Mercy

For those of you who do not know, Shannon and I have been through a very difficult week. Interestingly enough, only last week I was asked to help another family through a similarly difficult trial. I spent a lot of time reflecting on how I could help them. I hope that I was able to provide them with some comfort. What I didn't know at the time was that I was in fact also preparing myself to face an unknown trial.

I meant these words when I wrote them for another family, and I told them so. It made them all the more powerful when I found myself reading them for myself. It is one thing to know the answers, it is quite another to find yourself asking the questions. Please tread lightly, this is tender ground. 

            An ancient prophet named Jacob wrote, “Time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our brethren, which caused wars and contentions; wherefore, we did mourn out our days.” (Jacob 7:26 – Book of Mormon pg. 135)

           

He was good man, who was doing his best to be a good teacher, leader, and disciple. However, his life was still full of difficult days. He often felt alone. Perhaps one of his most painful burdens was the betrayal of two of his own brothers who had turned completely away from God, and from the teachings of their father.  Because of their bad choices, generations of their descendants would come to hate and make war against Jacob’s people.  

            Jacob was a compassionate, but straightforward teacher. For example, he once had to give a very difficult sermon. Many of his own people were starting down a road of darkness and sin. After talking about some of the things that they needed to change, he said “ O my brethren, hearken unto my words; arouse the faculties of your souls; shake yourselves that ye may awake from the slumber of death; and loose yourselves from the pains of hell…” (Jacob 3:11 – Book of Mormon pg. 123) 

            So often as we go through life when our souls are wounded we close our hearts, and our spiritual eyes. These wounds can come from things that we do, such as making choices that we know we shouldn’t, and they can also come from things completely outside of our control. This “slumber of death” seems at first to be a way that we can find relief from the pain of the here and now, but sooner or later we find that our burdens are just as heavy, and sometimes heavier, but they are now buried, and we have worn ourselves out by trying to run away from them.

            The Gospel of Jesus Christ gives us a better way.  Even though we do not always understand why things happen, we can come to understand his plan for us. We are all of us children of a loving Father in Heaven. We are all brothers and sisters who are more precious to him than anything else. In order to give us a place where we could live and grow to become more like him, he created this beautiful world. In order to teach us about his plan he has reached out to humanity throughout time and given us prophets, promises, and scriptures. Finally, in order to give us a way to overcome our individual and collective failings, God so loved the world that He sent His only Begotten Son, that man might not perish, but have everlasting life.

            At the core of this plan that I have mentioned, is an essential truth that comes as a great comfort to us on days such as this one. Life does not begin with birth, nor does it end with death. Our time here on Earth is a temporary state. Before we were born we lived with God, and we all chose to come here to follow his plan, knowing full and well that it would mean that we would have dark days and face unfair circumstances. Part of the reason that we were willing to leave our home in heaven to come here to Earth is that we trusted in the plan of happiness that we had been taught by our Father, and we knew that we could count on our Savior to help each of us overcome our weaknesses and failings. He promised us that if we would have faith and trust in him that he would give everything, even his own life, to make sure that we had a way back home.

            When difficulty comes our way as followers of the Gospel of Christ we may trust in the promises that God has made to all of us. One of the most beautiful of these promises is that because Jesus died for us and then was resurrected, one day we all will overcome death. He promises to judge each of us with perfect justice and infinite mercy. Meaning that we will only have to answer for things that we could control. He has provided each of us a way to find forgiveness for our shortcomings and mistakes. 

            There are some things that the scriptures are very clear on. One of those things is that in the eyes of God, there is nothing in this world that is quite so pure and innocent as a little child.  Jesus taught his disciples that they had to learn how to trust and be just as teachable as a small child in order to truly follow him.  (See Luke 18:17 KJV Bible pg. 1310) He has promised us that little children who die before they have a chance to make their own choices are all “alive in Christ” and are “partakers of salvation” (See Moroni Ch. 8 – Book of Mormon pg. 525)

            Jacob understood these doctrines. He understood the plan that God has for all of us. It is why he was able to have faith even when dealing with difficulty. It is how he found the strength to help others even when he must have felt alone. Despite the fact that each of our lives are filled with unique personal challenges the council that he gave his people can still help us.  As we listen with courage, we can awake from the “slumber of death” and find comfort in the mercy of Jesus Christ.”

            “Come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while his arm of mercy is extended unto in the light of the day, harden not your hearts. “ (Jacob 6:5 - Book of Mormon pg. 132)

            God does not expect us to pretend to be happy when we aren’t. He doesn’t expect for us to forget the difficult things that we have had to face. He does ask for us to trust him, even when it is hard to understand our lives. Our friend Jacob learned many of these things from his own father, Lehi. In the last recorded words we have from Lehi to Jacob, we learn that we always have a choice. We cannot choose our circumstances, and sometimes we cannot even choose how we feel. But we can always choose to trust in God. We can always choose to have faith. When we do it gives us power. It brings light into our souls, and makes us just a little bit stronger. (See 2 Nephi Ch. 2 – Book of Mormon pg. 57) 

            When we need it most, the love and light of God can sustain us. It is my humble prayer that our Loving Father in Heaven will continue to watch over and bless you no matter where you are in life. I implore you to keep your hearts open. I know it is not easy, but as you exercise faith you will find in small and simple ways that God is there and that he cares. I am a witness of his love, and I am blessed through His grace. I know that he can and will comfort you, very often through the people around you. To those with eyes to see and ears to hear, who do not harden their hearts, the hand of God can be seen even in times of severe trial.  I bear this witness in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Blessed are the Meek

Today the world was caught off guard with an announcement by Pope Benedict that he would be resigning his office for medical reasons. In the minutes and hours following this portentous message commentators all around the world have taken up the task of contextualizing this decision. Some of them have chosen to portray this act in a negative light. In their eyes, there must have been something some dark reason that this man would choose to live the rest of his life in obscurity.

Over a billion people look to Rome and her Pope for spiritual guidance. Like most major religions the number of active adherents is much lower, but on any scale Catholicism is an enormous community of faith. The broad influence of the papal office is undeniable, and perhaps unrivaled. For any man to willingly relinquish that power is very special. Among faithful and practicing Catholics there are very few if any voices that would have called on him to step down. Of those few, none would have had the capacity to compel him.

As I sat and took just a moment to ponder it all, my mind was drawn to the Sermon on the Mount. Where the Lord taught some of his most important doctrines. Blessed are the Meek, for they shall inherit the Earth. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Pope Benedict is known as a staunch defender of the faith. Many of his greatest critics are those who take offense to his unwillingness to apologize Catholic doctrine. He believes that there are universal truths. He has been a voice for doctrinal conservatism within the Catholic community for many years. Although, to be fair, he also spoke out against a very orthodox group when they did not want to take up the lead set by Rome.

To some this makes the man insensitive, backwards, and blind. But it does not mean that to me. Granted, Pope Benedict would seriously disagree with my personal view of the Scriptures, of the nature of God, and the history of Christianity. We would not agree on some of the basic fundamentals of religion. For example, the nature of the next life, the nature of mankind, and the meaning of many of the words of Jesus. It would indeed be very probable that he and I would find ourselves so far apart on some things that we would have a hard time talking about them in a completely open and honest way in order to prevent contention.

Having said all of these things, I feel tonight a great respect for Pope Benedict. Some of my favorite people in great story of human history are those who have been big enough, to step aside. Examples include George Washington from American History and King Benjamin from the Book of Mormon. (Ironic as it may be)

I can't pretend to know the man, or even to be very well acquainted with his teachings. Only the Judge of all men, both quick and dead, can search out his heart and know the true worth thereof. However, I know that this world could use more men with the kind of moral fiber and conviction of character to realize their own limitations and to look at the greater good accomplished by them gracefully stepping aside. I would do very well to learn that myself.

Jesus taught "whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

I pray that this promise is kept in the case of this good man, whose example of piety and humility has blessed my life this day. He has lived a life of courage and conviction, and I pray God that in his final years he may have peace and joy in that faith that he has so nobly served.

I feel also to say that I am grateful for the security and stability that I have in my own faith. Those who I look to as my spiritual leaders operate within a divinely inspired system that provides Latter-Day Saints a wonderful sense of continuity. If President Monson were to grow ill, there are two men who are called and authorized to act in his behalf and direct the affairs of the church until such time as he might recover or the Lord should call him home. This system could last for a few days or for many years if needed. When the president of the church does die, there is no debate or question as to who will replace him. It is a solemn occasion, but not at time of conjecture.

I am grateful for the wonderful Christlike example provided by the leaders of my church. I have come to know for myself through prayer and experience that they are called of God to lead His church. They are vested with the powers and authority of the Holy Priesthood, and they know the voice of the Master we all seek to serve.

I am grateful for all of the wonderful men and women all over the world that seek to live lives guided by inspiration and faith. As time goes on, I come to feel more deeply that we are all children of God, and that almost all of us are doing the best we know how. We can all do better, but I think that most people have good hearts.

As the Good Book says, "No man can serve two masters." Though we may not believe the same things or worship Him in the same way, I feel in my heart that men like Pope Benedict are serving God. And that means that we are on the same team. I pray that I might be as faithful a servant in my own sphere as he has been in his.