Day 43

Day 43:

*GET BACK ON SCHEDULE

-Use your reading chart to find the chapters you still need to read to be caught up through:

Alma 11

or

If you’re up to date with your reading, take time to study:

Alma 5

Something to think about: What are some of the questions Alma asks in order to ponder the process of becoming converted or reborn?

I was all caught up so I decided to read President Monson's talk entitled "Dare to Stand Alone" from the October 2011 priesthood session. He tells a story of when he was in the US Navy near the end of WWII. The chief petty officer gave a command:

“Today everybody goes to church—everybody, that is, except for me. I am going to relax!” Then he shouted, “All of you Catholics, you meet in Camp Decatur—and don’t come back until three o’clock. Forward, march!” A rather sizeable contingent moved out. Then he barked out his next command: “Those of you who are Jewish, you meet in Camp Henry—and don’t come back until three o’clock. Forward, march!” A somewhat smaller contingent marched out. Then he said, “The rest of you Protestants, you meet in the theaters at Camp Farragut—and don’t come back until three o’clock. Forward, march!”

Then he continues:

Instantly there flashed through my mind the thought, “Monson, you are not a Catholic; you are not a Jew; you are not a Protestant. You are a Mormon, so you just stand here!” I can assure you that I felt completely alone. Courageous and determined, yes—but alone.

And then I heard the sweetest words I ever heard that chief petty officer utter. He looked in my direction and asked, “And just what do you guys call yourselves?” Until that very moment I had not realized that anyone was standing beside me or behind me on the drill ground. Almost in unison, each of us replied, “Mormons!” It is difficult to describe the joy that filled my heart as I turned around and saw a handful of other sailors.

The chief petty officer scratched his head in an expression of puzzlement but finally said, “Well, you guys go find somewhere to meet. And don’t come back until three o’clock. Forward, march!”

When they were marching away, he thought of the words to this poem:

"Dare to be a Mormon;

Dare to stand alone.

Dare to have a purpose firm;

Dare to make it known."

We need to be courageous and stand firm in what we believe. Don't allow others to sway you. And if you make mistakes, you can make things right again! We have been given the "blessed gift of repentance." So use it. It's hard, and painful, but well-worth it.

"May we ever be courageous and prepared to stand for what we believe, and if we must stand alone in the process, may we do so courageously, strengthened by the knowledge that in reality we are never alone when we stand with our Father in Heaven."