Choose for yourself!

A few years ago, I was hanging out with a few of my colleagues from work, and I was introduced to a new person who had just been hired onto our team.

We were at a restaurant, and this new colleague said to me, “Hey I’m gonna head inside and grab a beer. Do you want me to grab you one?”

I told him thanks for the offer, but that I didn’t drink.

He responded, “Oh! Do you not drink because your church tells you not to drink, or is it a personal choice?”

What a question, right?

I only had a split-second to gather my thoughts.

But I was able to respond to him:

“Well, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, if that’s what you’re getting at, so yes, my religion encourages us not to drink alcohol. But it is also a personal decision that I’ve made to follow that advice and not drink alcohol.”

He very graciously said, “Of course, of course, I get it!”

(And for the record, we worked together very well afterwards, so he obviously didn’t think I was too crazy for my response!)

I knew that he really wanted to just know whether or not I was “Mormon” or not. I get it.

But… I really wanted to let him know that I didn’t just not drink alcohol because my church told me not to.

I had also made a personal decision to follow the counsel, and have felt that decision confirmed to me many times.

In Doctrine and Covenants Section 37, the Lord gives the big, life-altering commandment to ask the Saints to move from New York to Ohio!

But the Lord ends this commandment with this interesting note in verse 4:

“Behold, here is wisdom, and let every man choose for himself.”

The Lord gives commandments.

The church gives guidelines.

Our prophet gives challenges.

Our Bishop gives us callings.

And yet, we always get to choose for ourselves.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black