Standing Firm

I love this picture.

Lighthouse in the Storm - La Jument II

A lighthouse standing strong against the storm. Can you see the tiny white speck in the front of the lighthouse, near the bottom? If you could zoom in you would see a man standing at the door. It's hard to believe a man could be standing there, the strength of the ocean ready to overpower it all. But he does stand, firm against great odds.

Occasionally we see examples in our own lives of people who are standing against forces just as powerful and seemingly overwhelming as the storming ocean in the picture. One such man has made a stand against a very loud force in our world today.

Elder Boyd K. Packer, in the October 2010 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints gave a speech entitled Cleansing the Inner Vessel. There has been a huge uproar regarding these remarks by a very loud minority. They have taken offense because there is no room in his remarks for their actions to be justified. President Packer has taken a stand. He is like that man standing alone on the lighthouse with the stormy seas swirling around him.

His comments were not rude, unkind or hateful. He spoke the truth and there are those who take the truth hard. He cannot simply say things that make everyone feel good. If anything, his remarks and the response of "the world" strengthen my testimony that he truly is an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. He can stand strong because he does not stand alone. He has the strength of the Lord supporting him - like the lighthouse in the picture.

He is my hero. I hope I would have the courage to get up in front of the world and tell it like it is, not mincing words and then be able to take the heat like he is, if needed. I'm grateful for examples like Elder Packer to show me how its done.

Love,

The Mama B