Quickly forgotten by those who are offended is the fact that the Church is “for the perfecting of the saints” (Ephesians 4:12). It is not the well-provisioned rest home for the already perfected. Likewise, unremembered by some is the reality that in the kingdom we are each other’s clinical material; the Lord allows us to practice on each other, even in our imperfections. And each of us knows what it is like to be worked on by a “student” rather than senior surgeon. Each of us, however, unintentionally, has also inflicted some pain.
Neal A. Maxwell, “Ensign” May 1982, p. 38
We are Christ’s kingdom builders. Those who build the heavenly kingdom have always made nervous people who are busy building worldly kingdoms. Noah’s ark-building was not politically correct… The reactions to us will vary: there will be almost Agrippas, the puzzled Pilates, the timed Van Burens, and the stout Colonel Kanes, and, of course, there will be some scorn and some rage. But deep within the rage and scorn, if one listens closely, are sounds of profound pain, hushed hope, and of doubt beginning to doubt itself.
Neal A. Maxwell, “All Hell Is Moved” p. 178-79
The Church does not become more true when people join it (only more glorious in scope)—nor does it become less true when some chose to leave it. Validity has nothing to do with numbers, as the eight on the ark and the three who successfully fled Sodom testify.
Neal A. Maxwell, “Wherefore, Ye Must Press Forward” p. 20
Comments
Post a Comment