A friend of mine shared this with me on Facebook and it touched me how right on to our times it was, although it was spoken in 1979! Oh how I love Elder Maxwell and the truth he taught and the seer that he was. Today as a lot of us are fasting for the many issues going on in our nation and the election at hand, I thought this was powerful and true doctrine to think on.
I hope you learn from it as I did...
Elder Neal A. Maxwell- Apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints
1926 –2004
"Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had ‘never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life.'"This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ. . . . Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. . . . This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions."Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened.... Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, 'summer is nigh.' Thus warned that summer is upon us,let us not then complain of the heat.“…there is occurring a discounting of religiously based opinions. There may even be a covert and subtle disqualification of some for certain offices in some situations, in an ironic irreligious test for office. If people, however, are not permitted to advocate, to assert, and to bring to bear, in every legitimate way, the opinions and views they hold which grow out of their religious convictions, what manner of men and women would we be?“If we let come into being a secular church which is shorn of traditional and divine values, where shall we go for inspiration in the crises of tomorrow? Can we appeal to the rightness of a specific regulation to sustain us in our hour of need? Will we be able to seek shelter under a First Amendment which by then may have been twisted to favor irreligion? Will we be able to rely for counterforce on value education aided in school systems which are increasingly secularized? And if our governments and schools were to fail us, would we be able to fall back upon and rely upon the institution of the family, when so many secular movements seek to shred it?It may well be that as our time comes to “suffer shame for his name” (Acts 5:41), some of that special stress will grow out of that portion of discipleship which involves citizenship.”
Neal A. Maxwell, “A More Determined Discipleship,” Ensign, Feb 1979, 69–73
Today is my only sister in laws birthday and I am so glad that I get to tribute her! She definately deserves a shout out! Not only did she marry my brother, but she also is the mother of 3 of the most adorable children EVER! 
Andrea married my brother when I was on my mission so I came home to a sister! Andrea is a VERY talented hair stylist and I love getting beautified by her.
I feel bad for people because they don't take the time to get to know her because she is so quiet when she doesn't know you, but when you actually listen to her, she has a lot to add to a conversation. Andrea loves shopping, decorating, spending time with her friends, eating out and date nights with her hubby and bunco.
I am so happy to have Andrea as a 8 yr addition to our family! We love you Andrea thanks for putting up with us! 
The second important reason that today is so great would be none other than my Brother Patrick Neal, Fat Pat Neal, Trick, Patter-rick, whatever you may want to call him!
