I wonder how often we take the time
to consider the effects of the things we say in our conversations. Do we alter how we speak with our
family in comparison to our co-workers, bosses, friends and even total strangers?
In
the scriptures we read how powerful the prophets words were in doing good. In Alma 31:5 it says:
5 And now, as the preaching of the
word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it
had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or
anything else, which had happened unto them—
We know how strongly speaking of the gospel can
affect people, but on the flip side our words can do even great harm. When we choose to sow discord among
those with whom we associate we cause harm not only to ourselves, but to those
around us.
We live in a contentious world and
it is very easy to get caught up in sharing or spreading those
contentions. Satan would like
nothing better than all of us to be unhappy with our lives and everything in
them.
In Preach My Gospel pg 3 it states:
“Satan is attacking the family on
many fronts and too many families [and individuals] are being destroyed by his
efforts…”
Romans 1:28-31 says:
28 And even as they did not like to
retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do
those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication,
wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit,
malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters,
inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural
affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Do we want to put ourselves in a
position to go against our Heavenly Father? To have him ‘give us over to a
reprobate mind’ because of our choices?
This is relevant in our personal lives as well as in our dealings with
each other at church.
The Lord has given warnings to us
across the ages. Ephesians 4:31-32 says:
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath,
and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all
malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving
one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
In Mosiah 2:32-33 King Benjamin
counseled:
32 But, O my people, beware lest
there shall arise contentions among you, and ye list to obey the evil spirit,
which was spoken of by my father Mosiah.
33 For behold, there is a wo pronounced upon him who listeth
to obey that spirit; for if he listeth to obey him, and remaineth and dieth in
his sins, the same drinketh damnation to his own soul; for he receiveth for his
wages an everlasting punishment, having transgressed the law of God contrary to
his own knowledge.
Doctrine and Covenants 20:54
54 And see that there is no
iniquity in the church, neither hardness with each other, neither lying,
backbiting, nor evil speaking;
Doctrine and Covenants 88:124
124 …cease to find fault one with
another;
Doctrine and Covenants 136:23
23 Cease to contend one with
another; cease to speak evil one of another.
This counsel should be foremost in
our minds when we are associating with our friends and families, but it also
needs to be prevalent in our dealings and support of our church leaders.
In this month’s Ensign there is an
article entitled We Sustain Our Leaders. It talks about how and why leaders are
called in the church and how we should support them. It says:
Latter-day Saints believe that
Jesus Christ Himself is the head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. He calls, through inspiration, prophets and apostles to lead His
Church. The Lord has given these leaders authority to call others to serve in
the Church, such as members of the Seventy. Apostles and Seventy extend callings
to stake presidents, who call bishops, who call members to serve in various
positions in their wards. Thus priesthood authority and revelation guide Church
callings from the Church-wide level to local congregations.
We have an opportunity to sustain—support,
help, pray for—each of these people in their callings. We indicate our
willingness to do so by raising our right hands when their names are read to us
in general conference, stake conference, ward or branch conference, or
sacrament meeting. Raising our hands is a sign to us, to them, and to the Lord
that we will sustain them.
Raising our hands to sustain
someone is not like voting that person into office. The person has already been
called by the Lord to serve in that calling by one who has the priesthood
authority to extend such a calling. Our sustaining is a vote of confidence in
the person, because we recognize that he or she has been called of God through
priesthood leaders we sustain.
We can sustain the General
Authorities and our local leaders and officers in several ways:
By our faith and prayers in their
behalf.
By following their counsel.
By helping when they ask us.
By accepting callings they extend
to us.
Sustaining our leaders is evidence of our goodwill, faith,
and fellowship.
When we sustain these members and leaders in their
callings it is like making a covenant with them and the Lord that we will
support and help them even if we don’t always agree with their decisions. When we sow discord among other members
because of things we don’t like or agree with we are breaking that covenant and
trust and should repent.
It can be very difficult to support
leaders and ward members who you feel aren’t fulfilling their callings in the
way you think best and I think it is important to discuss those feelings, with
the Lord.
If we go to our Heavenly Father
with our discontent, maintaining an open heart and mind, he will help us
understand any situation. Thus we
can avoid the pitfall of evil-speaking or speaking discord that can only lead
to unhappiness for ourselves and those we pull in with us.
Most of us have seen this Mormon Ad
about gossip. When we share our discontent among our fellow men it has a
similar effect except our simple disagreement can turn into a cankerous sore
that will do more harm to our souls and minds if left unattended.
We must remember that through the
Atonement of Jesus Christ we can find peace. Preach My Gospel pg 3 says:
I know these things are true and I am grateful for the power of the Atonement and how it blesses my life and allows me to repent and be clean again.
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