First, the most important link: this week’s Come, Follow Me

The D&C scriptures in section 71-75 aside, one paragraph from the manual stood out to me. It featured these suggestions:

• Consider ways to peacefully correct falsehoods in your own words…
• Express respect for the other person’s views…
• Share in a humble and kind way what you believe about Jesus Christ and His teachings…

Our modern leaders want us to improve how we interact with those not of our faith. Period. We’ve always been counseled to be Christlike. To have charity. To live John 13:34. But it’s clear to me that we’ve got to level up how we communicate with the world as Latter-day Saints.

Why this matters so much more now

D&C 71:6 is pretty direct:

For unto him that receiveth it shall be given more abundantly, even power.

While that guidance is given within the context of confounding your enemies, which sounds like it’s an “on the other hand” to all the things I’ve mentioned above, you can confound without adding contention.

You can debate without resorting to insults. You can defend the truth without giving way to personal credibility attacks. You can stand up for what you know is right without sarcasm and hostility.

I’d argue that if you can’t do that, or even worse if you aren’t willing to, you’ll never represent the Church in a positive light to those who need its saving ordinances. And isn’t that the point of everything we do? Save ourselves and invite as many as we can to come, follow Him?

More to come…

Photo courtesy of Alena Darmel.