Idiotic Opinions

Remember when you wanted to do something that you knew was wrong — even dumb — but “everyone else” was doing it, so you wanted to as well? I do. My mom would use the tried and true adage, “Vickey, if everyone else jumped off a roof, would you do that too?” I hated it when she said that. Probably because I knew she was absolutely right.

And looking back, there were a few idiotic things I bought into. I just did not realize it at the time. Perhaps it was because I wanted to fit in — to be popular in my circle of friends and acquaintances. It might have helped had I been familiar with, and internalized, Richard L. Evans’ statement, “An idiotic opinion multiplied by fifty million is still an idiotic opinion.”

From the time children are in elementary school, they become familiar with the term “popularity.” We have a granddaughter who attends kindergarten. The other day Lexi told me that she was “popular in her school.” I asked her what being popular meant. She told me, with a wide smile, “It means that I am smart and stuff.”

Although I chuckled to myself about this “understanding” of a five-year-old mind, it saddened me that, already, she is being exposed to these kinds of expressions. At such a young age, she is entertaining concepts of popularity in her world, and trying to make her own definitions of what that means. She is concerned with whether or not she fits in. In kindergarten!

It makes me think of Brother Evans’ statement about idiotic opinions. If we are careful, we can bypass personal harm brought on by desire to fit in ith the masses — whether in kindergarten or on a world stage.

Lexi has an older sister whose classmates, in the third grade, flip over the labels of her clothing to see if it is a “popular” brand she is wearing. They make fun of her and others who do not wear, every single day, the “right” clothes. From early on, we are being swamped with terms — dictated by current trends — that label us in society!

In a mad scramble to be accepted and fit in, many take a path that is uncomfortable, even to them, because they do not want to be laughed at or left out. If “an idiotic opinion multiplied by fifty million is still an idiotic opinion,” what can we do to lessen the influence of the masses? How can we more effectively teach, and understand, that because something is accepted by the masses does not make it good!

• It wasn’t popular among the masses to help Noah build a boat. Nevertheless, Noah built the boat. And he and his family prospered.
• It wasn’t popular with Pharoah or among the Egyptians for Moses to stand for what he knew was correct. Nevertheless, Moses did as God commanded.
• The masses were opposed to anyone who was a “Mormon” in the early days of the Church. Yet, the pioneers followed, grew in faith, and built upon truth.
• In many areas of the world, it is still ‘undesirable’ in the community to be a Latter-day Saint. Yet, we have a chance to stand for truth and righteousness, to teach — by example — to stand for good things, even if we stand alone.

We may not win many popularity contests, but we will feel more at peace when we go to bed each night, as we choose things that may be “counted to [us] for righteousness.” {James 2:23, D&C 132:36.} We might quietly affect a friend or acquaintance for great good as they see us stand up as an individual of strength and honor, with little or no need to be part of the masses who choose blindly and without regard for personal integrity.

President Ezra Taft Benson wisely counseled us with these words, “Seldom are men willing to oppose a popular program if they themselves wish to be popular.” On the other hand, Joseph Smith taught us that “It is our duty to concentrate all our influence to make popular that which is sound and good, and unpopular that which is unsound.” Basing our opinions on sound reasoning, prayerful consideration, and long term positive benefits beats “jumping off a roof” any day!