Standing as a Witness

Mosiah 18:9 - "To stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in."

This is a part of the covenant that we make when we are baptized.  In church today we talked about how difficult it can be to stand for what we believe in when we live in a world that cares more about political correctness than eternal correctness.  We discussed how it is hard to find a balance between "calling people to repentance" when they are clearly opposing God's plan and not coming off self-righteous, judgmental, or condemning.  A comment was made that the key element to finding this balance was to do so with love, following the counsel given in D&C 121:43, "reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou has reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy".  Some would say that just like being a witness in court means that you might offend some people in the real world standing up for what you believe in might not make you any friends.  However, in class we discussed how it is best if you actually know the person and love them despite their philosophies.  Then eventually, "when moved upon by the Holy Ghost", you can tell them how you are concerned about them and how you want them to know what you believe.  The quote was given, "no one cares how much you know until they know how much you care."  I had two experiences this week that really demonstrated this principle.

So since the holiday season is over, I have no more excuses for just eating sweets, drinking eggnog, and sitting around watching football.  So this Monday I went to the gym and worked out in an attempt to make up for my three weeks off and in preparation for my BYU Ultimate Frisbee Club Team Camp (it didn't work, but that's another story).  While I was working out I was rather appalled at the vulgarity of the music that was on, considering I was at the BYU gym.  I got all worked up about how ridiculous it was that this employee was playing this music.  Most everybody else had their own music to listen to, so maybe that's why nobody spoke up.  I was close to saying something, but I was basically already done and I knew that I would just be too frustrated to speak to this person in a civil manner.  So I just left.

Later that week while at my BYU team camp I found myself in a similar situation.  We had music playing all day on a loud sound system and for the most part the music was appropriate.  However, at one point there was a song that came on that had several expletives unedited.  The difference in this case was that I am friends with the guy that was in charge of the music.  So when I heard this song, instead of assuming the worst, I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt.  I jokingly said that I didn't realize he liked this type of music.  He admitted that he thought he had all edited songs.  I felt good knowing that I had stood up for what I believed in but that I hadn't made him "esteem me to be his enemy."