When Joseph Smith had his first vision he was worried about telling people. But as he did he found that no one believed him. The preachers of other churches degraded him and told him he was a liar. They chastised him and made him feel belittled. But Joseph knew what had happened to him, "...why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it....".
Nowadays, I feel I am becoming too tolerant of the "world" around me. I am not strong like Joseph was to stand strong in what he knew without a shadow of a doubt was true.
My kids hear people ALL AROUND them taking the Lord's name in vain. It is constant in this part of the country that we live in. And we have told them over and over that it offends Heavenly Father, that we don't want to say His name in vain. Madelyn came home from school the other day and told me that she had asked one of her friends not to say "that word" because it makes Heavenly Father sad. Her friend immediatly told her that that wasn't true and then proceeded to repeatedly yell His name just to make Madelyn uncomfortable.
Madelyn said she tried to stay strong and tell her that it was hurting her feelings but she said she got nervous and eventually walked away.
Just like Joseph, Madelyn experienced the "worlds" reaction when they are asked to do something that they don't want to or that is too hard...persecution, denial, etc.
Just a small example but one that makes me think... am I being too tolerant of the things around me that aren't in accordance with the Lord's will. Would he trust that I would be strong enough, like Joseph, to carry out His plan despite the "worlds" resistance.
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