Letter written many years ago, but not sent to a church leader.
I had intended to let this be the end of my letter, but some experiences during the past month
have given me some impetus to write to you on another matter.
For the past 6 years I have served as Chapter Chairman of the Wyoming Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. I have attended the national meetings and have watched the making of policy and have seen the impact of such statements upon national and state agencies. I have felt quite alone sometimes because I have tried to represent my somewhat conservative views on social issues to be drowned by the overwhelming voices of liberal colleagues.
Being a member of the Lord’s church does not
foster popular views on social issues, since the ways of God and the ways of the world are usually at opposite poles. I have found during the six years that the four members of the church I have met among the Chapter Chairmen have been good men, but most do not choose to seek to find offices where they may be in a position to more effectively represent the ways of the Lord. As a result, a usually conservative group of physicians now have a policy which holds that social programs holds the answer to replace the family in teenage pregnancy, and day care centers to replace the mother who chooses to work.
I have often wondered what we who are in the professions are supposed to do? We who have the gospel and realize that it alone can bring about peace and sanity into an otherwise worldly society. Should we involve ourselves in the organization of the world, hoping to exert our influence for good or should we abandon the worldly organizations and put all our efforts into church activity totally ignoring what the world does?
I realize that church policy and pronouncement on such issues would perhaps be unwise and would certainly raise the ire of the liberal factions and bring about continued discord.
Here the letter stops. These are questions that we can pose today. If we do not lead out who will follow?
Be a leader.
Love, Grandpa
