April 2016 General Conference: Elder Neil L. Andersen, "Whoso Receiveth Them, Receiveth Me"

Elder Anderson counselled, while a child’s earthly situation may not be ideal, a child’s spiritual DNA is perfect because one’s true identity is as a son or daughter of God.

President Thomas S. Monson has said: “Help God’s children understand what is genuine and important in this life. Help them develop the strength to choose paths that will keep them safely on the way to eternal life.”  Let’s open our arms and our hearts a little wider. These youth need our time and our testimonies.

Seeking...

Wise men still seek him...

"Gay" in the News: Jesus Proclaims Love

And now we are informed that the doctrines of Christianity are responsible for "gay marriage".   The suggestions don't only sound ludicrous, like most such convoluted thinking, they ARE ludicrous.

This article appears wont to celebrate Jesus as "the Gayest Deity Ever!", promoting the "democratic" principle of universal human equivalence and interchangeability to create a rationale for homosexual behavior.  After all, we know that Jesus mostly hung out with a bunch of guys, and talked all the time about "love".   So he must have been a "gay" advocate!  The only problem seems to be that it has very little basis in reality.

The emphasis appears to be trying to persuade that social normalization and acceptance of homosexual behavior is inevitable.  Ignoring the fact that this appears rather as a propaganda effort popularized in the media, lacking general popular support.  The efforts to legalize "gay marriage" have been turned down everywhere in the democratic process, the "cause" only forwarded by legalistic judgements and force.

Will you also go away?

At one point in his ministry, Jesus confronted the doubts expressed by his disciples.  They wanted him to speak directly to the question of his Divine origin.  He answered the question without any attempt at avoiding the issue. 

He proclaimed plainly that he is the source of eternal life, and men must come unto him to obtain salvation.  In explaining this, Jesus indicated that he was the hope of the children of Israel who received manna from heaven in the wilderness, and liked himself to that bread of life.

Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

Ameliorating the consequences

A popular aphorism, from the title of one of the LDS Hymns collection -- "Do what is right, let the consequence follow".

I offer some hopefully thoughtful reflection on this idea.

It is consistent with inspired counsel that we are constantly to conduct ourselves as wise stewards. We must do all we can to consider the implications of actions that affect our own life, and the lives of others. Utmost in our priorities, it is imperitive to be guided by correct principles, in order to let our thoughts and actions be guided by inspiration from Heavenly Father.

Doing what is right, however, never gives us license to flagrantly act in defiance or willful igorance of the consequences. Thus our attitude can never rightly be, "Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead". We cannot flagrantly ignore adverse repercussions that might have been avoided.

Just as weighty as our obligation to choose right, is the responsibility to ensure that we cause no avoidable harm.

The Savior's admonition

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.  (Matthew 10:16).

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.  (Matthew 18:4-6).

Respecting the feelings and opinions of others is not necessarily an act of deplorable cowardice. Circumspection and self-control are not personal characteristics of the "lily-livered". Even Jesus Christ tempered His speech and teachings in such a manner that generally reflected a calm and peaceful demeanor. He was rarely threatening, derogatory or harsh. In those instances where He did take such dramatic action, it was only against the most bitter of evil enemies.

With His closest disciples, presumably chosen friends, Jesus seemed to be ever mindful of the patient, teaching approach. Though he was even surely aware that one of his chosen twelve would eventually betray Him, yet He did not opt to cast that man out.