It can be hard to stand out in a crowd as a disciple of Jesus Christ, but we are promised great blessings if we rely on Christ anyway.
In our often intellect-based world, we can place a lot of value on being seen as “smart” and “logical.” Anything that doesn’t fit that frame can quickly fall to mockery. Unfortunately, many people see faith as illogical, leading religion and moral standards to sometimes be viewed as laughable. No one likes to stick out, especially as the joke, but Elder Michael A. Dunn, in his BYU devotional address “These Foolish Things,” suggests that it is better to be a laughingstock who stands with Christ than a respected figure who doesn’t.
Elder Dunn illustrates this by telling stories about Don Quixote, Joseph Smith, and the Savior himself, all of whom were called fools for having different perspectives from the rest of the world. Elder Dunn describes how the Savior’s teachings challenged the traditions of his day and the people’s understanding—and those teachings still do today. Thus, followers of Jesus Christ should “expect opposition,” as President Russell M. Nelson counseled in his talk, “Overcome the World and Find Rest.”
Facing opposition can be exhausting and discouraging, especially when your core beliefs are attacked, but even so, Elder Dunn affirms that “we must never give up or give in to the skeptics and naysayers.” He explains how Christ is mightier than the opposition we face and that he can help us do the impossible. “To really make a difference in the world,” he said, “we have to live [the gospel of Jesus Christ], be all in, and be fully vested in the cause, come what may.”
People may mock us for our beliefs, but Christ is our strength. Be all in as a disciple of Jesus Christ, and the Lord will help you face opposition and do the impossible.
Read, watch, or listen to Elder Michael A. Dunn’s devotional “These Foolish Things” for more encouragement to stand as a “fool for Christ.”
Source: BYU Speeches
—Elise Green, Latter-day Saint Insights
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Find more insights
To see how other people have proclaimed Christ in difficult situations, look at Amy A. Wright’s general conference address “Thou Art the Christ.”
Read and watch President Thomas S. Monson’s general conference talk “Dare to Stand Alone” for more encouragement to hold fast to your beliefs and standards.
Take a look at Melissa Gee’s Latter-day Saint Insights Article “Persecution, Faith, and a Gold Bead” to learn about other people dealt with being scorned for their beliefs.