Defending my beliefs

When I first heard about a horrendous show on cable about a man and his 3 or more wives, I was very worried that the LDS Church would be depicted in a negative light, and once again, have current ties to polygamy, which it does not have. The producers said that the characters were not affiliated with the "Mormon" faith. But it looks like things are changing.

I saw a brief link on Facebook and was emailed the story of the upcoming episode of said show (I refuse to share the network or name of the series at this time) where the actors take us into the sacred rooms of the temple. The producers want to explore the "secrets" of the temple and what goes on.

Well, Facebook and the email, both had links to a comment section for this network and show. My gut reaction was to defend my faith. I clicked on the link and madly began typing a response. But then I took a breath, and I'm glad I did. Something was holding me back and now I realize what it was.

A few minutes later I was doing laundry, thinking about this terrible show. I suddenly had a flash of Joseph Smith and the pioneers in my mind. And I asked myself what they would have done. Would they fight back, or quietly live their lives? And would the Savior and Heavenly Father want me to attack?

I've always been a defensive person if someone attacks me, my family, or my faith/beliefs I do fight back. A few times in the mission I had to check myself. I learned that the Spirit leaves if you get defensive and contentious. That is what was about to happen in the email I was going to send.

Well, tonight on the news was a report of the boycotts and protest that members of the Church are trying to organize. They read a brief statement from Church leaders encouraging members not to protest and that the Church itself was against such actions stating: "Such a step would generate the kind of controversy that the media loves and in the end would increase the audience for the series."

I felt a relief and peace that I had not sent that email to the network. Then moments later I opened my scriptures to read an index card that has been in there for 6+ years. I have not read this card for many years, but tonight something prompted me to read it: "The Standard of truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame; but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited ever climb, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah shall say, 'The work is done.'"

There weren't just mobs in pioneer times, we have plenty today. They may not come in the dark of night with tar and feathers, but we do have so many negative people trying to take down the LDS Church. But the work will continue to move forward if we all, as members, do our part by keeping the Spirit with us and being patient with our prosecutors.

I have decided to defend my beliefs by living and acting in accordance to the gospel of my Savior, Jesus Christ. He would not want me to attack these people, this would only drive the Spirit away from me and show a poor example of a follower of Christ to the world. It would also draw greater attraction to this awful series and the producers, etc. In Hollywood, after all, they do say that any publicity is good publicity, but I totally disagree.