How Long Halt Ye Between Two Opinions?
Mary and I spoke at the Vienna Ward Sacrament meeting on July 30, l989. This was our home ward for the three years we spent in Virginia, while I was serving at the Department of Energy in Washington D. C. This talk turned out to be a very special experience for me. As I finished my talk I had a deep feeling of joy but I was completly drained by the experience. After the meeting, the Bishop came up to me with an awe struck look in his eye and announced that my presentation, down to the very verse that I had chosen, was the subject of their PEC meeting. So what can I say, God lives, Jesus is the Christ and God communicates with us through the medium of the Holy Ghost as we humble ourselves and seek guidance to carry out our individual stewardships.
Sacrament Meeting, 30 July 1989, Donald B Larson
I must confess that standing before you today is not an easy thing to do. I find that there is plenty of associated fear and anxiety. But as I have learned to put my trust in the Lord and have sought the influence of the Holy Ghost, I have come to enjoy these speaking experiences not because the anxiety is significantly less but because I know of the great spiritual growth that comes through the preparation and the actual bearing of testimony. I have also come to realize that when called upon by the Bishopric to speak in sacrament meeting I am endowed, and I have the stewardship, to instruct the membership of this ward. Therefore, I wish to bear witness to you that the message that I have prepared is inspired and is the message the Lord would have you and I seriously consider at this time and I pray that the Spirit might abide here, that I might present this message in an understandable way and that we might all be edified.
As I was reading President Bensons article in the July Ensign entitled "Born of God", I was intrigued by one verse from Kings which our Prophet quoted: "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him."
For several weeks this verse had been circulating through my mind. Therefore, when Brother Bybee asked me to speak in Sacrament meeting, I quickly decided that I would use this verse as my theme.
I suppose one reason why this particular verse got stuck in my mind is because, even though my heart is ofter filled with a multitude of good intentions, I seldom seem to accomplish more than a few of my desired goals. So now I have ask myself. Am I following God? I think not! I suspect I still remain halted between two opinions.
Before we explore some of the things that I believe I should do to overcome this problem, let me read a few more versus from the scriptures, verses that are closely related to the one from Kings. From Matthew: "Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." From Luke: "Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" From James: "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only." From Mosiah: "If you believe all these thing see that ye do them."
After having read all these scriptures (all of this council from the Lord) it seems clear to me that action on my part is required. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not an academic exercise. I can no longer afford to give lip service to the coommandments given to us by Father. I am not basking in ignorance of the thing that I need to do. But, I fear that I am muddling around in apathy with respect to the decision to do the Lord's will.
Incidently, the words ignorance and apathy remind me of something I read recently and for the life of me I can't remember where. But it went something like this: "When asking the question. Which is the greater problem facing our society today, ignorance or apathy? All to often the answer that comes back is " I don't know, and I don't care!" Well Brothers and Sisters, I know, and I care! So what is my plan?
First let's define the problem more fully. I know that God lives, I know that Jesus is the Christ and I know that Joseph Smith and Ezra Taft Benson are Prophets of the only true and living Church on this earth today. In other words I have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, I have been touched by the Spirit and I know that our loving Heavenly Father answers our sincere prayers. I have been born of God, I an a changed person, I love the scriptures, and I thirst after righteousness. Nevertheless, when I am faced with all of the things that I know I need to do ( family prayer, family home evening, be a good husband, father and grandfather, scripture study, home teaching, missionary work, temple work, visit the old and the sick, help the needy, employment, travel, recreation, magnify other callings, hobbies, talents, and etc.), I become overwhelmed. So I council myself to make decisions and I do the things that seem the most important, which usually means doing the things that I enjoy the most and the things which are the easiest to do. In other words my choices are designed to minimize the personal sacrifice that I make.
Clearly the emphasis that I place on minimizing my own personal sacrifice is in direct opposition to my obligations as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As a disciple of Jesus Christ my primary responsibility is one of service (true service requires sacrifice) and my primary mode of service is my time, time spent in lifting others. So with so many things to do and so little time to do them, what am I to do to resolve this dilemma?
Well, I can wring my hands, I can stand in the middle of the room and pivot or I can follow the council that our God has provided. Now our God has not only provided council but in His infinite wisdom He has also provided readily available examples for us to follow. Who are these examples? Or should I ask, whose ability to serve as they do is recognized by many of us as a miracle, a miracle founded in the necessity of seeking the Lords help with a broken heart and a contrite spirit (becoming as a child, submissive, meek and humble)? Who? Our Bishop!
Now for the punch line. Can't I do the same? Isn't my service in lifting others just as important? Am I not expected to sacrifice just as much? Can I not approach the Lord with real intent and won't He manifest unto me the means by which I can accomplish His purposes? I answer all of these questions with a resounding yes!!
Now I ask once again. "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him." And I leave this message with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.