Stake Conference talk given by Pres. Sean Lanier – June 23rd, 2019
Dear Brothers and Sisters, what a privilege it is to be gathered together with you here today. How blessed we are to be united together as the saints of Zion in Rancho Cucamonga. What a blessing to be able to hear from that wonderful primary choir. My young brothers and sisters I hope you know how much we love you.
When two colliding military forces meet each other on the battlefield, the flag becomes very important. In the chaos of battle, it can become very difficult to know who is the enemy, and who is on your side. As two opposing armies converge to fight for precious territory, there can be confusion, disorder, and misunderstanding. In ancient battle, military flags were used to both encourage the troops, and send messages indicating your position on the field. As you were in the midst of battle, if you ever lost your bearings, you would look to the flag to know where you should go. So making sure the flag was always up, always moving forward, was not only important because it gave the soldiers hope, but it gave them direction. Hope and Direction. Primary choir, thank you for reminding us what we are fighting for.
For a 12 year old boy, sitting through a 2 hour priesthood meeting is not always the easiest thing to do. Growing up as a boy my father started the tradition of taking us to In and Out after each priesthood session of general conference, a tradition I continued with my sons. For many years each April and October, my sons and I would congregate in this chapel for General Conference Priesthood Session, and then scurry off down the street to In and Out after it was over. This tradition was not unique to my family, and it was and is quite common to see other men and young men at In and Out around the same time.
In my professional life as an educator I typically where a shirt and tie to work each day. I wear it so consistently that on the occasions when some of my students will see me in the community without a shirt and tie, they seem almost confused, and need to do a double take to make sure it is me. That or maybe they just really don’t want to see me outside of school. Especially if they are with their parents.
Well several years ago after a priesthood session of general conference, my sons and myself, as well as many other men and their sons, attended the priesthood session together. And then many of us made the trek towards In and Out afterwards. At In and Out the line got consistently longer and longer as more and more men and sons, all wearing white shirts and ties, lined up for their post priesthood meeting feast. On this one occasion the lure of a hamburger, fries and shake seemed to entice many and there was a large contingency of brethren from our stake at the restaurant, and soon it appeared white shirts and ties were taking over the establishment.
As I reached my turn at the counter to place my order without looking up I heard a familiar voice say
“Hello Mr. Lanier!” I looked up and there was one of my students, ready to take my order.
He asked how I was doing and questioned the onslaught of men in white shirts and ties. I told him we were at a church meeting together and he politely took my order and we went on and enjoyed the rest of our evening.
The following Monday at school I was wearing my customary shirt and tie. For some reason whenever a student sees one of his teachers outside of the classroom, it can reach the level of headline news. It’s almost tantamount to a Bigfoot sighting. Proof that we actually exist outside of school and have lives beyond the four walls of our classroom. As class started and students were entering, this young man who took my order at In and Out started to tell the rest of the student the tale of the time he saw Mr. Lanier at In and Out.
I’ve heard stories like this before. I let him proceed with the account of his adventure but then I realized he had noticed more than just Mr. Lanier out in the wilds of civilization. As he finished his story he said
“Mr. Lanier wears a shirt and tie outside of school too. And even on Saturday. And guess what, all his friends dress exactly like him!”
He wasn’t done. He added “Even the kids!” All the boys wear white shirts and ties too!”
This was a very nice young man, but our traditions and practices were foreign to him, and he found the convergence of 30 or so men and boys wearing white shirts and ties on a Saturday evening quite peculiar.
But as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we should not find it strange.
As the Apostle Peter taught “…ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.” (1 Peter 2 :9)
The context of Peter’s Epistles is interesting and instructive for our day. Peter was writing from Rome, what he called Babylon, and most likely nearing the time of his martyrdom.
At the time a great persecution was taking place against all Christians. The great fire broke out in Rome, and destroyed an estimated two-thirds of the city and many found it convenient to blame Christians, and the first government organized persecution of Christians began.
While the world was ramping up the attacks, many Christians were persecuted, killed, or apostacized.
In this context that Peter, most likely knowing he has few remaining days, addresses the church.
His objective – provide hope and direction.
Help the terrified members of the church have the strength to stay the course.
In his first Epistle Peter offers instruction and hope. But he does not say the persecution will necessarily end. In fact, it is to be expected.
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:” (1 Peter 4:12)
The struggle is to be expected. It will only increase. So our personal preparation must increase.
The battlefield is becoming more complex and more confusing, and the fight is going to intensify. We need to identify ourselves clearly on the battlefield, so we know where to go, and so others know where to go.
As peter said:
“…if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed…” (1 Peter 4 16)
Becoming a Peculiar People does not mean we are trying to stick out. It doesn’t mean we are trying to be strange or weird. It doesn’t mean that we are better than others, or see ourselves as superior. In the translation of the bible, the word peculiar also meant special, not eccentric.
Being a peculiar people is about our choice to follow our Savior and Heavenly Father. It’s not that He has chosen us. It’s that we have chosen Him and made covenants to follow him.
So how do we continue to endure while the battle is raging? As the influences of the adversary continue to distract the rest of the world, we must and will become more and more peculiar.
Peter taught that our conversations must be “honest” and that when others “speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God…” (1 Peter 2:12)
“…that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.” (1 Peter 2 15)
Our lives and our examples should become peculiar, setting us apart from the rest of the world.
As disciples of Christ, we will stick out more and more, and we will see the battle continue to rage around us as the world moves in one direction, and we in another.
Peter also offered direction. “…be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; “
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you ...” (1 Peter 3:15)
Think of the hope that is in us. We have so many reasons to hope. And we have so many blessings because of the gospel. But when we step into enemy territory, we risk weakening our defenses.
Elder Dalin H. Oaks taught
“Following Christ is not a casual or occasional practice but a continuous commitment and way of life that applies at all times and in all places.” (April 2013)
If the way we live is seen as increasingly peculiar by the world, we are probably moving in the right direction.
When the truths of the Word of Wisdom are questioned, we can be an example of it’s power.
When greed prevails, we can be generous in our tithes and offerings.
When the importance of the Sabbath Day is diminished and ridiculed, we can testify of it’s virtue.
When family values and marriage are attacked, we can answer the call to defend it.
When kindness is scorned and viewed as weakness, we can be examples of charity and the pure love of Christ.
When promises and commitments are mocked, we will remember and keep our covenants.
The Lord’s victory is assured. But he needs us to do the work. It is not a question of which side will win. It’s a question of which side will we be on.
In the battles of the Book of Mormon we find additional instruction. In Captain Moroni’s time we see some of the fiercest fighting between the Nephites and the Lamanites. It was a time when the people’s freedom was threatened from both outside, and inside forces, and a rebellion in their own government caused Moroni to have to return to the capital city to compel them to support the cause of liberty.
This was a difficult time. So difficult that the people of Ammon, who had taken an oath never to raise their swords against their brethren, felt an urgency to do something. They struggled with how to help their brethren in the fight for freedom.
We know that Helaman took command of the 2000 stripling warriors, the sons of the people of Ammon.
The description of their decision to join the battle is interesting. As their parents had made a covenant never to lift the weapons of war again, these young warriors also “entered into a covenant to fight for the liberty of the Nephites…yea they covenanted that they never would give up their liberty” (Alma 53:17)
The account further describes their decision to join the fight. In Alma 53:19 it reads:
“…as they never had hitherto been a disadvantage to the Nephites, they became now at this period of time also a great support.”
Each of us are faced with choices every day that determine the course of our future. But sometimes are we just passively going through the motions? Are we just not being a disadvantage, or our we a source of great support?
President Thomas S. Monson
“May we maintain the courage to defy the consensus. May we ever choose the harder right, instead of the easier wrong.” (April 2016 General Conference).
It is not always easy, but each of us must decide to be fully committed, and to do whatever we can to move the work forward. “Progress is not created by contented people.”
The gospel of Jesus Christ gives us the hope and direction we need to conquer and will lead us to safety.
The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done” (History of the Church, 4:540)
I testify of the divinity of this work. I testify that our Savior Jesus Christ, is in charge, and leads this work, and will lead us to victory. I also testify that the battle will get worse, so our commitment must become stronger. I know that Jesus Christ is my savior. And say these things in his name, even Jesus Christ. Amen.
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