Only nine more days until the 184th General Conference! Today’s throwback Thursday message comes from Elder Russell M. Nelson about fear, faith, and Frenchmen … with a rare, and rather risqué, Conference moment thrown in you don’t want to miss! 😉
In his April 2014 Conference message “Let Your Faith Show“, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles begins by telling a story about travelling on an airplane during a storm where they experienced violent and terrifying turbulence. A woman seated on the plane became so frightened that she screamed and cried uncontrollably until they finally (safely) landed.
[Sidebar: For the record, if I was on that flight, the woman screaming would be ME!]
Elder Nelson’s moral of the story:
“…one of the realities of mortal life is that our faith will be tested and challenged. Sometimes those tests come as we face what appear to be life-and-death encounters”
[Sidebar: I love this talk! There isn’t room to highlight all my favorite quotes! So, you should go read it AFTER you finish reading my brilliant blog post of course!…Because you definitely don’t want to miss the risqué part]
What Is Faith?
“When we speak of faith—the faith that can move mountains—we are not speaking of faith in general but of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. . . .The doctrine of Jesus Christ was designed by the Lord to help us increase our faith.”
How Do We Let Our Faith Show?
“Living the Lord’s pure religion, which means striving to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ, is a way of life and a daily commitment that will provide divine guidance. As you practice your religion, you are exercising your faith. You are letting your faith show.”
What If Our Faith Is Mocked?
“President Thomas S. Monson said, ‘Of course we will face fear, experience ridicule, and meet opposition. Let us have the courage to defy the consensus. …Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval.'”
BONUS! ♪♪A [Risqué] Musical Moment ♪♪
Hooray! I LOVE it when any music reference is made during a General Conference talk. Most recite a popular lyric or quote a hymn – but once in awhile if you listen very closely, you might hear an obscure, or hidden gem like this one from Elder Nelson:
“After World War I, a rather risqué song became popular. In promoting immorality, it vowed that 50 million people cannot be wrong. But in fact, 50 million people can be wrong—totally wrong.
“Immorality is still immorality in the eyes of God, who one day will judge all of our deeds and desires.”
That “rather risqué song“ Elder Nelson refers to is actually titled “50 Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong”, sung and recorded in 1929 [when Elder Nelson was 5 years old] by one of the most popular entertainers in America of the time. Sophie Tucker (1887 – 1966) was a Russian-born American singer, comedian, actress, and radio personality known for her comic and risqué songs. [Tucker was the ‘Mae West’ of the East coast, who once quipped “When I kiss men, they feel they’ve had their tonsils taken out”] Not surprisingly, her nickname was “The Last of the Red Hot Mamas.”
Here’s the Last Red Hot Mama singing her ‘rather risqué song’ that’s ‘TOTALLY wrong’
What If Our Faith Isn’t Popular?
Is faith ever popular? Elder Nelson cautioned that our faith will always be tested, and sometimes “the temptation to be popular” can be one of our greatest tests of all.
With that, an apostle of God made his final, tender plea:
“I plead with you, my dear brothers and sisters: Day after day, on your path toward your eternal destiny, increase your faith. Proclaim your faith! Let your faith show!“
Got Faith?
Make it grow, have it shine, let it show!
[and don’t be one of those “50 Million Frenchmen People”] – MoSop
General Conference will be broadcast LIVE and tape delayed from the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, Saturday and Sunday, October 4 and 5, 2014. Check out a list of options to see Conference HERE.
[Note: The General Women’s Meeting will broadcast on Saturday Sept. 27 at 6:00 PM MDT]
Latter-day Soprano 