Friday, October 11, 2013

Today's Maxwell Quote

From Things As They Really Are (1978), 13-14:
Father Lehi said of the great multitude who entered into that large and strange building, "after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not." (1 Nephi 8:33.) Yet while Lehi noticed the finger of scorn pointed at him (because he was doing that which was right), his response was not one of resentment; he "despised the shame of the world."

Readers will recall that in Nephi's interpretation of that vision, the great and spacious building was "the pride of the world." (1 Nephi 11:36.) Nephi described the fall thereof with this sobering note: "Thus shall be the destruction of all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, that shall fight against the twelve apostles of the lamb." The differences between the legions representing the pride of the world and those who prefer the Lord's way are irrepressible differences.

One could scarcely expect a proud world to understand, let alone approve of, those who refuse its ways. Hence the scorn and the shame that we must all come to "despise," or care so little for, that it does not deter us from doing that which is right.