Matthew 11-12
Matt. 12:30
Matt. 12:43-45
Christian writer C. S. Lewis:
“You must make your choice. Either this man Jesus Christ was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to” (Mere Christianity 1952, 41).
Elder McConkie
“There is, in fact, no such thing as neutrality where
the gospel is concerned. Jesus said: ‘He that is not with me is against me and
he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.’ (Matt. 12:30.) … If we do not sustain and
uphold and support the kingdom of God in all things, we are thereby aiding a
cause other than the Lord’s” (“The Caravan
Moves On,” Ensign, Nov. 1984, 84-85).
President Spencer W. Kimball:
“In abandoning sin one cannot merely wish for better conditions. He must make them. …
“… The things which engaged him and caught his fancy and occupied his thoughts are gone, and better substitutions have not yet filled the void. This is Satan’s opportunity” (The Miracle of Forgiveness [1969], 171–72; emphasis added).
“It is not enough to simply try to resist evil or empty your life of sin. You must fill your life with righteousness and engage in activities that bring spiritual power. …
“Full obedience brings the complete power of the gospel into your life, including increased strength to overcome your weaknesses. This obedience includes actions you might not initially consider part of repentance, such as attending meetings, paying tithing, giving service, and forgiving others” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 135).