I have been going through a great PERSONAL CHECK these last several days.....It all started with a scripture, and a conversation, and then a talk, and then an all consuming I COULDN'T GET IT OFF MY MIND kind of thing.
The scripture: Alma 26:31 (speaking of the strength of the newly converted Lamanites) "Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors....yea and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their LOVE TOWARDS THEIR BRETHREN AND ALSO TOWARDS US." In simple terms, we know they have a testimony because of how they treat other people. Moroni 7:3-4 says the same thing.
The conversation: My friend explained to me of an incident where an outsider to our faith witnessed a fight amongst our members, after the fight (which should have been simple public discourse) she approached one of the ladies and asked, "Aren't these people, of your faith?"
The Talk: Elder Holland recently gave a talk which stated: A few years ago a young friend of mine—a returned missionary—was on one of the college basketball teams in Utah. He was a great young man and a very good ballplayer, but he wasn’t playing as much as he hoped he would. His particular talents and skills weren’t exactly what that team needed at that stage of its development or his. That happens in athletics. So, with the full support and best wishes of his coaches and his teammates, my young friend transferred to another school where he hoped he might contribute a little more.
As fate would have it, things clicked at the new school, and my friend soon became a starter. And wouldn’t you know it—the schedule (determined years before these events transpired) had this young man returning to play against his former team in Salt Lake City's then-named Delta Center.
What happened in that game has bothered me to this day, and I am seizing this unusual moment to get it off my chest. The vitriolic abuse that poured out of the stands on this young man’s head that night—a Latter-day Saint, returned missionary, newlywed who paid his tithing, served in the elder’s quorum, gave charitable service to the youth in his community, and waited excitedly for a new baby coming to him and his wife—what was said and done and showered upon him that night, and on his wife and their families, should not have been experienced by any human being anywhere anytime, whatever his sport, whatever his university, or whatever his personal decisions had been about either of them.
But here is the worst part. The coach of this visiting team, something of a legend in the profession, turned to him after a spectacular game and said: “What is going onEm here? You are the hometown boy who has made good. These are your people. These are your friends.” But worst of all, he then said in total bewilderment, “Aren’t most of these people members of your church?”...The day after that game, when there was some public reckoning and a call to repentance over the incident, one young man said, in effect: “Listen. We are talking about basketball here, not Sunday School. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. We pay good money to see these games. We can act the way we want. We check our religion at the door.”
“ We check our religion at the door ”? Lesson number one for the establishment of Zion in the 21st century: You never “check your religion at the door.” Not ever.
Emi, do you see how this is all coming together. The last few days I have feverishly been searching my mind with this question: Is there any cause that I put above that of Christianity? Is there ever a time where I justify myself in being unkind, because, "IT IS THAT IMPORTANT AND SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE?"
Emi, you NEVER check your religion at the door! Not Ever!
Love, your contemplative Grandma
P.S. Grandpa Foster always wanted "The Lord Never Wondered Which Side I Was On" written on his headstone.....I am wondering how many people wonder where I am at because of how I treat them.
