“May we choose to build up within ourselves a great and powerful faith which will be our most effective defense against the designs of the adversary—a real faith, the kind of faith which will sustain us and will bolster our desire to choose the right. Without such faith, we go nowhere. With it, we can accomplish our goals…
May we maintain the courage to defy the consensus. May we ever choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong.” (President Thomas S. Monson, “Choices,” General Conference, April 2016)
Of course our hearts and minds are turned to the legacy left by President Monson today as he graduates from this life. I had plans for this week’s devotionals, but find my study returning to his words again and again, so I am deviating from the plan and will spend some time reflecting and pondering on this great man and the words he has left for us.
It does take so much courage to stand up to the majority, or sometimes just the vocal minority. I think of the courage President Monson must have had to stand as a leader in these times and hold positions that certainly “defy the consensus” of the world. It is terrifying to put ourselves up and face the scrutiny of others. It is so much easier to just go with the crowd.
But President Monson also gives us the key to that courage: faith. A true faith in Jesus Christ. That kind of faith doesn’t come easy and it must be constantly nurtured and fed. If we take the time to do so it will sustain us, strengthen us and empower us to do great things because we will not stand alone.
Meditation and Journaling Prompt: What have you learned from President Monson?
