Suffering Hurts – "The Son of Man hath descended"
One
of the great blessings I have found in composing this weekly thought,
is that throughout the week it leads to much thought and reflection
about the day-to-day events which happen as part of this mortal
experience. Another great blessing is to hear from you and others about
your experiences and challenges. This week, I want to start off by
sharing two dramatically different stories from last week. The stark
contrast may help to bring clarity to you –as it did to me. I remember
President Spencer W. Kimball talking about the many ways in which we
could sin. He went on to say that “Ingratitude” was the most common sin of all. Nephi spoke of this egregious sin in the 19th chapter of 1st Nephi “For
the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the body
and soul, others set at naught and trample under their feet. Yea, even
the very God of Israel do men trample under their feet; I say, trample
under their feet but I would speak in other words—they set him at
naught, and hearken not to the voice of his counsels.”
The
fact of the matter is that Jesus carried out his mortal mission with
perfection and in doing so became our Christ. The priceless blood of a
God was shed, and he became our Savior; his perfected life was given,
and thus, he became our Redeemer; his atonement for us made possible our
return to our Heavenly Father, and yet how thoughtless, how
unappreciative are most beneficiaries! Ingratitude is indeed the sin of
the ages.
The contrast of the week
Last
week I received the following correspondence from friends, living in
two different parts of the Kingdom – I’ll share with you the briefest of
excerpts from their personal letters:
“Yesterday
in Relief Society, we were asked to see what we could do for a couple
in our ward who lost their vacation cabin in one of the fires. I am a
little put out by that request. There were people who lost their primary
homes, their livelihood, livestock, etc., even lives in those fires and
we are supposed to do something for this couple who lost their vacation
cabin? I think they should be thanking Heavenly Father for being in the
position to even own a vacation cabin and be thankful for the time they
had it. I don't think we need to pity those people. The first counselor
even said it wasn't the monetary loss but the memories. That didn't
even make sense to me. You don't lose memories. Am I being hard hearted?
I think the Relief Society presidency should have asked us to possibly
do some humanitarian efforts for the people who are living in shelters
now who lost their homes entirely. I kind of feel like that is the same
as saying "This family lost their second boat, we should do something
for them."
In
case you didn’t know, the Western States have been ravaged by dry
conditions and intense fires that have destroyed thousands of acres –
and hundreds of homes. Now, the same day I received the following from
my adopted daughter serving in Africa:
We
also met this other less active woman named Zinda yesterday. She is
this floppy middle aged woman whose skin droops, dresses in rags, smells
terrible, and has 2 teeth. She’s just in sad, sad shape. We sat down
and started to get to know her a little better. Turns out she was
married into the church and had 7 kids, 5 of whom are also members. She
then started loading her whole life story onto us. She has some problem
(maybe cancer) in her ovaries and is waiting for her name to get drawn
to have surgery. Because of whatever the problem is she has, she gives
off a TERRIBLE smell. She has no work, and lives off of nothing. The
saddest part of it all is that a year ago or so her husband ran off with
another woman. She got up and went to the other room and then came back
with an 11x13 picture of her husband and said, "Isn´t he beautiful?!" .
. . then started breaking out into tears. She then sat down and started
breaking out into tears saying she is ugly and nobody loves her. She
cried and exclaimed that she will no longer be able to have an eternal
family. Oh she just broke our heart. She doesn’t want to go to church
because she smells so bad and can’t afford anything nice to wear. She is
ashamed of who she is and of what she looks like and doesn’t want to
ever leave her little cement home. We just hugged her and cried with
her. We tried sharing scriptures with her and words of comfort but
nothing seemed to help her. We are praying to know in what way we can
help poor Zinda to remember that she is special and that God is aware of
her and loves her.
The infinite Grace of the Savior:
As
I read through the first incidence I thought “certainly, there is more
to this world than losing a vacation home”. But then, as I read about
Zinda – my heart broke. Through tear-filled eyes I pondered the love of
the Savior and his ability to draw his children unto him. Speaking of
his very personal and intimate knowledge of each of us he has said “And
I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body,
and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you
whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to
cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Are not five sparrows
sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But
even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore:
ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:4--7). For
me, there was a quick and direct impulse to recall the contrast found
in Alma 31 and 32. One group of people who were far better off – and
another who were impoverished and needy. We read
“And they came unto Alma; and the one who was the foremost among them
said unto him: Behold, what shall these my brethren do, for they are
despised of all men because of their poverty, yea, and more especially
by our priests; for they have cast us out of our synagogues which we
have labored abundantly to build with our own hands; and they have cast
us out because of our exceeding poverty; and we have no place to worship
our God; and behold, what shall we do? And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immediately towards him, and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them, and that they were in a preparation to hear the word” (Alma 32: 5-6).
It
seems that some of us lose sight and hope of exaltation and godhood,
not because of major sins, but because of innocent mistakes or
weaknesses beyond our immediate control. “I’m not a bad person,” we say.
Yet we feel like Nephi who explained that he struggled with overcoming
those weaknesses that easily beset him and distanced him from God. At
times, it’s not the sins that hold us back, but rather the lack of
capability, the lack of talent, the lack of strength, or of direct
control. For those of us who fall within these categories, we need to
be reminded of the Atonement’s intimate, as well as infinite reach.
Regardless of the depth or multiplicity of our individual weakness or
circumstances, the Atonement is always there! Therein lies its beauty
and genius – IT is never beyond our grasp. The Savior is always
standing by, anxiously longing to endow us with the powers that will
convert every weakness to a strength.
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me
Our
LDS Bible Dictionary puts every man’s need for this power in
perspective: ”Divine grace is needed by every soul in consequence of the
fall of Adam and also because of man’s weaknesses and shortcomings”.
The Savior further explained the need for weakness and humility to the
young Prophet Moroni in the Book of Ether: “And when I had said this,
the Lord spake unto me, saying: Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and
my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage
of your weakness; And if men come unto me I will show unto them their
weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace
is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they
humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make
weak things become strong unto them.” (Ether 12:26-27)
This
power – to convert a weakness to a strength – is possible through the
grace of Christ, but the Lord has imposed TWO pre-requisites: Humility
and Faith. If these requirements are satisfied, the grace of Christ
becomes like a booster rocket that powers and lifts us above even our
most horrible conditions. This is what James taught: “God…giveth grace unto the humble… Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:6) Isaiah likewise wrote of this lifting, soaring power: “He
giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth
strength… They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they
shall mount up with wings as eagles”. (Isaiah 40: 29,31)
What
an appropriate description. Those who humbly and faithfully trust and
wait upon the Lord may, like the eagles, soar above their weakness and
infirmities.
For they did prick their hearts with the word;
In the wisdom of the Lord – he knows how to heal us. He tells us in the 62nd
Section of the Doctrine and Covenants “Behold, and hearken, O ye elders
of my church, saith the Lord your God, even Jesus Christ, your
advocate, who knoweth the weakness of man and how to succor them who are
tempted.” Here is a doctrinal bombshell for most of the church – We
ARE on a fallen earth – and is it any wonder that the Savoir repeatedly
stated “My Kingdom is NOT of this world”. So what must we do? Moroni
testifies; “Wherefore, whoso believeth in
God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the
right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the
souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding
in good works, being led to glorify God.”
So
Dearest Taryn – Here is my suggestion for sweet Sister Zinda – “Look to
Him – draw unto Him” – as he explained to the Nephites “And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father". — Our task – to remain grateful.
Here is the testimony of our beloved Prophet;
“My
brothers and sisters, to express gratitude is gracious and honorable,
to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude
ever in our hearts is to touch heaven. As I close this morning, it is
my prayer that in addition to all else for which we are grateful, we may
ever reflect our gratitude for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His
glorious gospel provides answers to life’s greatest questions: Where did
we come from? Why are we here? Where do our spirits go when we die?
That gospel brings to those who live in darkness the light of divine
truth.
He
taught us how to pray. He taught us how to live. He taught us how to
die. His life is a legacy of love. The sick He healed; the downtrodden
He lifted; the sinner He saved.
Ultimately,
He stood alone. Some Apostles doubted; one betrayed Him. The Roman
soldiers pierced His side. The angry mob took His life. There yet rings
from Golgotha’s hill His compassionate words: “Father, forgive them; for
they know not what they do.”
Who was this “man of sorrows, … acquainted with grief”? “Who is this King of glory,” this Lord of lords? He is our Master. He is our Savior.
He is the Son of God. He is the Author of Our Salvation. He beckons,
“Follow me.” He instructs, “Go, and do thou likewise.” He pleads, “Keep
my commandments.”
Let us follow Him. Let us emulate His example. Let us obey His words. By so doing, we give to Him the divine gift of gratitude.
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