Kindness Isn’t Easy

You may think I chose this topic because I am naturally a kind person, or it comes easily to me. But lately I have been the grumpiest person on earth. My adorable five-year-old hit the constant question, constant talking phase and I almost lost my mind. My sister moved in with us, and just the differences in personality felt like sandpaper on my skin some days.

Neither of these situations merit grouchy responses, and I have been working very hard to keep my cool. But sometimes (like now when my child is talking constantly as I write) are really tough. The Savior knew this when He told us to “love one another as I have loved you” (John 1:34). The Savior has never told me to shut up or pick up my socks. He loves me kindly, and with a patience that I, with my flaws, can’t match. But His challenge still stands.

Christ Showed the Way

Elder Robert J. Whetten (an emeritus member of the Seventy) seemed to know I would need to hear some comforting council when he addressed this very scripture. He said:

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you. … By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” …. Jesus’ unconditional love for us motivated His atoning sacrifice for our sins. Without His love, we would be unable to return to our Heavenly Father. How He lived His life is the example we should follow. His way should be our way. “Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.” He showed us that we must go about doing good, that the spiritual and physical welfare of our fellowmen is as important as our own, and that we should show genuine concern and compassion for all of our Heavenly Father’s children.

 

Moroni defines Christ like love as charity. “And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity; wherefore, except men shall have charity they cannot inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy Father.” It’s not enough to say we believe and that we love Him; we must be found possessed with His kind of love for others at that last day. It is not necessary for us to lay down our life for others as He did, but like the Savior, we should bless the lives of others by giving of what our life is made up of—our time, our talents, our means, and ourselves.”

Prayer Makes a Difference

Elder Whetten continued:

“Mormon urges us to “pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ.” Like faith, Christ like love is a gift of the Spirit, is granted upon the principles of personal righteousness and in accordance to our level of obedience to the laws upon which it is predicated.

 

To read more of Patty’s articles, click here.

Like faith, love must be exercised to grow. We all live our lives one day at a time, and each of us, regardless of our age or circumstances, is presented each day with choices in our relationships with others. As we deny ourselves and reach out to serve others, the Spirit will refine us and teach us and we will come to learn what Paul meant: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.”

 

Our compassionate service to others will grow into divine love and change us, “and when he shall appear we shall be like him” (Robert J. Whetten, “True Followers,” April 1999).

Kindness Does Begin with Me

I love how Elder Whetten reminds us that the Savior doesn’t expect us to be instantly kind, but that love grows when it is used. As I seek to have a kind and happy home, I am very encouraged to remember that the fruits of that very Spirit I welcome into my home through my kindness will then help grant me the gentleness and goodness to keep the upward cycle going.

Patty Sampson

Patty thrives on all things creative. You’ll often find her in the garden pretending she is a suburban farmer. She loves meeting new people, and is devoted to her friends and family. In her heart she is a Midwesterner even though life has moved her all over the country. She believes in “blooming where you’re planted” and has found purpose in every place she has been. She has a deep and abiding love for the Savior and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And she loves editing LDS Blogs because it is a constant spiritual uplift. Not many people can say their job builds their witness of the Savior.

A very dear and stalwart friend of mine opened up about a secret pain she had been carrying. It was difficult for her to do—she has always defined herself as faithful and strong–not the kind of woman who ever needed support, but one who was accustomed to giving it. But a heart-breaking miscarriage made her crumble spiritually, and she needed help from her friends and family. So she opened up and let out her agony. But in doing so she made a defensive pre-requisite: “If anyone tells me it’s part of the plan, I will scream.” So her friends and family understood—she needed time to weep.

Having an understanding of our Heavenly Father’s Plan is a comfort and a blessing. It tells us who we are, why we are here, and where we are going. It grounds our heritage in divinity and secures our eternity together with our families and with a loving Father in Heaven if we are faithful and keep his commandments. It offers peace and security in this life. But it does not shelter us from pain, nor does it expect us to ignore pain when we feel it. So why do we think we are not allowed to weep?

Jesus Wept When His Friend Died

When Mary and Martha found their brother Lazarus dead, Martha ran to find Jesus. She told him of the tragedy. In her agony she said to him, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” What came next is one of the most profound quotes in all of scripture. “Jesus wept.” Think about the enormity of this statement. The only begotten son of God, the one perfect being on earth, the only one who could make miracles happen, Jesus Christ—first wept at the news of his dear friend’s death.

He knew who he was. He knew he would raise Lazarus from the dead. He could have instantly told Martha to stop her crying. But instead he cried too. He cried with her. He cried for her brother’s death. He cried for Himself, no doubt, for Lazarus was a good friend to Jesus. And after he cried, he applied the atonement and gave life back to his dear friend.

We shouted for joy to come to earth before we were born. We knew we would experience all of the wonders Earth life had to offer. This included the broad spectrum of emotions from happiness to sorrow, and everything in between. So again, I ask, why do we think we are not allowed to weep?

Crying Cleanses Us

It has been said, “Where much is given, much is required.” Having a secure grounding in the gospel is like being given much. And so along with this comes the required part—being strong for the Savior’s sake—the only gift we can give back. We worry then when we are weak in spirit, we may not be able to give back as we do when we are strong. We try to “get strong again” as best we can by taking comfort in the gospel truths we’ve come to adore. But if we first follow Christ’s lead, and allow ourselves to weep before we apply the atonement, a miracle in our heart can take place. The weeping cleanses our heart. It makes it clean again to allow the healing to take place.

Morning Devotional
To read more of Nanette’s devotionals, click the picture.

Imagine a scrape on your knee. You would never think to dress it without cleaning it first. Likewise, weeping cleanses the heart so the atonement can dress it, preserve it, and make it whole. But remember, both are necessary for complete healing, and a proper balance is vital.

In spiritual healing of the painful moments in our lives, be they loss of a loved one, illness, infertility, betrayal, wayward children, or anything else, we must first allow our hearts to weep, then apply the atonement. Our prophets have counseled us to be happy, so be careful not to dwell in weepiness. But give yourself the time you need to grieve. Let your friends and family remind you this is normal. Cry in prayer to your Father in Heaven with all your heart. But when you finish your prayer, let him know you are still faithful to him. He will be grateful for this and he will bless you with the strength to carry on.

Jesus wept. And so must we.

Nanette ONeal

Nanette O’Neal loves the gospel and is very happy to share her testimony on LDS Blogs. She is a convert to the church and still feels the spirit burn strong within her heart. She graduated from Mason Gross School of the Arts with a degree in music education and has taught children and adults in the private and public sphere for over twenty years. Nanette continues to study the gospel and the art of writing. She writes weekly inspirational articles on her blog and is currently working on an LDS fantasy novel series, A Doorway Back to Forever. You can find her at NanetteONeal.blogspot.com. Nanette has a wonderful husband, talented son, and three beautiful dogs.

I met this infamous business icon when I was a young father recently graduated from Brigham Young University. We all knew of Alan’s success, because he had been a professor at the school prior to launching his multi-million-dollar company.

My position at WordPerfect wasn’t the first job I had post-graduation, but it was definitely the most significant. It led my life’s work into the field of technology before widespread use of personal computers, cell phones, or the Internet. His success gave me hope and an opportunity in my own ventures.

Alan Ashton

And I remember his gathering the flourishing company together frequently to speak to us. As he began, he would thank us up-and-down for our contributions and dedication. I would think “How can you be so grateful to us? We have you to thank for all of this.” Alan didn’t require our respect; he earned it. He is a very wise man.

I remember at social gatherings sponsored by WordPerfect dancing alongside Alan and his family at company holiday parties held in the ELWC ballroom at BYU. We all did. Christmas buffets with tables piled high with shrimp were celebrations we won’t soon forget. Alan put together the remarkable WordPerfect corporation, arranged for top-grade insurance—free to all employees—and built a campus and great working environment for all of us. He was down-to-earth and kind and saw in me potential that I didn’t know I had.

Alan shared his earnings with the team. I played a relatively small, seemingly insignificant role in the overall success of the company, but Alan appreciated my contribution and showed us that he really meant it. One year he sent employees and their spouses to Hawaii for Christmas. I remember my first Christmas bonus was $2,000. That was more money than I had ever seen to that point in my life. It is a significant windfall even today.

All through my career, I have met men and women who acquired their initial start at WordPerfect. It’s truly amazing the effect one person can have on the lives of literally millions of others. Companies, people, and the technology industry are better today because of the contributions of Alan Ashton. Now, I work in a company that purchased the land for its offices from Alan. His vision and far-reaching influence is apparent even today. I remember how I loved working for him. It was an honor of which I am still proud, nearly two dozen years later.

I was not a member of the executive team. I was just a regular employee, but Alan never made me feel ordinary. If you ask him these days, he won’t remember my name, but I will never forget his.

My connection with Alan Ashton is significant to me.

I was looking for a story about Alan that demonstrated his kind, giving nature and typifies the kind of man he has become. I didn’t have to look very far.

Just up the valley from the WordPerfect headquarters, Alan established the Thanksgiving Point gardens. Wikipedia tells us that after WordPerfect was acquired by Novell and Ashton’s responsibilities were alleviated, he and Karen founded Thanksgiving Point. Thanksgiving Point is located in Lehi, Utah, within 20 miles of WordPerfect’s former corporate headquarters in Orem.

“We wanted to create something for the people around us,” says Ashton. “We’ve been blessed financially and with a large family. We wanted to give something back to the community and the families in our area.”

Today, Thanksgiving Point provides the community with a place where adults and children can learn about farming, gardening and cooking. Additionally, Thanksgiving Point provides the community with a championship caliber golf course, a museum of ancient life and a movie theater.

Mormon Scholars Testify

Testimony of Alan C. Ashton

I am one of the co-founders of WordPerfect Corporation and am indebted to the gospel of Jesus Christ for the happiness and joy in my life. My parents were both members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and my mother’s father, David O. McKay, was the prophet and president of the Church.

To read more of Walter’s articles, click the picture.

Even with that close connection to the leader of the Church my testimony did not come from him, nor did it come from my parents. They were certainly influential in my attending Church meetings in my youth, but my conviction of the truth came from my individual study and obedience to the gospel principles. In middle school and high school I became interested in the stories and teachings in the scriptures which included the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.

In the Church these are called the standard works. I enjoyed my Sunday School classes and Seminary classes. I loved the teaching of my 9th grade seminary teacher so much that during the summer when school was out I rode my bike three miles to his home early in the morning three times a week to hear him teach and explain the New Testament parables of Jesus. (excerpt – click link above for full text)

Walter Penning

In 1989, Walter Penning formed a consultancy based in Salt Lake City and empowered his clients by streamlining processes and building a loyal, lifetime customer base with great customer service. His true passion is found in his family. He says the best decision he ever made was to marry his sweetheart and have children. The wonderful family she has given him and her constant love, support, and patience amid life’s challenges is his panacea.

In fact, the term standard is from an old Frankish word for field sign.

Over time, standards became an important symbol of a nation’s freedom and rights. Those fighting under the standard were so converted to this symbolism that they would protect the actual standard with their life. One of Napoleon’s standard bearers is said to have continued holding his standard high even after losing both of his legs to cannon fire.

If the standard fell to the enemy, it meant defeat. It meant the end of life as that society knew it.

STANDARDS IN THE SCRIPTURES

In the scriptures, we read about standards too, although the name they have been given is ensign, another term for the same word.

In 2 Nephi 15: 26 we read:

“And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth; and behold, they shall come with speed swiftly; none shall be weary nor stumble among them.”

2 Nephi 21: 10 says:

“And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek; and his rest shall be glorious.”

In the Doctrine and Covenants, Zion is referred to as a standard in section 64:42–

“And she shall be an ensign unto the people, and there shall come unto her out of every nation under heaven.”

And what about the great Captain Moroni and his Title of Liberty? This story is a perfect illustration of just what a standard means to a group of people.

CAPTAIN MORONI SETS THE STANDARD

I know most of you have probably read this story in the Book of Mormon a dozen or more times, but here is a little refresher for those of us who need one:

In Alma chapter 46, we are introduced to a man named Amalickiah. It is said that he was large and strong and exceedingly wroth against Helaman and his brethren.

At this point in the history of the Book of Mormon, the prophet Alma has just departed out of the land of Zarahemla never to be seen again. He is replaced by his beloved son Helaman as the prophet, and Helaman sets out among the people declaring the word of God and preaching repentance.

Enter Amalickiah. He and his friends, many of whom are members of the ruling body of the land, albeit lower judges and therefore not wielding much power, decide that they are not interested in hearing what Helaman has to say. In fact, Amalickiah is so not interested in repenting or hearing the word of God that he begins to believe that he himself should be king. It has been 19 years since the Nephites last had a king, instead being ruled over by a group of judges, and Amalickiah wants to change all that.

He sets about leading away the hearts of the people through flattering words and promises of power. Not only is he successful in convincing his friends that he should be the sole ruler over the Nephites, he begins to succeed in drawing faithful members of the church away from their beliefs.

Soon, Nephite society as a whole is in an uproar.

It is here that we are first introduced to Captain Moroni. We are told that he is the chief commander over the armies of the Nephites. As a military man who has given his life in the defending of the Nephites against the Lamanites, one can imagine that he was not very impressed with a radical upstart who is trying to destroy the Nephites from within.

What was so wrong with Amalickiah’s desire to be king?

The difference between being ruled by a king and being ruled over by a body of judges is simple–freedom.

A king is beholden to no one. He alone decides what goes and what doesn’t. He can decide who gets freedom and who has broken the law. But a group of judges who are elected by the voice of the people can keep one another in check and thereby not one person gets a decided say in the rule of law.

This is what Amalickiah was trying to change–who determines individual freedoms.

Captain Moroni was not interested in Amalickiah’s form of government. And he is about to raise an army standard to prove it.

“And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it–In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children–and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.”

(Alma 46: 12)

I find this very interesting in light of army standards. Captain Moroni rends his coat in a sign of mourning for a society that he loved enough to give his life for. As he says above, this was a society that allowed for himself and his family to worship their god and afforded peace for his family. He knows that if this society is abolished that this will not be the case for long.

Remember that an army standard represents everything that a nation or a group of people stand for?

It is not until Captain Moroni puts on his full suit of armor and takes up his title of liberty–his standard–that he bows himself down to the earth and offers up mighty prayer unto God. Not only does he beseech God to protect the cause of Christians and freedom throughout the land, but he even lays out the very coordinates of the land that he is referring to.

“And it came to pass that when he had poured out his soul to God, he named all the land which was south of the land Desolation…all the land, both on the north and on the south–A chosen land, and the land of liberty.”

(Alma 46: 17)

What Captain Moroni is essentially doing here is declaring holy war. He has risen a standard, has put on his emblems of war–his armor–and has asked God to justify his efforts and keep his army from destruction unless “we bring it upon us by our own transgressions” (Alma 46: 18).

When Captain Moroni finishes his prayer, he takes his cause to the people.

“Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them.”

(Alma 46: 20)

He is asking others to join his army–to flock to his standard and to take an oath to protect their way of life.

And, oh, how they come!

“And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed these words, behold, the people came running together with their armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God…”

(Alma 46: 21)

I love this so much. The people came running…running! They didn’t stop to think about it. In fact, they came already prepared to fight in their own armor and rending their own garments as an oath to God.

These are men that are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in, even if it is not popular. Even if it is uncomfortable. Even if it means going against society.

IS THERE A STANDARD TODAY?

Do we find ourselves in scenarios like this in our day?

Are the values that we hold dear being eroded and degraded?

Has someone raised a standard for us?

Is there anything we can do?

It is true, if we are discerning, to see that we are living in a time quite like Captain Moroni found himself. And the values we hold dear are being mocked on every hand. A standard has been raised and there is something we can do about it.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offers quite a few standards:

• The Family: A Proclamation to the World
• The Living Christ document
• The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ
• The Plan of Salvation–shared by missionaries around the world
• Temples
• Prophets

As Captain Moroni was the standard bearer in Book of Mormon times, Christ is our standard bearer today. He has given his life in defending His gospel, and has provided us with these standards as symbols for us today.

But a standard only works as a rallying point if we are sure of what it stands for. If our testimony wavers even slightly, what is standing between us and our standard when the battle is raging around us? Will we stand firm and rally? Or do we turn coat and run?

In the old days, a person who did not rally and ran away was called a deserter. They payed for this offense with their life.

Christ will not require us to forfeit our life though. In fact, he has given us our agency to choose whether to rally or run. Incredibly, he has given his own life so that we can have the opportunity to choose.

If we are unsure about what our choice would be during times of stress, or if we are facing a trial of our faith right now, I urge you to choose one of these standards mentioned above.

Study it.

Pray about it.

Study it some more.

Find others to talk to about it.

Figure out if you are converted.

To read more articles by Jessica, click here.

A converted soldier is one who stays with the standard even when his legs have been blown off. A converted soldier is one who tries to emulate his master daily and in all things. We become converted as we seek our Savior through scripture and prayer daily so that we might have His Spirit with us always.

Will we come running with our armor on and with our garments rent? Ready at a moment’s notice? Are we ready to stand with Christ and Captain Moroni today?

Choose a standard and find out!

Jessica Clark

Jessica Clark is a wife, mom, writer, runner, knitter, and proud Canadian. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Anthropology, and has been a student of people and cultures ever since. Right now she is busy studying the behavior and cultures of the people of Texas.

In light of that exhortation, I want to share a story as related to my children. These memorable events occurred as a result of your mother and I choosing to live in married student housing and while we were living at Wymount Terrace just a few months after we were married.

Floyd (far right) and his bear hugs.

First of all you should know that each of the married student housing options had extremely long waiting lists. Just after we were married in 1985, we sublet an apartment at Wymount.

It was in the former buildings that no longer exist, but it was a great experience while it lasted, and your mother and I were committed to getting back there for the duration of my schooling, so we applied and hoped and prayed for this opportunity.

We lived in a basement apartment across the street from my sister’s home on 400 S in Provo. Your mother had already graduated and was supporting me completing my schooling at this point.

We lived there a few months before the call came that we had been selected to reside in the new Wymount Terrace married student housing just south of the original Provo temple. We anxiously moved to our new apartment and found we were members of a ward with a number of BYU football players. It turns out that our bishop was Floyd Johnson, who at the time was the BYU football equipment coordinator.

He was one of the finest men I ever had the privilege to meet. We loved associating with him. We spent nearly four years in that ward with him as our bishop. It was a delight. When I graduated, we moved to California and then a year later returned to Provo. Floyd always remembered us and welcomed us into his large group of friends.

Floyd and his sweetheart

Years later when he passed, BYU Athletic Director Val Hale said at the time “This is a sad day in the history of BYU Athletics. Floyd Johnson was, perhaps, more beloved than any other person who has ever worked for the athletic department.

He was a friend, confidant, father figure, spiritual adviser and counselor to thousands of athletes, coaches and administrators. He was an equipment manager who cared much more about souls than soles. We will miss him.”

When your mother and I moved into that student ward, we were still newlyweds and the rigors of school and family were nearly overwhelming. Being new parents is a big assignment and a really tough job. Floyd understood that, and he served as a father figure for all of us who were lucky enough to be in his ward.

To read more articles by Walter Penning, click here.

Floyd Johnson was kind, and he honored and cared for his crippled wife, Hannah, who suffered with acute arthritis. ​We are honored that he was part of our lives.

Enjoy the following article about the Heart of Y athletics.

My tribute to Floyd Johnson.

Thanks for sharing a bit of our story.

Walter Penning

In 1989, Walter Penning formed a consultancy based in Salt Lake City and empowered his clients by streamlining processes and building a loyal, lifetime customer base with great customer service. His true passion is found in his family. He says the best decision he ever made was to marry his sweetheart and have children. The wonderful family she has given him and her constant love, support, and patience amid life’s challenges is his panacea.

That’s all it really came down to. The family was ready to go, and I wasn’t, so I encouraged them to head on without me. It was my second chance to attend the Provo City Center Temple open house. I had gone already once before with my wife. But nonetheless, I let my schedule get in the way and the family had to go without me. So it was a seemingly insignificant mistake. I will go again with others in my family. And there is plenty of time left. But this entire instance while they were attending the open house, I was thinking under different circumstances, this is not a situation I want to repeat.

Just few misguided decisions or thoughtless actions, and I could jeopardize my ability to be with my family forever, and that is true for you and your family as well. That’s not a situation where any of us want to find ourselves. But it is also true that our choices today will greatly impact our decisions in the future. Those with young adult children at home know this all too well. Education, life skills, relationships, friends, and professional decisions are paramount at this point in their lives. I have come to appreciate and cherish President Gordon B Hinckley’s message regarding small decisions—like moving a piece of metal three inches—that may produce severe and costly consequences:.

One morning I received a call from my counterpart in Newark, New Jersey. He said, ‘Train number such-and-such has arrived, but it has no baggage car. Somewhere, 300 passengers have lost their baggage, and they are mad.’

“I went immediately to work to find out where it may have gone. I found it had been properly loaded and properly trained in Oakland, California. It had been moved to our railroad in Salt Lake City, been carried to Denver, down to Pueblo, put on another line, and moved to St. Louis. There it was to be handled by another railroad which would take it to Newark, New Jersey.

“But some thoughtless switch man in the St. Louis yards moved a small piece of steel just three inches, a switch point, then pulled the lever to uncouple the car. We discovered that a baggage car that belonged in Newark, New Jersey, was in fact in New Orleans, Louisiana—1,500 miles from its destination.”

Small seemingly insignificant decisions can have monumental consequences. That is true for trains, and it is true for life. What we esteem to be of little consequence may be the defining moment of all time.

We often fail to recognize the significance of a story or experience at the time it occurs. There are several reasons for that:

1. Perhaps we are young and did not realize the importance of the event at the time
2. We find additional insight and edification as we ponder life’s experiences
3. The situation becomes more pertinent at a particular time in our lives
4. As we review our existence, time has a way of increasing the importance of life experiences

And these reasons are not unique or surprising. The same thing happens when reading the scriptures. At different times in one’s life, the same verse of scripture may have completely different meaning to the reader. There are dozens of examples. You have them, too. I have included a personal example to illustrate. These are the words of my father taken from his journal:

There was an experience I had with Mother when I was seventeen. It was when she was working and would go to the merchandise markets in California, Chicago, or New York.

The first time I went was when I was still in high school. I was between semesters, so she invited me to go with her. She made a reservation for us at the LaSalle Hotel in Chicago. A check was sent and she got back a confirmation. She always had to make reservations early because so many people attended the markets that the hotels would fill up.

We flew to Chicago and drove to the hotel by taxi. We went to the front desk, Mother gave her name and told them we had a reservation and wanted to check in. They told us they couldn’t find it. Mother told them, “That can’t be, because I sent my check and you sent me back a confirmation for a room with two beds.”

They looked again but couldn’t find her reservation. In all the years, that never happened to her before or after. This time it was lost. Mother felt like they just had to make a place for us. But they told us they were completely filled up and didn’t have one room left.

The sympathetic desk clerk told us she had a friend who owned some furnished apartments, and that she would probably have an empty one. She called her friend and made arrangements for us to stay there, so we did.

In the middle of the night, we were awakened by lots of fire engines. They came across a bridge over a river and headed down the same street as we were on. We marveled at how many fire engines came one-after-the-other. We wondered where the fire was. The next morning, the bold newspaper headlines told about how the LaSalle Hotel, where we were supposed to have stayed, had burned. Fifty-two people had died and two hundred were injured. This was one of quite a few times in my life, when the Lord spared me, and I am most grateful.

To read more articles by Walter Penning, click here.

Associating with my father and reading from his journal has always given me a lift—as a boy, a missionary or a young, newly-married husband, and as a father. I am well past my prime now and hope my example has the same kind of influence for my children and grandchildren.

It is a pleasure to have a father of such high character. I have many more stories of him that I often read.

Future posts will focus on a few more of the life stories of people significant in my personal history and family life today.

Walter Penning

In 1989, Walter Penning formed a consultancy based in Salt Lake City and empowered his clients by streamlining processes and building a loyal, lifetime customer base with great customer service. His true passion is found in his family. He says the best decision he ever made was to marry his sweetheart and have children. The wonderful family she has given him and her constant love, support, and patience amid life’s challenges is his panacea.

But first, a short side-journey to General Conference.

OUT OF THE MOUTH OF PROPHETS

In an October 2002 General Conference, Elder M. Russell Ballard gave a talk entitled The Greatest Generation of Missionaries. In it he discussed the need to “raise the bar” for all future missionaries.

“…what we need…is the greatest generation of missionaries in the history of the Church. We need worthy, qualified, spiritually energized missionaries…

…We need your whole heart and soul. We need vibrant, thinking, passionate missionaries who know how to listen to and respond to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit.”

In an April 2015 General Conference, Elder Ballard revisited this idea of “raising the bar” 13 years later. Instead of focusing his remarks on just future missionaries, he declared his words for all:

“missionaries now serving, future missionaries, returned missionaries, and all young adult men and women in the Church.”

(The Greatest Generation of Young Adults, April 2015 General Conference)

In this talk, he gives nine significant questions that each of us can ask ourselves to determine on what ground we stand with God.

1. Do you search the scriptures regularly?
2. Do you kneel in prayer to talk with your Heavenly Father each morning and each night?
3. Do you fast and donate a fast offering each month–even if you are a poor, struggling student who can’t afford to donate much?
4. Do you think deeply about the Savior and His atoning sacrifice for you when you…prepare, bless, pass, or partake of the sacrament?
5. Do you attend your meetings and strive to keep the Sabbath day holy?
6. Are you honest at home, school, church, and work?
7. Are you mentally and spiritually clean?
8. Are you careful with your time?
9. Is there anything in your life that you need to change and fix, beginning now?

In the fast paced world in which we live, it might seem like some of these questions are difficult to answer. Or perhaps, we might feel like they are mere distractions on our quest to achieve our goals. We might even feel like social pressures are too strong to even consider changing some of our habits.

But the truth is, whether we live in this current time, or in one of old, there is always room for considering our standing with God.

And so, our journey begins.

Let me take you back a few hundred years to a time when the entire world was not accessible from our fingertips. In fact, it was a time that many of us consider the dark ages.

I GIVE YOU FRANCE!

Domremy, France is not much of a place to visit if you are looking for grand castles or great food. But it is the home of one of the most heralded figures in all of history. Joan of Arc was born in this north-eastern French village in 1412. She was the daughter of a peasant farmer and his wife.

Domremy, France

They were simple folk with not much to their name. They lived in a time when France was in the midst of the Hundred Years’ war, that began in 1337 as an inheritance dispute between the kings of England and France. The French countryside had been destroyed by the English and their “scorched earth” battle tactics of lighting fire to anything and everything considered useful to the enemy and everyday life. That meant that food was scarce and safety was at a minimum.

Many of the French leaders had given up the fight and sided with England, but Domremy stood firm–a tiny French island in the midst of English control. Into this volatile environment Joan was born and raised in the simple life.

Of her daughter, Joan’s mother Isabelle shares these significant details:

“I had a daughter born in lawful wedlock who grew up amid the fields and pastures. I had her baptized and confirmed and brought her up in the fear of God. I taught her respect for the traditions of the Church as much as I was able to do given her age and simplicity of her condition. I succeeded so well that she spent much of her time in church and after having gone to confession she received the sacrament of the Eucharist every month. Because the people suffered so much, she had a great compassion for them in her heart and despite her youth she would fast and pray for them with great devotion and fervor.”

As Latter-day Saints, Joan’s life does not seem very different from our own. At an early age, we are taught the gospel as it pertains to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We attend church and partake of the sacrament weekly. We do our best to serve others, and to fast and pray for guidance in how to best meet our own needs, as well as the needs of others.

The only difference between her life and ours might be that a very real and bloody war was being waged right on her front doorstep. But despite the fact that mortal danger was a real danger, Joan was determined to follow when she was called.

It is clear that Joan was living a life of preparation. But for what?!

MISSION CALL

Joan of Arc

At the age of 13, she received her first visitation from what she believed were the holy saints Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret. They were believed to be patron saints of France. Joan testified later in life that they told her that her mission was to help drive the English out of France, and to bring the Dauphin Charles VII to Reims to be rightfully crowned king.

In a talk entitled Your Light–A Standard to All Nations, James E. Faust spoke to the young women of the Church. He gave the charge:

“Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations.”

(Faust, 2006)

Likewise, he promised that if we live a consecrated life, the Spirit will be a guide for us.

“I will also be your light…and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments…ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.”

(Faust, 2006)

In this talk, President Faust talks of Joan of Arc as a shining example to others around her. He said that Joan of Arc was able to bring the French into the light directly because of her choices and her refusal to believe what others thought about her. She was focused on what she had to do, and on God.

One example of Joan’s determination to fulfill her mission comes from the very beginning of her adventures. It was not common for young women to remain unmarried. However, Joan realized that if she was to follow God’s plan for her, she would need to remain virtuous and chaste. She took it upon herself to forgo marriage, and to do as God asked instead. At a time when girls were marrying well before their 20’s this was unheard of.

Another example of her faith is her unwillingness to not give up. Before Joan could even get an audience with the Dauphin, she would need to find someone to take her to his palace at Chinon. For two years she tried in vain to set up an audience with just the man for the job, Robert de Baudricourt. It was to him God had directed her, but he would not allow her into his presence.

Did Joan give up when it seemed like her ambitions were thwarted? No. She returned again and again to finish the job. To Jean de Metz, one of Baudricourt’s soldiers, she is to have said:

“I must be at the King’s side … there will be no help (for the kingdom) if not from me. Although I would rather have remained spinning [wool] at my mother’s side … yet must I go and must I do this thing, for my Lord wills that I do so.”

(Pernoud, Regine. Joan of Arc By Herself and Her Witnesses, p. 35.)

This girl knew that what she must do was no small thing. And she had utter faith in her calling and in God.

A girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do, am I right?!

AND SO IT BEGINS

And so it was here that her mission truly started. It was here that she made the decision that would ultimately lead to her doom–that of taking on the disguise as a male soldier. But do it, she must.

After traveling through 60 miles of hostile enemy territory, she finally made it to the Dauphin’s side. In a crowd full of people, the Dauphin had taken upon him the guise of an everyday person of the court, hoping to trick Joan. But, with the Almighty lighting the way, she was able to walk directly up to Charles VII and bowed herself before him, declaring him the future king of France.

From here, Joan’s story goes on. Amidst strife and turmoil, she remained true to her faith and to her cause and was able to realize the fulfillment of her mission. At least part of it. On the 17th of July, 1429, Charles VII was crowned the rightful king of France, due in no small part to Joan’s efforts on the battlefield and in organizing and managing the french army.

But Joan would not live to see the English ousted from France. She would die two years later on the 30th of May, 1431 by fire. At the very end, after an entirely unjust trial, she was asked to recant her testimony of her visitations and mission given to her by God, but she would not. The only evidence they could drum up against her was that of wearing men’s clothing. This was grounds for heresy, and for that she would be put to death. Her faith held firm, and she uttered “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” to the very end.

Joan believed in what centuries later, President Faust declared to us:

“I will also be your light…and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments…ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.”

IN THE END

At the beginning of this article, I discussed nine questions Elder Ballard shared with us to determine what path we are on in our spiritual mission. For are we not all on a mission just like Joan of Arc? Yes, she was asked to route the enemy from the kingdom and to restore a rightful ruler to his throne, but isn’t that the same quest we have been charged with?

Are we not all heirs to our Father’s kingdom if we hold firm and true? We are promised all that He has if we can but remain faithful in this life. If Joan could withstand the very real and painful physical trials of her day, cannot we not make the time and effort to allow Christ into our lives in our day and age?

And if we do, we too can be assured, just as Joan was, that God will light our path and and prepare our way before us. If we can answer each one of Elder Ballard’s nine questions with an honest heart, nothing wavering, we too can be a light shining in the darkness.

And who knows, it is possible that we will be the light someone else needs to face their own battles as well, just like Joan and Charles VII.

To read more articles by Jessica, click here.

It was 22 more years before the rightful king of France was able to declare France free from English tyranny. Even though Joan was long since dead, you can be sure that it was in no small part due to her spirit and example that inspired a nation to do what they did not believe could be done.

On the 16th of May, 1920, Joan was canonized a saint by Pope Benedict XV. This year on May 16th, my brother and his family will be in Domremy to celebrate St. Joan’s day. In my heart, I will be with them, celebrating, too, the life of a woman who gave her life to God, King, and country.

To view the BYUtv documentary entitled Joan of Arc, click here.

Jessica Clark

Jessica Clark is a wife, mom, writer, runner, knitter, and proud Canadian. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Anthropology, and has been a student of people and cultures ever since. Right now she is busy studying the behavior and cultures of the people of Texas.

I miss my dad very much, yet I know we have only been separated temporarily.

As a young father, I tried to fulfill my role as patriarch to my family. The title sounded important, but the role was intimidating to say the least. I tried to teach my family about life and the gospel. It was a monumental task for a new father. But my sweet wife was eager and supportive, which gave me incentive and inspired me to try to be the person she and my children deserved.

We attempted to follow the counsel of the brethren: family home evening, regular church attendance, honoring the priesthood, and making a happy home were all part of our plan. We loved and prepared our daughters to become faithful mothers and encouraged my son to serve an honorable, full-time mission.

But looking back now it was surprising to me that at the time my emotions were so close to the surface when my son was leaving to serve his mission. I worked my whole married life to prepare him for his service in the mission field and tried to set an example he would be willing and eager to emulate. I prepared him for this very purpose—to send him on his mission. Just recently graduated from high school and eager to change the world, he was at the pinnacle of his life to that point. I knew it was right for him to go, yet I couldn’t believe the time was already here. I wasn’t ready to be finished with that part of life. How could I be so selfish to want him to stay at home with us?

At times like those, I would defer to my father for comfort and solace. Somehow he understood my emotions better than even I did. I have been very fortunate to have a father of this magnitude in my life. Yet I can’t talk of him in the past tense any more then than I could speak of my son while on his mission in the past tense. My dad is part of our lives now as much today as he ever was, and through his legacy, love, and journal letters, he continues to influence his family—and my family– today.  

He loves his children. He adores his grandchildren. And he honors and respects his wife, my mother. He taught me many things, but if I were to think of one particular gospel message that stands out from the many lessons I learned from him, I may choose the principle that the first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,

 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

 31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

Mark 10:29-31

I remember struggling with the meaning of this verse when I first read it. In my mind’s eye, I approached my father when I was very young having read this scripture and wondered “How could this be?” It didn’t sound right to my young ears. I saw in my mind a line of people and those at the end of the line would move in front of those standing at the head of the line, and I thought “That’s not fair.” I lamented “What is this all about?” The words he shared with me that day though comforting have slipped into history, but the life he lived will forever stand as an example.  

I have come to realize as a man that there is nothing fair about my salvation…fair would be justice for my foolish actions and punishment for my thoughtless mistakes. But instead because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we do not have to receive what is justly ours when we make mistakes that hurt others and fail our families. We can be forgiven and follow the commandments afresh bringing more joy and hope and ecstasy than we ever thought possible.

Instead of being paid what I deserve, I receive kindness, opportunity, and mercy. Getting what I deserve is not the result I want, and it isn’t the gift Jesus Christ is offering me. That is the beautiful truth of mercy. I didn’t realize this as a boy, however. But I understand it much better now as a man.

To read more of Walter’s articles, click the picture.

Gratefully, I remembered this teaching and took it on faith when I first heard it until many years later when I have come to understand this principle better and see it manifest myself in my family and those I really care about. True, life will throw us some curve balls, but even then the Great Plan of Happiness works for all situations and will not rob mercy.

Considering the challenge it was to send my son on a mission, you might think that it would be nigh impossible for me to part with my daughters and give them away in marriage. Not at all, because I have learned that instead of losing a daughter, I am gaining a son. Now I have a family of many wonderful sons and daughters, just as we were promised.

Happiness is the very purpose of the plan of which we are part.

Other links:

The Laborers in the vineyard – Elder Jeffrey R Holland

Boys Need Heroes Close By – President Spencer W. Kimball

Walter Penning

In 1989, Walter Penning formed a consultancy based in Salt Lake City and empowered his clients by streamlining processes and building a loyal, lifetime customer base with great customer service. His true passion is found in his family. He says the best decision he ever made was to marry his sweetheart and have children. The wonderful family she has given him and her constant love, support, and patience amid life’s challenges is his panacea.

Spiritual Needs of The Convert

I make this comment as a general statement. It does not apply to all, but it does apply to many of us in the Lord’s Church. Too often we flock around the investigator at church and applaud their efforts, encourage them in what they are doing, and are supportive in their efforts to learn about the gospel of Christ. But then when they are baptized, and we have seen them at the meetings for a while, we forget that they are still very much new to the gospel, and are still babes in arms when it comes to handling things socially and doctrinally we take for granted.

For example, we may have a testimony of doctrines the new member has never even heard of. Sometimes we may bring up things from church history that are difficult for new members to understand because they don’t know the background of the events or the doctrines involved. Frankly, sometimes we blow the new member out of the water just because we are not sensitive to what they may or may not yet understand. This happens a lot in Gospel Doctrine class.

As longtime members of the Church we need to recognize that there are many, even those who were born in the church, who don’t understand deep doctrines or difficult social practices of the Latter-day Saints. This is something that contributes to the more tender members of the church leaving the church. We need to be both aware of this condition, and find ways to remedy this condition if we are to help strengthen our fellow members.

How the Gospel Works

The teachings of Christ are not meant to be an intellectual exercise. Understanding the gospel is not something that you can read in a book and have it mastered. God’s teachings are the opposite of the world’s teachings. The world imposes knowledge and obedience from authoritative outside sources, like a boss or a government. The Lord gives us information and commandments, but it is up to us to choose to obey and seek out His knowledge before we can gain understanding. He does not give us understanding until we are ready to handle it.

In 2 Nephi 9:25 – 27 we are told that where there is no law there is no punishment.

25 Wherefore, he has given a law; and where there is no law given there is no punishment; and where there is no punishment there is no condemnation; and where there is no condemnation the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them, because of the atonement; for they are delivered by the power of him.

26 For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel.

27 But wo unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation, for awful is his state!

Those who are innocent and don’t know about the laws of God cannot be punished by His laws. But those who seek to avoid learning the law will be punished for their negligence in learning the law. In other words, the Lord expects us to do all we can to seek Him out and learn of His ways. (That is why He also tells that we cannot be saved in ignorance [D&C 131:6].) But those who never have the opportunity to learn of Him and His commandments won’t be punished, because of their lack of opportunity. But those of us who can learn of Him and His ways are required to do so or we will be punished for our disobedience. That is God’s law.

The question is, how do we learn of God’s laws? So many of them seem so hard to understand. Comprehending things that are infinite, that deal with things of eternity seem so abstract and difficult to grasp. Let’s look at how learning in the Lord’s Church takes place and what the goal is in what we need to learn.

Perspective

Christ was all about doing. Look at His lifestyle then compare how He lived with the commandments He gave us. They are in synch, in step with each other. He preached kindness, and was kind. He preached tolerance and reverence, and was always tolerant and reverent. He was the perfect example of living in harmony with God’s laws.

When we first start to live the commandments we live those things that are obvious to us. These are things that are in print or written out for us so we can’t misunderstand them. The law of tithing is a good example. The Lord wants us to pay one tenth of our gross in exchange for a host of blessings that will make our lives better. The Word of Wisdom is more difficult. We have some things spelled out, like no addictive substances, coffee, tea, and alcohol, but some things, like eating meat sparingly, is more difficult. These things require personal experience and we each have to come to our own understand of what the Lord wants us to do.

As we practice the teachings of the gospel our understanding of each commandment deepens and expands from the obvious to the intuitive. We learn how to be more in tune with the Holy Ghost and have experiences that teach us how to better appreciate what the Lord has commanded us to do and why it is beneficial for us. This happens on a very personal level and is often difficult to share completely or clearly with others.

As we learn to practice what we preach we gradually begin to understand how a teaching applies not just in the here and now, but we begin to grasp how it affects life in eternity. From my own experience I can tell you that when you pray to the Lord to begin to see life from the perspective of eternity, and not just from the mortal perspective of 80 years of life, over time He will open your mind to thing you never even imagined. It is a wonderful experience, and it helps you become more patient with things in the here and now, because you start to see that the here and now is often not what is important. The things that affect eternity are more important.

Understanding

As we grow in our understanding of how to live the basic commandments, we begin to understand how the different parts of the gospel work in harmony with each other. That which started as an intellectual exercise, over time becomes deeply personal. That which once seemed to stand alone and have nothing to do with anything else you could think of in the gospel now is an integral part of the whole. All these changes take time, patience, and effort.

The point is this, that when you first start learning about the gospel of Christ, most all of it is a mystery, because you don’t yet understand how it works. When you have had practice living the principles of the gospel they begin to make more sense. The Holy Ghost teaches you to be more like Christ in behavior and attitude, and to do things more like Christ in behavior and attitude. It is a gradual process that can’t be learned over night.

The point of mortality is to learn to obey the Lord in all things, and to prove to Him that we can learn to trust Him, even when we can’t see Him. In the Church we refer to our time on earth as a time of probation. This is where we gain a body, which we have never had before, and master the desires of the flesh and learn to submit those desires to the commandments of our Father in Heaven, exercising faith in all that He commands us to do for our own happiness. If we can do that we will have done all that is necessary to go back and live with Him forever.

Focus

Keep focused on “doing” while learning to understand the things that don’t require doing. If you get it backwards and try to understand the deep things first, failure is almost always the result. Who cares how the earth was created or how the resurrection works? Focus on how to be kind to your neighbor and how to say your prayers effectively so you stay in touch with the Holy Spirit. The deep things of eternity will come with time, and many of those things we think of have nothing to do with our salvation and probably won’t be revealed to us until the next life anyway.

Henry B. Eyring gave a talk entitled “Opportunities to Do Good” in the April 2011 Conference. In that talk he included the first verse of hymn # 223, “Have I Done Any Good?”

Have I done any good in the world today?

Have I helped anyone in need?

Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?

If not, I have failed indeed.

Has anyone’s burden been lighter today

Because I was willing to share?

Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?

When they needed my help was I there?

Then wake up and do something more

Than dream of your mansion above.

Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,

A blessing of duty and love.

The gospel of Christ is based on doing good always. Understanding of the principles of goodness comes from performing good over and over again. The gospel of Christ is meant to be learned from the inside out, from understand through doing. Internalizing the principles of kindness through being kind, patience through being patient, etc. is how we come to think and feel as God feels. That is how we become Christlike.

To read more of Kelly Merrill’s articles, click here.

It is okay to have questions. Questions are good! But don’t get hung up on questions you can’t currently understand. Stay focused on those things you still need to master, like scripture reading, praying, supporting your church leaders, and ministering to your assigned brothers and sisters. Once we have the basics mastered, then the Lord will be able to help us understand higher things. They will come just like the basics came to us, line upon line, and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little.

Kelly P. Merrill

Kelly Merrill is semi retired and writes for https://gospelstudy.us. He lives with his wife in Idaho. His strength is being able to take difficult to understand subjects and break them down into understandable parts. He delights in writing about the gospel of Christ. Writing about the gospel is his personal missionary work to the members of the Church and to those of other faiths who are wanting to know more about Christ’s gospel and His Church.

gospelstudy.us

In his talk, President Eyring said, in essence, that we want to be baptized because we have the desires within us to ease the burdens of others, to mourn with those who are mourning, and to give comfort to others who are in need of comfort. The gift of the Holy Ghost is what enables us to fulfill these desires more perfectly.

A New Testament Example of Christ’s Compassion

In John 11 we read about the story of Lazarus. I have read the story dozens of times, but this last time some things about the story jumped out at me like never before. Here is a summary of the first part of the story.

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus are siblings, and are more than just good friends with Jesus. He loved these three people, and they loved Him. We don’t usually think about Jesus having best friends or any real kind of social life, but evidently He had made some real close attachments at some point.

The sisters sent a message to Jesus to let them know that their brother was sick. Well, by the time the message found Him, Lazarus was already dead. Jesus knew that Lazarus was dead, but said that this situation was not about him being dead, but about glory being given to God. He knew He was going to raise him from the dead.

The Jews had a three day waiting period before someone was really considered dead for good. So Jesus waited until Lazarus was dead four days, just so no one could say that he wasn’t really dead. Knowing that he was going to their home to give him back to his sisters in life, Jesus should have been happy. He was going to glorify His Father and show everyone the Lord’s power.

I am the Resurrection by Liz Lemon Swindle

But notice what happened when he approached and Mary and Martha met him. Both women were understandably distraught that their brother had died. They both bore witness to Jesus separately that they knew that if He had been there their brother need not have died, for they both had faith that Jesus could have healed him.

Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,

And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

Jesus wept.

Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! (John 11:32 – 36).

To see this scenario for what it was, I had to take an emotional step back to look at the bigger picture. Jesus knew where Lazarus, whom He loved, was. He knew that Lazarus was fine, and that he would soon be walking again alongside his sisters. That should have made Him happy. Yet when Jesus saw the suffering of these two women whom He loved dearly, “he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.”

He felt so keenly their sense of loss that His tender heart caused Him, the Son of God, the creator of the universe, to weep for their sorrow. No matter what His personal view of the situation was, if it hurt them that much, He could not help but feel their pain. He was filled with compassion for them and told them to take Him to the tomb where they had laid Lazarus.

This touching scene of Christ’s compassion, His tender feelings for others is not just found in the New Testament. When Jesus makes His appearance in the land of the Nephites we have more examples of His compassion for others.

A Book of Mormon Example

President Eyring said that our desire to lift other’s burdens was part of the baptismal covenant discussed in part one of this series. He said: “You were given the power to help lighten those loads when you received the gift of the Holy Ghost.” The Holy Ghost is the great purifier, the great teacher, and our mentor. His job in the Godhead is to lead us home to our Father, teaching us how to be like Christ, bearing witness of our Father and of His Son.

When Jesus visited the Nephites, He taught them His gospel. They had him for a shorter time, instead of the three years the Jews had Him for in Palestine. Toward the end of His time with the people, Jesus had spoken all day to them and perceived that they still did not understand much of what they had been told. He told them to go home and pray to the Father for understanding and He would teach them more the next day.

But when he looked around at the people and could see in their faces that they did not want Him to leave, even for the night, He was filled with compassion. Here is what it says in 3 Nephi 17:5 – 7.

And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.

And he said unto them: Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you.

Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy.

The first thing He did when He felt compassion for His people was to relieve them of their sufferings and lighten their burdens. He immediately called for all their sick, lame, blind, halt, maimed, leprous, withered, deaf, or that had any other form of affliction. He healed them all.

But it didn’t stop there. He prayed with them. He prayed for them. When He saw their faith in Him, He was so filled with joy that He wept again. He then blessed all their children, and wept again. Here is 3 Nephi 17:18 – 22.

And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying unto the Father, he arose; but so great was the joy of the multitude that they were overcome.

And it came to pass that Jesus spake unto them, and bade them arise.

And they arose from the earth, and he said unto them: Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full.

And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.

And when he had done this he wept again;

Talk about a tender heart. Do we care about others like this? As we keep our baptismal covenants and stay close to the Spirit, we become more like Jesus.

Back to the New Testament

Christ’s concern for us was not just something that filled His time and attention when He was with us in mortality. In President Eyring’s talk he discusses how the Savior’s concern that our needs be met were at the front of His thoughts even as He was about to be crucified.

When He was about to be crucified, the Savior described the way He helps lighten loads and gives strength to carry them. He knew that His disciples would grieve. He knew that they would fear for their future. He knew they would feel uncertain of their capacity to move forward.

So He gave them the promise that He makes to us and to all His true disciples:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you (John 14:16 – 17).

In the absence of the Christ, He has given us the Holy Ghost to teach us, lift us, and help us strengthen each other. Christ’s compassion for us extended beyond the bounds of mortality. Even in His own death He prepared the way for us to receive the help we would need to carry on with hope.

In the absence of Jesus, we are all pledged to do the work of carrying each others’ burdens. This work is part and parcel with every covenant we make as members of the Lord’s kingdom. To assist us and strengthen us as we assist and strengthen others, the Lord has given us the gift of the Holy Ghost. The more time we spend listening and obeying what He communicates to us, the better we will be at lifting the burdens of others and feeling the compassion Jesus so richly demonstrated for us.

Our goal is to become as compassionate and as tender-hearted as our Lord is. The more we do to seek out the lonely, to feed the hungry, and clothe the naked, the more like Christ we will become. Small wonder He said that if we do it unto even the least of our brethren, we have done it unto Him. He truly feels for us, understands what we go through, and has provided a way for us to be strengthened in our trials by giving us the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the opportunity to serve each other.

Kelly P. Merrill

Kelly Merrill is semi retired and writes for https://gospelstudy.us. He lives with his wife in Idaho. His strength is being able to take difficult to understand subjects and break them down into understandable parts. He delights in writing about the gospel of Christ. Writing about the gospel is his personal missionary work to the members of the Church and to those of other faiths who are wanting to know more about Christ’s gospel and His Church.

gospelstudy.us