Through the media I produce, I frequently accost those who are still in organized churches. That won't stop. In fact, it will get worse, but I need to say some things about that right now.
(Details from the following obfuscated to protect anonymity). I got an email from a person who reads this blog who was asked to speak in church yesterday, and decided to deliver this post.
Many of you still attend the church you grew up in, and others still have many friends in these insular communities. You are likely their brightest connection to God. Are you allowing God to flow as much light through you as he can? You are behind enemy lines. You are within the enemy's walls. What are you doing from your privileged position? Are you taking the battle to them? Or are you allowing them to exert a greater influence on you than you do on them? Are you shining the light God has given you, or are you letting them inject their darkness into you?
But what can you say, and what can you do? The answer is very simple. Say and do what you imagine Jesus would say and do if he were in your place. That probably won't consist of making a whip while out with your friends or flipping tables during church--but you do what God tells you to do. It will probably be things like raising your hand and saying what Jesus would say, or giving your talks saying what you think Jesus would say. And don't just guess. Pray and ask him. Pay attention when you get a ping while someone is saying something you know isn't true. You need to speak these things into being, and then he will give you more, and throughout your life, not just at church, or in interactions with your friends. To him who obeys what he has will be given more.
You see, the problem is not that you are still going to church or that you still have churchy friends. The problem is you are only still allowed to go to church, and still only have church friends because you haven't said what you know Jesus would say in your place with these people. You have kept your mouth shut, because you were afraid of losing friends or getting kicked out of the synagogue. Go reread John 9 and ask yourself if you are more like the man Jesus healed or his parents? And then stop wondering why you don't see more of the power of God in your life.
The Lord said to take no thought what you say in the moment you are given opportunity, for it will be given to you. This language comes from the Holy Ghost. (D&C 68:4) Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost. (2 Nephi 32:3) When you take light from a source of greater light and deliver it to a place of less light, you are serving as an angel of God, speaking by the power of the Holy Ghost. You are delivering the Holy Ghost to people who are not as prepared to receive it as you are.
Just as you are a conduit of light to those with less light that you, there are people with more light than you who are serving as the Holy Ghost to you in ways that exceed what you are prepared to receive directly.
Reread Moroni 7 with these things in mind. This is the process by which God makes it possible to lay hold upon every good thing. It is very important.
Those who have maintained these old patterns claim they are doing so to help others, yet they never say or do anything (or only say or do very little) to actually help them.
You have abundant sources of ideas--and even specific language--given to you. What are you doing with it? Who are you sharing it with?
If you are maintaining these connections, flow the light. Don't hold back. Share the ideas. Post the quotes. Share what the Holy Ghost tells you to say. Do what the Holy Ghost tells you to do. Do not be ashamed of God, or he will be ashamed of you. (Mark 8:38)
Do not fear them cutting you off. When light is revealed, there are only two reactions: to move closer to God or further away. You cannot move closer to God without moving further away from those who do not do the same. This is not a bug, it is a feature. It is by design. There was no path where he would have been able to live as the Father would in his place and be allowed to continue interacting with the Pharisees. They were making plans to kill him from very early on. If it is true of God himself, how will you be exempted?
You won't win the battle. They will absolutely kick you out of their churches, and they will absolutely break off at least most of your friendships. That is not what is up for grabs. It's going to happen. If that's not at risk for you, you can rest assured that you are not doing what the Lord would in your place. The question is, how many of them will you take with you when you are booted? Or, more practically, how much light will you be able to share with them before they cut you off?
Consider what it means to be "valiant in the testimony of Christ" and why it is necessary. (D&C 76:79) Consider what it means "to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death." (Mosiah 18:9)
You have been given what to say. What will you do about it?
REFERENCES
And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation. (D&C 68:4)
Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. (2 Nephi 32:3)
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (Mark 8:38)
These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God. (D&C 76:79)
Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life— (Mosiah 18:9)