Disturbers and Annoyers

The Island of Misfit Toys went to stake conference this past weekend. I had to miss the Saturday night session due to a prior commitment (improv up in Clearfield), but I got to go to Sunday afternoon's excellent concluding session. During his talk, one of the counselors in the Salt Lake City mission presidency, who was visiting our stake, shared and expounded upon Joseph Smith—History 1:20, which reads in part:

"It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom (emphasis added)."

I love this scripture, and I love the phrase "a disturber and an annoyer."

Many people might be offended to be called either a "disturber" (disturbed?) or an "annoyer"—but not this Paco. When it comes to disturbing or annoying of this nature, I consider it to be a badge of honor.

I recently spent some time on Facebook doing some profile stalking—like you do—in which I looked at the profiles of numerous people who once used to be my friends but who have now unfriended me.

Disclaimer: I have not ever unfriended someone on Facebook for having a different viewpoint or opinion on any matter. (If someone has been outwardly rude or insulting—the opposite of being a "friend"—then that is a different matter altogether.)

There's a few more who had unfriended than I had previously believed. And many of them, I'm rather positive, have unfriended me because of my views on political and/or moral issues. In fact, I'm certain of it.

This fact used to bother me, but it really doesn't now. I'm okay with it. My views are not shared with malice. They are not meant to offend nor to irritate but, rather, they are expressed out of love for the gospel and the Father's great Plan of Happiness, and for the joy that they bring me and my family. They are meant not to disturb or to annoy my friends but, instead, to disturb and to annoy someone else entirely.

As President Hinckley once said, "We are compelled by our doctrine to speak out" ("Why We Do Some of the Things We Do," October 1999 general conference).

The First Amendment: It's fan-tastic!

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12; emphasis added)."

I've been told by some that I talk about politics a great deal. Well, I'm guilty as charged. It's because there's a great deal of spiritual wickedness in high places in our time. It's not only in foreign lands, but it's right here in the United States—in Washington, D.C., as well as locally, too. It's another reason why I speak out.

While watching an episode of the Ken Burns documentary "The Roosevelts" today, I heard this magnificent quote from one of my top 5 favorite U.S. presidents, Teddy:

"Neutrality does not serve righteousness; for to be neutral between right and wrong is to serve wrong."‪

In other words, if you're not a disturber or an annoyer, than you might unwittingly be one who aids and abets.

I can't stay neutral. I feel I must stand up for many of the things I believe. I'm happy to be among the disturbers and annoyers. And I'm trying my best not to be disturbing nor annoying in the process.

There is a difference.