Even Though Everyone Else Is Doing It

From an interview with Elder F. Michael Watson of the Seventy; by Megan Withers Roxas

[Ye] are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:20).

When I was a young boy, I loved to watch a television show called The Lone Ranger. It was about a cowboy hero and his friends. The Lone Ranger always stood for right choices. At times, there would be individuals who did not want to choose the right. They would cause problems for others. When the Lone Ranger tried to help, he often would be chased by those who wanted to hurt him. In his escape, the Lone Ranger would get on his horse, Silver, and try to outrun them. Sometimes he would ride under a low-hanging branch of a tree and reach up and take hold of the limb. Silver would continue on as the Lone Ranger pulled himself up into the tree to hide.

I tried that once when I was riding my horse. I grabbed the limb of a tree, and my horse kept going. But then the limb broke and I fell to the ground. I suffered the consequence of that decision with a broken arm. It was very painful.

I gained a little wisdom from that experience. Even though we see other people do something, especially if it is wrong, it doesn’t mean that we should do it. We all have friends, and sometimes they do not always follow the teachings of the gospel.

Despite what our friends are doing, it is important that we always follow the teachings of the gospel. “Follow the prophet; he knows the way” (Children’s Songbook, 110–11). He will always teach us the things we need to do to make right decisions. As we follow those principles, they will become a very important part of us.

Illustration by Matt Smith