The rigors of being a full-time music major on a university campus leaves little in the way of time for developing an awareness of the political, social and economic goings on in the wider world outside my happy isolation in the music building. In spite of time restraints placed on me by my present circumstances, (which I understand will only get worse,) I have striven to remain as aware as I may of national and world events, and it's obvious that the speed at which the world is descending into the depravity of an atheistic amorality is accelerating at an exponential rate. Evil which once was uncommon and difficult to find is now aggressively pervasive, even smothering.
Concerned as I am about this unhappy reality, I feel no fear. I am not afraid of what lies ahead. I am a witness of the reality and power of the peace promised by Christ, of whom I bear testimony. "My peace I give unto you" He said. "Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:16) The peace of Christ is as a refuge and a shield. "[For] they shall be gathered into the garners... Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry them. But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day." (Alma 26:5-8)
Accentuated by the dual realities of increasing evil and increasing manifestations of the peace and power of Christ is the need to choose the side on which you will stand. As the chasm grows the illusion of straddling both sides of the fence will become an increasing impossibility. "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Luke 16:13) Yet there remain "many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—" (D&C 123:12) Thus, it becomes incumbent on those who know and have to share with those who don't know and don't have.
The Lord taught His method for reaching souls when He revealed to the saints, "Behold, and lo, I have much people in this place, in the regions round about; and an effectual door shall be opened in the regions round about... Therefore, I, the Lord, have suffered you to come unto this place; for thus it was expedient in me for the salvation of souls." (D&C 100:3-4)
My family received a letter from my sister who is serving abroad on a mission. In that letter she wrote, "Here, absolutely everything [in the ward] has to do with missionary work, right down to the primary. At home I can remember maybe hearing of one baptism in our ward, and I never really knew who the missionaries were who were assigned to our ward. [It is so easy to get busy and be self-absorbed and] not really [feel] concerned about the well being of my neighbors."
I remember having those same feelings as a missionary; the shocking realization that back home there were lost souls and broken lives right around the corner; children of God all around me who were not enjoying the blessings of the gospel. I never saw them; never thought about them as being in need, or considered I had any responsibility to reach out to them and offer help. It wasn't until I was across the continent serving as a missionary that I, like the "prodigal son who finally 'came to himself', the first rays of recognition [helping me] begin to see "things as they really are..." (Repentance, Neal A. Maxwell; Oct 1991 General Conference). I still remember the day I realized that I hadn't really ever done anything to share the gospel with my neighbors. I sorrowed that I had seen so little of the need around me, and done so little to meet it. I committed that day to be better, to do better, and to serve more.
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are never anywhere by accident. The Lord said, "I, the Lord, have suffered you to come unto this place; for thus it was expedient in me for the salvation of souls. Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men; For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say." (D&C 100:4-6)
"From every man, young and old... I ask for a stronger and more devoted voice, a voice not only against evil and him who is the personification of it, but a voice for good, a voice for the gospel, a voice for God... Unbind your tongues and watch your words work wonders in the lives of those “who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.” (We Are All Enlisted, Jeffery R. Holland; Oct. 2011 General Conference).
There is safety in the flock of the Good Shepherd. Let us reach out and love and serve and bring in as many as we can.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."
-Psalm 23
