionally doesn't mean they won't be held responsible for breaking His commandments.

Here is my favorite quote from Elder Holland's talk last week:

“As near as I can tell, Christ never once withheld His love from anyone, but He also never once said to anyone, ‘Because I love you, you are exempt from keeping my commandments.'”

I can promise you that Elder Holland, along with all of the members of The First Presidency and Quorum of the 12 Apostles want nothing but joy and happiness for all of God's children.  But they cannot change doctrine.  They are loving, caring men who follow God's greatest commandment to love Him and all of His children, our neighbors. But they are also God's representatives here on earth, and are charged with teaching and defending the doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It is precisely because they choose to defend the faith that they constantly face "friendly fire".

Back in 2010, then president of The Quorum of the 12, President Boyd K. Packer prophesied:

“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.” 

We are certainly seeing those who make nonbelief their religion pursuing political power and attacking faith and belief.  And we are increasingly seeing these attacks coming from within the Church.

“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."-- Jeffrey R. Holland, 2014

It saddens me that those who have dedicated their lives to serving God, and all disciples of Christ who try to follow God and His commandments are persecuted and attacked by not only enemy fire, but sadly also by "friendly fire".

That's my two cents.