Dear Sisters and Elders –
It was a great pleasure being with you during zone conferences this last week! Thank you for your spiritual preparation and for your contributions during the discussions. It really is an honor to serve with each one of you!
Ezra Taft Benson explained: “The proud stand more in fear of men’s judgment than of God’s judgment. ‘What will men think of me?’ weighs heavier than ‘What will God think of me?...The proud love ‘the praise of men more than the praise of God’ (John 12:42-43)...” (“Beware of Pride,” Ensign, May 1989, p.4).
There are examples in the scriptures of those that sought to please men more than God:
- Pilate contents the people and releases Barabbas (Mark 15:9-15)
- Herod follows through with request to behead John the Baptist (Matthew 14:6-10)
- Chief rulers fear Pharisees and do not confess belief in Christ (John 12:42-43)
- Pharisees and scribes seek to be seen of men (Matthew 23:1-2, 5-7)
- Saul conquers Amalekites, but fears people and allows them to keep spoils (1 Samuel 15:24)
- King Noah heeds wicked priests and does not free Abinadi (Mosiah 17:11-12)
- Zoramites pray to be heard of men (Alma 38:13)
However, there are also examples of those that put aside the fear of men and sought only to please God:
- Nephi writes what is pleasing to God (1 Nephi 6:5)
- Moroni seeks glory of God (Alma 60:36)
- Nephi did not fear men more than God (Helaman 10:4)
- Peter and John return to preach to people despite threats (Acts 5:17-29)
- Christ judges righteously because he seeks will of His Father (John 5:30)
- Christ does always those things that please God (John 8:29)
- Christ prays: “Not my will, but thine” (Luke 22:42)
After studying these examples, a few important principles become clear. First, when we seek to please God, we gain lasting peace and strength; when we seek to please men we ultimately lose the respect of others and experience personal regret. Second, when we choose to please God, we are sometimes required to confront a negative, although short-term pressure from others. Finally, as illustrated by Peter, we can refine, strengthen, and improve our determination to please God over time. There is great hope for all of us!
As missionaries, we face situations where we must choose between pleasing God and pleasing men. Do we “open our mouths” to share the gospel despite what others may think of us (D&C 60:2)? Do we use key indicators as a tool to help others and not as a way to receive recognition? Do we care more about “how” we serve rather than “where” we serve (Alma 29:6)? Do we follow God’s standards for missionary appearance or do we seek to bring attention to ourselves through dress and grooming (1 Nephi 8:27-28)? Do we follow the standards in the Missionary Handbook regardless of pressure from others?
As we choose to please God, we will always have more lasting peace and happiness and will be more powerful missionaries for Him.
With love and respect,
President Pingree