. . . What You Have Chosen Instead

No Other Gods

by Apostle Dallin H. Oakes

WHAT?
The principle is not whether we have other priorities. The question posed by the [1st two of the ten] commandment[s] is “What is our ultimate priority?” Are we serving priorities or gods ahead of the God we profess to worship?

Our twelfth article of faith states our belief in being subject to civil authority and “in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.” But man’s laws cannot make moral what God has declared immoral. Commitment to our highest priority—to love and serve God—requires that we look to His law for our standard of behavior.

In this determination we may be misunderstood, and we may incur accusations of bigotry, suffer discrimination, or have to withstand invasions of our free exercise of religion. If so, I think we should remember our first priority—to serve God—and, like our pioneer predecessors, push our personal handcarts forward with the same fortitude they exhibited.

 

A teaching of President Thomas S. Monson applies to this circumstance. At this conference 27 years ago, he boldly declared: “Let us have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval. Courage becomes a living and an attractive virtue when it is regarded not only as a willingness to die manfully, but as the determination to live decently. A moral coward is one who is afraid to do what he thinks is right because others will disapprove or laugh. Remember that all men have their fears, but those who face their fears with dignity have courage as well.”

 

SO WHAT?
Elder Oakes was an attorney, judge, university president before being called as an apostle in the mid-1980s.  His conference addresses are prepared in a systematic way.  In this one, he began by reminding his listeners of the first two of the ten commandments: Thou shall have no other gods before me and Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image.  In this, he set the foundation for keeping our priorities straight.  This means that if we love the Lord, God with all our hearts, souls, and minds, that we must stand by that priority, even when it is politically incorrect to do so.

I also love his sound bite: But man’s laws cannot make moral what God has declared immoral. In this he references the "political correctness" of same-sex marriage, abortion, and any kind of sexual immorality.  As a Christian and a Latter-day Saint, I do not discriminate against nor judge any who choose these life paths.  But tolerance does not mean embrace.  I am hurt that those who preach tolerance as a justification for their own choices show so little tolerance for those of us who make different choice.


NOW WHAT?
There are many things that can serve as idols.  I think we all have them.  My goal is to monitor my own thoughts, words, and deeds and to keep my life and my home centered in the Lord, Jesus Christ. 

The ancient prophet, Nephi, wrote: We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. (1 Nephi 25:26).  I do that in my blog, in my books I write for my children and grandchildren, in my Facebook posts, in my phone and personal conversations.  I want my family to know that I have a testimony of Jesus Christ and of His gospel and His Church.  I don't want them to look back on my life and wonder if I was a Christian.

A favorite apostle of mine was Elder Neal A. Maxwell.  He once wrote: If, in the end, you have not chosen, Jesus Christ, it won't matter what you have chosen instead.

 

Text copyright October 2013, Gebara Education

 

Charlton Heston as Moses from multiple sources on the web