President Uchtdorf and Elder Ballard reported on their inauguration experience yesterday:
“We could feel the deep emotion around us — we were surrounded by people of all colors, of all creeds and of all languages,” said President Uchtdorf . . . “It was a great experience we had — to see a unity there that I hope will last on and continue throughout the years of this administration.”
and
“I left with a feeling that the people of America are going to unite behind this new president and his administration and that we need to pray for him,” Elder Ballard said. “We need to exercise our prayers and help him accomplish the great objectives that he has set.”
Helpful counsel to encourage all of us to support our new president. After all, we are supposed to honor our rulers.
I don’t think they mean we are supposed to necessarily sign on to the specifics of President Obama’s agenda but his overall efforts to strengthen our nation.
Some encouragement for those of us who didn’t vote for him: the Barack Obama who spoke yesterday sounded a lot different from the one of last year’s primary campaign. Plus, we have an opportunity to not return in kind the derangement syndrome that afflicted many of our fellow citizens for the past eight years.
As my father-in-law wrote in an op-ed this Sunday:
At this point let’s give Obama the benefit of the doubt. After all, his success will be our success.
I agree. I’m sure there will be plenty of issues to disagree and argue over but he is our president. We should hope at the least that he is successful in running and defending our country.
If you need more specifics on how the loyal opposition should behave (or anyone else for that matter), consult this excellent “To Don’t” list for the right.
