In Sunday School this last Sunday I had a single line from one verse really jump out at me. It said, "Fear not to do good..." (D&C 6:33)
My initial thought and question was "why would anyone fear to do good?" But we do. As I have thought more about this I have realized that we do fear to do good in many ways: We fear losing the approval of our peers. We fear being looked upon as too-good or as a goody-goody. We fear being different. We fear be rejected. In short, we often fear the world's view of our goodness.
Why do we not share the gospel when opportunies arise? We fear to do good. Why do we not walk out of a movie with even one bad scene? We fear to do good. Why do we laugh at an inappropriate joke or a sarcastic remark even when we don't agree with it? We fear to do good. Why do we not stand up for what we believe in? We fear to do good.
Another of my favorite verses says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).
Let us be filled with a Spirit of Courage. Let us stand up for what we believe and what we know to be right. Let us not only "fear not to do good" but as Elder Bednar has urged, let us strive to do good, be good, and become better.
“Fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail. … Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not” (D&C 6:34, 36).
Have you had an experience when you were filled with the courage to do good?
2 comments:
I can only think of one time off the top of my head when a mission leader on my mission told my companion and I that our area was wicked and there was no hope there, so we should just focus on other things. I felt a surge of "righteous indignation" and let out quite a pulpit-pounding sermon about how we were called to that area and would NOT give up on it. I guess it was not that courageous, but it felt like a bold moment for me. I've always loved that scripture in Moroni that says "perfect love casteth out all fear." When I'm feeling fear, I'm usually low on love for (and confidence in) God and for the people I should give an example to.
Thanks for sharing. As I have been thinking more about this I remember an experience I had while in jr. high.
I was at a party that turned into a round of spin-the-bottle. I should have left right when the game started but I didn't...I was scared. They started the spinning on the opposite side of the circle from where I was sitting. I just hoped the bottle wouldn't land on me and I remember thinking that if it didn't I might be saved by a few of the other people in the room. It came to the few that I thought might not play but one after another everyone took a turn. It finally reached me and although I had fear my courage somehow overcame that and I said in the midst of about 20 peers, "I'm not playing." I don't really remember the response I got from my peers but I am glad that at that moment I stood up and feared not to do good.
I think that once we do good in difficult circumstances it becomes easier to do good as other obstacles arrive in life.
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