Facilier: To Make Easy

Come, Join with Us

by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf,

Second Counselor in the First Presidency  

 

WHAT?

Another reason is because the Church provides opportunities for doing good.

Believing in God is commendable, but most people want to do more than listen to inspirational sermons or dream of their mansions above. They want to put their faith into practice. They want to roll up their sleeves and become engaged in this great cause

 

SO WHAT?

Most people want to be part of something greater than themselves.  For me, that means the Savior, Jesus Christ, and the work of true discipleship.  I have no faith in my government and little in my elected officials, even those for whom I voted.  It saddens me to say this, but it is true.  It came into crystal clarity for me last November.

 

 A few years ago, I was watching the Disney movie The Princess and the Frog with my grandson and his family.  The villain in the piece is a voodoo priest named Dr. Facilier.  Since I speak a little French, he asked me if facilier meant evil.  I told him no: it means to make easy (facile is easy in French). 

 

Perhaps easy and evil in this context are the same thing.  Easy is what Lucifer proposed in the Council in Heaven: He would bring all of us back by taking away our right to choose.  If we had no choices, life would be easy.  He's say: frog and we'd jump.  I can't think of a more horrible way to live. 

 

Satan is still trying to do that: convince us to take the past of least resistance; the easy way.  I see it all around me and I am saddened.  I heard college students being interviewed after the last election who said they voted for the incumbent because he gave them all free cell phones.

 

NOW WHAT?

I cannot change the larger society other than through whatever influence I might have by example.  But I can take care to make sure I choose daily the path of discipleship.  It is not easy.  It requires me to roll up my sleeves and be actively engaged in a good work.

 

 

To put it in the words of the great prophet/leader, Joshua, Choose ye this day whom ye will serve . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)

 

Text copyright October 2013, Gebara Education

 

Pictures:

Facilier from www.fanpop.com

Joshua from www.eborg2.com