The Silent Killer

I had a unique opportunity to attend church with my parents this morning. My parents are currently serving as Inner City missionaries in a downtown Salt Lake City ward. A good portion of their ward is composed of refugees from across the globe - chiefly from Africa but there is a good mix of ethnicity throughout the ward. My Dad serves as a counselor in the bishopric there.

As I sat there and sacrament meeting started, I really started having an "awakening" of sorts. Here I sat in a room of people that had nothing - literally nothing. They had no country of their own, they had none of their belongings and, in talking with my Father about various members of the ward, some did not even have complete families. Many of these people were forced to flee for their lives with nothing but what they had on their backs. Many of them lost children and many others lost beloved sweethearts. Yet here they sit, singing the hymns with great vigor, they participated earnestly in classes, and were very sincere in their desire to become closer to the Savior. As I further discussed this with my parents, they shared the experience of participating in a Fast and Testimony meeting in this ward. They have so many testimonies shared each month that the people begin filing up to the stand before the bishopric member is done with their testimony and there is never that awkward pause while others wait for the spirit to work on someone enough to pop them out of their comfortable seat to share.

I compare this to my own ward and my own service. It is a rare experience to not have that 'awkward pause' in our ward. Hymns are sung at a mush-mouth hum volume at best as only 1/2 the congregation actually removes the hymnal from the pew and cracks it open. I think about the way I serve in my calling.... is there more I can do? Am I really 'magnifying' or just fulfilling? We need to do more to "Awake and Arise!"

In my estimation, complacency is killing us. It is killing our country and dulling our spirits! Pres. Monson said, "We are a prayerful and faith-filled people, ever striving to be decent and honest. We take care of each other. We try to show love to our neighbors. However, lest we become complacent, may I quote from 2 Nephi in the Book of Mormon: “At that day shall [the devil] … lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls.” 1

Someone has said that our complacency tree has many branches, and each spring more buds come into bloom.

We cannot afford to be complacent. We live in perilous times; the signs are all around us. We are acutely aware of the negative influences in our society that stalk traditional families. At times television and movies portray worldly and immoral heroes and heroines and attempt to hold up as role models some actors and actresses whose lives are anything but exemplary. Why should we follow a blind guide? Radios blare forth much denigrating music with blatant lyrics, dangerous invitations, and descriptions of almost every type of evil imaginable.

We, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, must stand up to the dangers which surround us and our families." (full talk here)

I invite you to join with me in recommitting yourself to the gospel. Not just go through the motions but to actually partake - feast even on the opportunities we are given each week. I will pray to overcome my own complacency - not only in my religion but in my duties as a citizen and a neighbor. Let us overcome this silent killer together. Sorry this ended up so long!