Sunday talk

Hello all,

Last week Laura did a special musical number in church (which went extremely well--she got compliments from lots of people) and, to make sure I didn't feel left out, I was asked to give a talk in church today. Mom and Dad were able to make it to hear me, and they recommended that I email a copy to everyone in the family, but instead I thought I'd post it on the blog. So here it is:



Christian Courage


Introduce us (from, Ethan 19 months this week, we’re both graduated, teaching/grad. School, how we met, we had only been off our missions for . . .), ending with Laura and my missions→

. . . which is where I would like to start my talk.
This actually isn’t a mission story, but about the construction of the Stockholm Sweden temple. But first some background: Sweden has very strong ties to the Lutheran church, with traditions going back to the early sixteenth century. When missionaries first came to Sweden they met with success, but also with plenty of persecution. My own great great great great grandpa, the son of the jail keeper in a small Swedish town, was converted by Mormon missionaries that were in jail for preaching. So, in this country with such a strong Lutheran heritage, when President Monson conducted the groundbreaking and site dedication for the Stockholm temple in March of 1984, it was no surprise that there was a vocal group of Swedes that opposed the construction of the temple. This was a very trying time for members in Sweden, in some ways. Many members showed courage by standing up for the church, but as I progress with this story I would like to explore the example of Christian courage provided by a Lutheran. Krister Stendahl was the Lutheran Bishop of Stockholm during this time. Krister was born, raised, and educated in Sweden, then after working in the United States as a Professor and even Dean at the Harvard Divinity School, was called back to Sweden in 1984, the same year this “Mormon temple controversy” was broiling. While Swedes are possessive of their Lutheran heritage, few Swedes actually attend church more than a few times a year. It’s kind of a strange situation, but Lutheran leaders are also trying to become more popular with the people. It would make sense for the newly elected leader of the Lutheran church in Stockholm to unite with the people in condemning the “bizarre” Mormon religion in an effort to gain popularity. However, this isn’t what happened. In a press conference Krister publicly defended the Church and the temple, advocating religious understanding rather than intolerance and prejudice. This couldn’t have been a very popular thing for him to do. There must have been some Swedes who were disappointed with a Bishop who was sympathetic to a religion that many in Sweden consider a cult. I’m not saying that the temple wouldn’t have been built without Krister’s positive words; I’m not sure if anyone knows exactly what kind of influence he had on Swedes. All I know is that I met many Swedes whose only contact with the church had been the temple open house, and it had been a very positive experience for them. I’m sure that Kristers’ kind words and Christian courage has made it easier for many to join the church.

Many people consider speaking positively of those with other beliefs to be a weakness. Elder Hales said in his talk last conference entitled “Christian Courage,” which I’ve actually based the theme of this talk on, “Some people mistakenly think responses such as silence, meekness, forgiveness, and bearing humble testimony are passive or weak. But, to “love [our] enemies, bless them that curse [us], do good to them that hate [us], and pray for them which despitefully use [us], and persecute [us]” (Matthew 5:44) takes faith, strength, and, most of all, Christian courage.”

For any of you who have seen the church film about temples entitled Between Heaven and Earth, you have actually heard Krister Stendahl share his positive feelings about the our church and his admiration of our temples. In this film he even gives his three rules of religious understanding. He actually first publicly shared these rules in the press conference in 1985 when defending our church and the construction of the temple in Stockholm. I would like to share these rules because they are extremely helpful in keeping the spirit when discussing our religion with those not of our faith. Elder Hales underscores the importance of keeping the spirit when we discuss with those of differing beliefs. He says that because our power in preaching is through the spirit, “we must never become contentious when we are discussing our faith . . . More regrettable than the Church being accused of not being Christian is when Church members react to such accusations in an un-Christlike way!” Later he even says, “Surely our Heavenly Father is saddened—and the devil laughs—when we contentiously debate doctrinal differences with our Christian neighbors.” Krister not only shows a great example in standing up for the Church, but also shows us a Christ like was of interacting with other religions:

His first rule is, “if you want to know about another religion, ask its believers, not its detractors. Second, compare your “bests” with their “bests.” Don’t compare your “bests” with their “worsts.” Third, cultivate “holy envy.” Identify things in their faith which are virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, and seek after them.” Imagine that you have a workmate or schoolmate who you discover is a Jehovah’s Witness. Krister Stendahl’s rules say that if you want to find out more about their religion, don’t ask people who don’t know, or who have negative opinions about their beliefs. Ask someone who believes in it. Also don’t scoff at perceived weaknesses because you compare them with strengths in our faith. Thirdly, you would look for things that are admirable that they do. Along these same lines is Brother David Peck’s Golden Rule of Interfaith Dialogue: “howsoever you would that others speak of your religion, speak you even so of theirs. If you would like to have others speak respectfully of Mormonism, encourage an atmosphere of mutual respect by first speaking respectfully of their religions. This means taking the other’s religion seriously, or an undertone of condescension or contempt may make its way into the conversation and undermine the spirit of affirmative gratitude.”

Elder Hales answers those who wonder how we should respond to the antagonists of our religion when he said, to those who wonder “ how we should respond to our accusers, I reply, we love them. Whatever their race, creed, religion, or political persuasion, if we follow Christ and show forth His courage, we must love them. We do not feel we are better than they are. Rather, we desire with our love to show them a better way—the way of Jesus Christ. His way leads to the gate of baptism, the strait and narrow path of righteous living, and the temple of God.” Krister Stendahl died last year having never accepted the gospel, but he did lead others to a greater belief in the temple. We who are members show follow his example by also leading others to the temple.

Speaking with Christian courage has greater application than just when speaking with those of other religions. We should seek to cultivate a respectful relationship with anyone who has different beliefs or ideas than us. Standing up for others may require doing something unpopular, like when Krister Stendahl defended our Church when not many did. But when we make these righteous decisions, we show the Savior that we too have Christian Courage.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.