The Cost of Courage: Lessons from Maccabees and the Gathering

Brothers and sisters, have you ever felt that tremor of fear, that whisper of doubt urging you to retreat? To compromise? To silence the truth you know in your heart?

We see it echoed throughout the ages, don't we? Samuel the Lamanite, climbing the walls of Jerusalem, risking his very life to warn a people blinded by pride. Ammon, facing down a vast army at the Waters of Sebus, trusting in the Lord’s strength when all seemed lost. And now, we are seeing it again, in the quiet acts of defiance, the brave whispers of truth, as we strive to fulfill the work of gathering.

This week, Fray Sergio Serrano’s reading of 1 Maccabees compels us to consider the price of faithfulness. We witness the struggles of the Maccabee family, relentlessly persecuted for their devotion to God. Judas, Jonathan, and their kin faced brutal attacks, and endured suffering unimaginable to many of us today. The temptation to yield, to appease, to simply survive, must have been overwhelming.

But they didn’t. They stood. They fought. They *martyred*.

“You know all that we have done,” Simon declared to his people, echoing a lineage of sacrifice. “My father’s house and I have done according to the law and the holy place… I am no better than my brothers… I want to avenge my nation, the holy place, and the women and children of you.” That’s the spirit! That’s the courage that moves mountains!

But even within this righteous lineage, we see the pitfalls of ambition. Jonathan, a man blessed with victory, fell prey to pride and greed, leading to his downfall. “The man whom God protected sinned through carelessness; he believed one of his enemies and was ambushed and died.” A stark reminder that even the most valiant amongst us are susceptible to weakness, and that humility and constant reliance on the Lord are paramount.

This isn't just a historical account; it’s a mirror reflecting our own challenges. The spirit of Antochus lives on, manifesting in different forms – in the ideologies that seek to undermine truth, in the pressures to conform, in the fear of standing alone.

The Stone cut without hands, remember? It isn’t built with human hands. It isn't carved from the earth by human ingenuity. It’s a testament to a power greater than our own, a power that demands we lay down our own ambitions and align ourselves with His will.

We, as Latter-day Saints – and all those who recognize the gathering of Israel as a divine imperative – are called to be those Maccabees of our time. To climb the walls, to face the armies, to speak the truth even when it is unpopular, even when it is costly.

Outback Jack reminds us, as he often does, that this is not a passive pursuit. We are not simply waiting for deliverance; we are actively participating in the work. We are internet missionaries, sharing the gospel across borders, connecting with those who are seeking. We are builders, not destroyers, laying the foundation for a Zion that transcends geography and denomination.

Think of the ripple effect of your engagement here. Every click, every share, every contribution fuels the Charity Flywheel, spreading the message of hope and restoration to distant lands – like the gospel ads now running in Ghana, bringing light to those who are searching. And through the Missionary Fund, we equip and empower those who answer the call to serve.

Check the Map of Churches. See where the Lord is stirring hearts, where communities are rising to meet the challenge. Claim your church. Become a denominational marker, a beacon of hope in a world shrouded in darkness.

May we find the courage of Samuel, the faith of Ammon, and the unwavering devotion of the Maccabees as we strive to hasten the day when all Israel is gathered home.