I think we all can agree that we have been blessed with a wonderful family. Although there were times I would have chosen activities with my friends over living the strict standards that we were taught and expected to live by, I am grateful that we were raised by parents who uphold moral values and who are more concerned with access to the Spirit than the acceptance of others.
Living in D.C. has energized me to involve myself in the social promotion of principles that are important in my perspective. I came out here with the purpose of learning how to become a good citizen and to be able to explain my positions on political issues without the use of scripture so that I can become involved in political discourse. I have met with my representatives from Colorado and found that there is room for me to influence upcoming elections and that there are hopeful candidates who I believe will help fight for the same values I believe in. I have learned a lot of what and why I believe in the past month (Sorry Jason, I wish I were this well read on politics when I lived with you, I could have contributed more to those conversations). Out of all the political topics I have studied and seen debated on the senate floor, I have felt particular need to support traditional marriage, pro-life measures, and to fight against many commonly accepted practices that undermine the family.
Over the past few weeks, there have been at least three nights I have been unable to sleep as I have thought about friends who have found themselves caught up in popular opinions that differ from the teachings of the church. I worry for those who did not benefit from spiritually guided parents as we did. The Adversary is good at taking teachings of the church, such as the requirement to love, and mixing them with others, such as traditional marriage, in attempts to confuse the righteous. When this happened in the Book of Mormon (Even with members of the church spreading false doctrine — ex. 1 Nephi 1:24-25), the members of the church acted quickly to teach true doctrine and protect the people. I worry that my attempts to teach pure doctrine may come off as hostile and have therefore spent a lot of time studying, pondering, and praying that I might provide a soft answer that also comes with enough boldness to support the testimony that I hold. This battle is not new, in fact the decline of morality has led to the fall of many great nations, but we have been promised that if we read and pray everyday we will have the Spirit of Discernment to find the truth.
The reason I bring this up is because I was asked to speak in church today on The Family Proclamation and thought I would share some of the things that I learned. First, I remembered that the Lord has used Proclamations often in the scriptures in times when the Saints needed more unity and spiritual protection (Title of Liberty and Lachoneous’s Proclamation that led to the destruction of the Gadianton Robbers, 3rd Nephi 3). Second, the Proclamation teaches pure Doctrine and expresses the thoughts and perspectives of Heavenly Father. Third, the church is not a government representing the collective thoughts of a group. Rather, it is a family unit led by an Eternally perfect being. And finally, that it is not merely given by way of information but as a call to action. It concludes: “WE CALL UPON responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.” We each have the responsibility, through this proclamation as well as through our birthright through the blessings of tribal lineage, to promote morality and spread the gospel.
Later, in priesthood, I enjoyed the teachings of President Joseph Fielding Smith who taught that “So far as the philosophy and wisdom of the world are concerned, they mean nothing unless they conform to the revealed word of God. Any doctrine, whether it comes in the name of religion, science, philosophy, or whatever it may be, if it is in conflict with the revealed word of the Lord, will fail. It may appear plausible. It may be put before you in language that appeals and which you may not be able to answer. It may appear to be established by evidence that you cannot controvert, but all you need to do is to abide your time. Time will level all things. You will find that every doctrine, every principle, no matter how universally believed, if it is not in accord with the divine word of the Lord to his servants, will perish. Nor is it necessary for us to try to stretch the word of the Lord in a vain attempt to make it conform to these theories and teachings. The word of the Lord shall not pass away unfulfilled, but these false doctrines and theories will all fail. Truth, and only truth, will remain when all else has perished.”
Well, I will continue to learn in this area but I wanted to thank you for your support as we all fight for values and principles of the gospel. I believe that people are attracted by high standards and that the hope and love of the Savior will allow for many of us to learn truth so that we can become as He is. Remember all, that the future is as bright as your faith. I love you and sincerely miss every single one of you.
Best,
Ryan Allred