A Voice of Warning and of Unity

Last month I posted a question: How are we to warn others of what we see and know and at the same time be a peacemaker and build unity? You’ve all been waiting for the answer!
May I begin by saying I don’t have the answer. I think this is something we have to continually ponder and work through. But I do have some insights.
First, we must never stop warning others. Yes, it is uncomfortable. Yes, people look at you weird. Yes, it is hard. But the alternative–silence–is unacceptable. I do not want to greet a single brother or sister in the Spirit World after death and have them say, “You knew! And you didn’t tell me!” So we must continue to speak out of the truth as we know it.
Second, the day we are quiet is the day evil wins. And I am not willing to let that happen. Funny how those promoting other agendas have no problem speaking out. They don’t seem to worry or care about offending others or making them feel uncomfortable. They are certain and driven. We must be equally certain and driven — in fact, more so.
Third, our warning and our speaking out must be centered in love. It cannot be centered in ego, arrogance, pride, or anything related to “self.” It must truly be centered in love and caring for others. It is only then that it will have power to influence. Honestly, if I didn’t care so strongly about others, I’d just keep my mouth shut! It is because I love others so much that I speak out and try to teach, warn, influence as much as I do.
Fourth, many will reject us. Many will reject truth. That is the nature of man. Just know that is the way it is. It isn’t personal. They will not care that we love them. They will say that the only way to love them is to agree with them and they will not be able to see past their own ideology. Their filter is so strong they cannot feel our love and they will reject our words. Do it anyway.
Fifth, Christ went through the same thing. I take comfort in that.
Sixth, a wise person taught me when speaking out, include a heavy dose of common ground so that those who disagree will listen longer and perhaps be influenced. Starting on common ground is great. Build a bridge first. We all care about our families. We all care about children and babies. We all care about having a beautiful earth to live in. Start there.
Many of us feel “called to the work.” I feel that way strongly. I feel very called to protect the family and especially babies. I have a strong faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ and know that we are living in the last days and many things are happening and will happen. Now more than ever, our brothers and sisters need to feel loved. And they also need to be warned and have truth declared boldly and clearly.
As we continue to speak and teach and influence with the motivation of love and truth, a growing number of our brothers and sisters will unify with us. We must work diligently to build Zion — a group of people of one heart and one mind. We will care for our poor and needy–both temporally and spiritually. We will care for each other. We will center our work on Christ. We will offer love and healing and family to ALL our brothers and sisters throughout the world.
I take as my guide these words–and they apply equally to men and women:”‘We need women with the gift of discernment who can view the trends in the world and detect those that, however popular, are shallow or dangerous.’ Today, let me add that we need women who know how to make important things happen by their faith and who are courageous defenders of morality and families in a sin-sick world. We need women who are devoted to shepherding God’s children along the covenant path toward exaltation; women who know how to receive personal revelation, who understand the power and peace of the temple endowment; women who know how to call upon the powers of heaven to protect and strengthen children and families; women who teach fearlessly.” President Russell M. Nelson
I will continue to teach fearlessly. I will do so because I love my brothers and sisters. I will continue to warn and work toward building unity of God’s family. I am called to this work–and I accept that calling.