Saturday, November 8, 2008

Message from President Crockett

Dear Elders and Sisters,

What a delight it was to see so many of you at our last reunion. We look forward to many more gatherings in the coming months/years. We will post some pictures and additional information in the next few weeks...so please drop by occasionally to get a fresh update.

In light of recent press relating to issues like the recent California vote, I thought you would find the following excerpt from a talk given by Elder Neal A. Maxwell in 1979 very profound. This is why we call these men prophets. Listen and follow the Brethren!

Our love to you all,

President and Sister Crockett



Subject: Elder Maxwell Quote


Neal A. Maxwell, “A More Determined Discipleship,” Ensign, Feb 1979, 69–73

Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. (See 1 Kgs. 18:21 <http://scriptures.lds.org/1_kgs/18/21#21> .)

President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had “never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1941, p. 123). This is a hard doctrine, but it is a particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ! It's up to each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency.

Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. M. J. Sobran also said, “A religious conviction is now a second-class conviction, expected to step deferentially to the back of the secular bus, and not to get uppity about it” (Human Life Review, Summer 1978, pp. 58–59). This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions. Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened.

Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel.
There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself.

Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, “summer is nigh” (Matt. 24:32 <http://scriptures.lds.org/matt/24/32#32> ). Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat!


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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened." Those are truly prophetic words. Thanks for passing them on. It seems to me that these issues and others will only get worse in the years to come. As the brethren say the divide between the church and the world will only grow wider. And if the huge protests outside the temple in California is a sign of things to come it will definitely hit close to home.

-Benjamin Esplin

Anonymous said...

I agree Pre. Crockett. I'm here in California and I have witnessed this with Prop.8 and continue to witness this daily. Have a great day.
Sincerely,
Scott Crandall