I am not ashamed!!!

“There are times when I feel so unsure if the words I speak will be the cure.  What if my voice could change a heart?  Lord, teach me where to start.  While on my knees I’m pleading so that I can show that I am not ashamed, to stand and say what I believe. I know that he’s my savior.  He’s my strength and every need.  There is one name under heaven. Christ, he is my king.  For him I’ll give my life.  I am not ashamed.”

 Romans 1:16 “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ”.  The gospel is nothing to be ashamed of but something to be proud of.   As Gordon B. Hinckley explained in a talk he once gave called "A Perfect Brightness of Hope" he said "We rejoice with you in the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are many blessings in store for you. We know at times it can be terribly lonely. It can be disappointing. It can be frightening. We of this Church are far more different from the world than we are prone to think we are. But the gospel is nothing to be ashamed of. It is something to be proud of. “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,” wrote Paul to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:8)."

 In the bible it talks about how the church is like a body (1 Cor 12:11-27: you should read it).  Every member of the body is important and plays an important part to the function of the body as a whole.  There are times when we might think that we are small and we don’t matter much.  Sometimes we think that it wouldn’t make a difference if we weren’t there because we think ‘what kind of contribution can I make?  I’m no one important.”  However, every part of our body is important.  Even if we were missing our little baby toes, our balance would be off and we would have to learn how to walk all over again; because they play a vital role in the function of the rest of our body.  When we look at the body as a whole we often overlook the importance of such a small feature but it is needed nonetheless.

 Our comments and contributions are important.  The spirit works in mysterious ways and he might impress you to say something that another person has been wondering.     You might have the answer to someone else’s prayer.  Of course it is not going to be easy and you are going to be a little frightened or intimidated at first, but who do you think is putting those fears inside your head?  Whenever there is an opportunity to grow spiritually there is always going to be opposition, because there is someone who doesn’t want us to be happy or help each other.  So he will put doubts in your head; doubts about whether or not your comment is worth sharing.  The only way to get over this fear is to open your mouth and just share what you have inside and the spirit will direct you with what to say. 

The more you turn away from, or deny the spirit the more difficult it is to recognize when he is calling you.  If you keep letting fear stop you from saying what the spirit has put into your mind, he is not going to be able to trust you as much with more revelation because he knows that you aren’t going to share it.  If will be more difficult for you to be in instrument in his hands when you are afraid of doing the work.  However, if you try to overcome your fear and allow him to work through you; he will give you strength.  He can make you strong enough to face your fears and help lift others who have fallen.  It is then that he can raise you to a higher level, closer to him.

The church of Jesus Christ isn’t a place where everyone goes just so that they can individually progress and leave everyone else in the dust.  It is a place where we can lift and strengthen others along our path.  Everything in the organization of the church is set up so that each person can help others, not so that they can help themselves.  The prophet isn’t called so that he can receive personal revelation that for him to keep to himself so that he is the only one that is saved.  No, he is called to teach and testify to the world of how they can be saved.  He receives revelation to prepare the world for what is coming.  The priesthood, as well, isn’t made or given to men so that they can bless themselves.  In fact, priesthood holders have to ask other priesthood holders to give them a blessing.  The priesthood is always given so that men can better serve others and lift their fellow men.  Every calling there is in the church is only an opportunity to serve others.  It is when we magnify these callings that the Lord can make us stronger.  Like Christ said in Moses 1:39 “For behold, this is my work and my glory; to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”  Due to the fact that Christ wants to bring to pass the eternal life of ALL mankind he will bless us when we help him in reaching his goal.  We do that by letting the spirit work through us and sharing the thoughts that he has put in our hearts.  It is then that true happiness can be felt.

There are many who are out there that need our help with coming back to the church.  In Alma 31:34-35 Alma makes a supplication to God for his strength and help with being able to bring their souls back to him.  We must do the same and ask for God’s help to receive the revelation needed to help our brothers. We must ask for his strength to overcome our fears and be able to declare those things to our brethren.  We might be the difference in their decision to come back to the church.  You can help them feel welcome and wanted.  All you have to do is allow God to work through you.

I am so grateful for this gospel in my life.  I know that when we serve others we serve our God and help his cause.  It is a personal goal of mine to not allow my fear stand in the way of me sharing testimony of him at all times and speak the words that are in my heart.  My Lord and Savior have done everything for me.  The least I can do is live for them!  In his name, I share these things, even Jesus Christ. Amen