Fear of . . .

Well, lets just face it: I'm terrified of snakes.  When I see one appear in the garden or grass, I panic and in my increased anxiety I do what comes naturally.  I freeze. 

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we panic and instinctively we want to get away from the thing that makes us afraid; however, instead of running, we play dead.  Opossums are really masters of this skill.  They face their enemies with absolute determination to appear lifeless.  It is a strategy that works, but should we adopt it?  When we are faced with uncomfortable challenges to our faith and the lifestyle that comes with it, do we act like a possum?  Ezra Taft Benson assures us that such lifelessness in the face of ridicule is nothing but cowardice:

"We are far removed from the days of our forefathers who were persecuted for their peculiar beliefs.  Some of us seem to want to share their reward, but are ofttimes afraid to stand up for principles that are controversial in our generation.  We need not solicit persecution, but neither should we remain silent in the presence of overwhelming evils, for this makes cowards of men.

 We are in the world, and I fear some of us are getting too much like the world.  Rather than continue a peculiar people, some are priding themselves on how much they are like everybody else, when the world is getting more wicked.  The Lord, as He prayed for His Apostles, said, 'the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.' (John 17:14).  As Latter-day Saints, we too have been called out of the world."                           ( Ezra Taft Benson. The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson. Bookcraft. 1988 pg.396).