Lemonade Please

Some important choices for fulfillment and happiness should be made only once and then, having been made, never have to be made again.
For example, we need only once to make the firm and unequivocal resolution not to smoke tobacco, not to drink alcoholic drinks, nor use mind-changing drugs.

In 1976 Elder Robert C. Oaks, then a colonel in the United States Air Force, was a member of the Incidents at Sea negotiations team.
They were guests at a dinner hosted by the Leningrad Naval District.
About 50 senior officers of the Soviet Union and the United States were present as the host led the group in toasts before dinner.
They stood for the first toast and raised their glasses, most of which were filled with Russian vodka.
Brother Oaks had pink lemonade in his glass, which was immediately noticed by the admiral leading the toast.
He stopped and demanded that Brother Oaks fill his glass with vodka, stating that he would not proceed until he had done so, Brother Oaks declined, explain that he was happy with what he had in his glass.

A significant tension began to build, and even his own team members, most of whom were senior to him, were growing uneasy over the impasse.
Brother Oak's Soviet escort hissed in his ear, "Fill your glass with vodka!"
Brother Oaks uttered the shortest prayer of his life: "God, help me!"

Within seconds, the Soviet interpreter, an army captain with whom he had previously discussed religion, whispered to the host admiral, "It is because of his religion."
The admiral nodded his head, the tension immediately diffused, and the program moved on.

Elder Oaks had decided years before that he would never drink alcohol, and so in the moment of trial he did not have the make this choice again.
Elder Oaks was convinced that more harm would have come to him if he had compromised a tenet of his faith than the harm that would have come from drinking the vodka.
Incidentally, adhering to his religious principles did not hurt his career.
After this incident he went on to become a four-star general.

-James E. Faust -Choices -April 2004 General Conference

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi