Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
When I think of having courage, I think of men and women who overcome fear and do something noteworthy; soldiers defending their nation, victims of crime prevailing over those who caused them harm, firefighters and the ordinary individuals who save someone at the risk of their own lives. Those are the types of people I think of when I think of people having courage.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines courage as that quality of mind which shows itself in facing danger without fear or shrinking; bravery, boldness, valour. I would also say courage has qualities of determination, firmness, dedication, selflessness, and conviction.
However, as Charles Swindoll has wrote, "Courage is not limited to the battlefield … or bravely catching a thief in your house. The real tests of courage are much quieter. They are inner tests, like remaining faithful when no one’s looking, … like standing alone when you’re misunderstood."
We live in a day and age where religion is once again being attacked and belittled. Many respect others religions, but others say that when individuals practice and are firm in their beliefs they are bigots and prejudiced. I'm an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormons. I believe that marriage is only between a man and a woman. That children have the right to be born within matrimony and have both their mother and father. I believe life to be sacred and that children not even born yet have a right their bodies. I believe all bodies should be respected and cared for. I believe men and women to be equal, but fundamentally different. I don't approve of behaviors and choices that contradict these believes, but I still care for and love those that believe opposing views. Yet, for these beliefs I am mocked, ridiculed, condemned, and thought of as prejudiced, hateful, judgmental, and backwards.
President Thomas S. Monson said, "This inner courage also includes doing the right thing even though we may be afraid, defending our beliefs at the risk of being ridiculed, and maintaining those beliefs even when threatened with a loss of friends or of social status."
It's hard to publicly stand for what you believe knowing you have friends and those you care about ready to call you names and say you're an idiot for your beliefs. It's really hard. I just want to stand back, knowing what I believe, being respectful to others, and not cause waves.
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President J. Reuben Clark Jr. said, “Not unknown are cases where [those] of presumed faith … have felt that, since by affirming their full faith they might call down upon themselves the ridicule of their unbelieving colleagues, they must either modify or explain away their faith, or destructively dilute it, or even pretend to cast it away. Such are hypocrites."
President Monson goes further and says, "None of us would wish to wear such a label, and yet are we reluctant to declare our faith in some circumstances?"
I know that I am frequently reluctant to declare my faith and what I know to be truth when I know that I'll be ridiculed and mocked. I've realized that in this way I am a hypocrite sometimes. How awful! I take great pride and comfort in knowing that I live my beliefs, yet here am I reluctant to declare them and thus making myself a hypocrite.
I realized that I ran the risk of being one of the individuals in Lehi's dream (1 Nephi 8) that reached the Tree of Life and tasted of its fruit, but then was ashamed and fell away. It reads:
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 (1 Nephi 8:28).The question I ask myself is how do I become courageous rather than ashamed?
President Monson said, "We can help ourselves in our desire to do what is right if we put ourselves in places and participate in activities where our thoughts are influenced for good and where the Spirit of the Lord will be comfortable. ... As we move forward, striving to live as we should, we will surely receive help from the Lord and can find comfort in His words."
As we do what God would have us do, he will help us and comfort us. For as Nephi declared, "I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them" (1 Nephi 3:7).
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| Source: prophetpaintings.wordpress.com |
Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand.
Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent mine angels to commit unto you;
Taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked;
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you, and be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I come, and ye shall be caught up, that where I am ye shall be also. Amen. (D&C 27:17-18; also 1 Ephesians 6:11-20).We can be comforted and protected by knowing the truth, being righteous, being prepared with the knowledge of the gospel and with peace, having faith, making and keeping covenants for salvation, and having the spirit as a companion. If I am fully armored by God, then I cannot be harmed by mockery or ridicule. I'll have peace and comfort in knowing what I'm doing to be right and true. That I'll be okay as long as God is on my side.
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