About Geoff B.
Geoff B graduated from Stanford University (class of 1985) and worked in journalism for several years until about 1992, when he took up his second career in telecommunications sales. He has held many callings in the Church, but his favorite calling is father and husband. Geoff is active in martial arts and loves hiking and skiing. Geoff has five children and lives in Colorado.
It has been inspiring to see people willing to not comply, putting personal belief ahead of world-ly success.
It reminds me of learning the lesson, romantic or in friendship, that you really don’t need to pursue relationships with people who have no respect for you. And the sooner you learn this in life, the better your life will be, the better your relationships will be, the more you can respect yourself.
Lucinda, as followers of the Savior, we try to be friendly and get along with everybody. Unfortunately we will sometimes encounter people who for whatever reason cannot tolerate our views, or tolerate our religion or tolerate our freedom to act as we see fit. We should try to be reasonable with these people, but at some point it may be impossible, and we should then just go our separate ways peacefully. Contention is of the devil, and we cannot live with constant contention in our lives. There are unfortunately so many examples of this, from Nephi and his followers separating from the Lamanites in the new world to the constant oppression of the Latter-day Saints in the United States in the 19th century. Most people have seen this in their own lives. It’s simply a reality that not everybody will treat you with tolerance and/or respect no matter what you do. Peacefully standing up for yourself in these conditions is necessary.
What you say reminds me of this from President Packer, it’s right in line with your post:
“There is always the hope, and often it is true, that in any group one person with an open mind and heart may admit one simple thought: “Could it possibly be true?” Combine that thought with sincere prayer, and one more soul enters a private sacred grove to find the answer to the question “Which of all the churches is true, and which should I join?”
As I grow older in age and experience, I grow ever less concerned over whether others agree with us. I grow ever more concerned that they understand us. If they do understand, they have their agency and can accept or reject the gospel as they please.”