| MEMBERS OF THE CREW by Brad Wilcox, Assistant Professor, Brigham Young University Why do Latter-day saints live higher standards than others? Why do youth wait till sixteen to date? Why do youth attend seminary and institute? Why do we go on missions and pay for them ourselves? Why do we accept callings and pay tithing and live the Word of Wisdom and keep the law of chastity? Because we are children of God? So is everyone else in the world. Because we were saved for the latter day? So were they. Because we have a birthright. Yes, there is an answer that truly sets us apart. We have been given an extra portion, and now we are expected to fulfill our responsibilities to care for our brothers and sisters across the world and govern the affairs of our Heavenly Father's kingdom. Unlike traditional cultures who believe a chosen people is selected to rule over others, we realize that a chosen people must serve others. God would never exalt or raise up one nation or person above another if all nations and people could not be blessed through their ministries. "To appoint a Chosen people is not a pandering to the racial vanity or a 'superior people.' It is a yoke bound upon the necks of those who are chosen for a special service.... The Lord hath made [Israel] great for what He is going to make [Israel] do" (W.J. Cameron, "Is There a Chosen People?" in James H. Anderson, God's covenant Race, pp. 300-302; see also 1 Nephi 21:3). It's as if God placed all his children on a big ocean liner--the USS Earth--and sent us from one shore to another. God loves all of his children and is concerned about their safety. He doesn't want to lose any of them, so he selects from among those on board some whom he can trust, and he makes them members of his crew. It is no surprise that crew members have responsibilities beyond those of ordinary passengers, because crew members receive something that other passengers don't--a paycheck. Do you realize that one change of shoes and one change of clothing points us in the top 5 percent of human beings who walk on this planet? If one change of shoes puts us in the top 5 percent, where does a car put us? Where does the chance for a college education put us? My friend David L. Buckner figured out that we had 1 chance in 20,400,000 of being born where we are today with all that we have (Serving With Strength, p.59). Along with temporal blessings, we have been blessed spiritually and socially as well. We have a legacy, a heritage, a culture that acts as the most incredible support system in the world. When we look around us on this ocean liner and see others playing games, eating banquets, and dancing late into the night, we must remember that we are not ordinary passengers. We are members of the crew. And before we complain too loud or too long about the duties we have, we should remember that there is nothing God could ask of us for which we have not already been paid. Next time you sing, "I am a child of God, and he has sent me here" (Hymns, 301), maybe you could add another verse which my friend Irene Fuja and I wrote together: I am a child of God Saved for the latter day With noble birthright given to me That I must now repay. Leading, guiding, with Him beside me Showing all the way. Teaching all what we must be To live with Him someday. Original Source: Tips for Tackling Teenage Troubles by Brad Wilcox (Deseret Book, 1998), pp. 30-31. |