Have Courage

Courage NOT Compromise brings the smile of God's Approval
-President Thomas Monson

Mordecai- an ordinary man, trying to live a normal, righteous life.  I bet he was a lot like many of us. He probably made good choices every day, but little did he know that just one of his choices would endanger his people with a near death experience.

This week we are studying the story of Esther in the Old Testament with our children.  She is an amazing example of great faith, prayer, and fasting.  I don't want to sell Esther short because I think the story is what it is because of her, but the part that Mordecai played in the story has stuck out to me.  I think his is also a story worth looking into and learning from his experience. 

 Mordecai is the uncle of Queen Esther.  He raised her because her parents were killed.  When she married the King, she did not tell him that she was a Jew- because they were frowned upon.  The King had a right hand man named, Haman, who was worshipped and the people bowed before him.  Mordecai refused to bow because he wanted to keep the commandment not to worship anyone except for God.  When this happened Haman went to the king, and told him that Mordecai and all the Jews should be killed because of this. The pain that this caused Mordecai really tugged at my heart strings.  In Esther 4:1 it reads, "When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, ... and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;". 

I wondered what sort of thoughts were going through his head. Perhaps he thought, "Oh, wow- maybe I shouldn't have followed just that one little commandment. Look what I've done. Because of my choice, not only am I going to be killed - but my family, and friends, and ALL of my fellow believers are too."  Do you think Mordecai might have second guessed himself?  Do you think just a few of the believers might have ridiculed him for "Choosing the Right," because now they were going to be killed because of him?  I bet Mordecai felt awful- I'm sure very few of us can begin to understand the sorrow he felt!!  Maybe it wasn't quite like that, maybe he didn't second guess his choice, maybe his people were so righteous they gave him a high five and told him, "Way to choose the right". BUT if this happened in today's world, I think many would rather choose not to follow just one little commandment than to be ridiculed by others or cause a negative consequence on themselves and those around them. 

Are we ever in situations that if we stood up for what we believed or chose the right  it might cause embarrassment, awkwardness, or harsh realities we don't want to deal with? I think experiences like this happen all the time in the work place, around friends, in school, and probably even inside the home.

Mordecai may or may not have second guessed his decision for following the commandment. But his soul was tormented with sorrow because of a choice he had made.  Not always does choosing the right bring immediate, wonderful blessings. Sometimes the blessings of a choice, may not appear for days, months, or years later. Mordecai could not see that the Lord had greater blessings just around the corner because of that one little commandment he DID choose to follow.  Because of his choice, not without hardship- the fasting of his people, and the  faith and courage of Queen Esther to go before the King- Haman was killed, Mordecai received the house of Haman, and the Jews were blessed. They went from being a persecuted people to one of favor.  Had Mordecai chose not to follow that one little commandment- look at the blessing they would have missed out on.

 Sometimes we might think that one little choice, one little commandment- won't make a difference, but it does.  Sometimes it may seem that choosing the right may hurt us more than help us.  But God gave us commandments to follow because he knows things we do not.  He knows that by those little choices we can change the outcomes of our future, our family or friend's future, or even the future of a nation. 

When the choice is at hand- don't worry, don't fret that you might later second guess it because of the repercussions for following the commandments.  Just do it- for great blessings await those who have the courage to choose the right.

 

Our world, more than ever, needs courageous people to choose the right!

http://www.mormonchannel.org/youth-videos?v=2886657808001   this is a short video clip about a true story of someone faced with making a courageous decision.