Scarcely an hour passes, President Thomas S. Monson has observed, but what we are
called upon to make choices of one kind or another.
To make wise choices, he counseled, we need courage—“the courage
to say no, the courage to say yes. Decisions do determine destiny.”1
In the following excerpts, President Monson
reminds Latter-day Saints that they need courage to stand for truth and
righteousness, to defend what they believe, and to confront a world that is
rejecting eternal values and principles.
“The call for courage comes constantly to each
of us,” he said. “It has ever been so, and so shall it ever be.” 2
Courage Brings God’s Approval
“We will all
face fear, experience ridicule, and meet opposition. Let us—all of us—have the
courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not
compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval. Courage becomes a living and an
attractive virtue when it is regarded not only as a willingness to die manfully
but also as the determination to live decently. 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.”3
Withstand with Courage
“What does it
mean to endure? I love this definition: to withstand with courage. Courage may be necessary for you to believe;
it will at times be necessary as you obey. It will most certainly be required
as you endure until that day when you will leave this mortal existence.”4
Have Courage to Stand for Truth
“[May] you have
the courage to stand firm for truth and righteousness. Because the trend in
society today is away from the values and principles the Lord has given us, you
will almost certainly be called upon to defend that which you believe. Unless
the roots of your testimony are firmly planted, it will be difficult for you to
withstand the ridicule of those who challenge your faith. When firmly planted,
your testimony of the gospel, of the Savior, and of our Heavenly Father will
influence all that you do throughout your life.”5
We Need Spiritual and Moral Courage
“The messages
portrayed on television, in movies, and in other media [today] are very often
in direct opposition to that which we want our children to embrace and hold
dear. It is our responsibility not only to teach them to be sound in spirit and
doctrine but also to help them stay that way, regardless of the outside forces
they may encounter. This will require much time and effort on our part—and in
order to help others, we ourselves need the spiritual and moral courage to
withstand the evil we see on every side.”6
Teaching from This Message
You might ask
those you teach to think of a situation in the coming week—at home, at work, at
school, or at church—that will require them to act with courage. They might
face a fear, endure something challenging, stand for their beliefs, or decide
to obey a principle of the gospel more fully. Invite them to share their
thoughts or write them down.
May We Ever Be Courageous
“As we go about living from day to day, it is almost inevitable
that our faith will be challenged. We may at times find ourselves surrounded by
others and yet standing in the minority or even standing alone concerning what
is acceptable and what is not. …
“May we ever be
courageous and prepared to stand for what we believe, and if we must stand
alone in the process, may we do so courageously, strengthened by the knowledge
that in reality we are never alone when we stand with our Father in Heaven.”7
Youth
Someone Else’s Sarah By McKenzie Miller
The
author lives in Utah, USA.
I used to find it difficult to use my beliefs as a response to a
question as simple as “Why don’t you drink coffee?” In the past I came up with
excuses like “It’s too bitter” or “I don’t like the taste.” Why was I
embarrassed? Why was I so afraid to stand up for what I believe? Looking back
now, I don’t understand exactly what I feared. But I do remember exactly when I
stopped hiding behind excuses. One day in my high school English class, the
teacher announced that we’d be viewing an episode of a TV show I knew I
shouldn’t watch. While other students cheered in excitement, my classmate Sarah
raised her hand and asked if she could leave.
When
the teacher asked why, Sarah responded matter-of-factly, “Because I’m Mormon
and I don’t watch shows with profanity.” Her courage to stand up in front of
the class was amazing. Thanks to Sarah, I too stood up and waited outside with
a clear conscience for the show to finish. I was forever changed. I started
explaining my beliefs instead of avoiding the subject. And as a result, I found
confidence in myself and participated even more in Church and school
activities. I never told Sarah how much her example meant to me, but I try to
emulate her example of confidence. I now realize that being a member of God’s
wonderful, sacred Church is absolutely nothing to be ashamed about. I hope that
I can, through my example, be someone else’s Sarah.
Children
Courage in the Scriptures
President Monson teaches us to have courage and stand for what
we believe. There are lots of examples in the scriptures of people who showed
courage. Read the scripture next to each name. How did these people show
courage and stand up for what they knew was right? Use the spaces to write or
draw a picture of your answers.
Samuel the Lamanite (Helaman 13:2–4
“Calling Each”
cji
4/1/15
Each breath of fresh
air
asking what we stand
for
are we in proper tune
today
able to hear silent
whispers
promptings of the
Spirit
enduring to the very
end
knowing for who we
love
Heavenly Father
foremost
Our Savior his Son
foremost
knowing this love is
obedience
thus calling each to
account
that for which we
believe!
Copyright © 2015 –
cji
