Reach out and Lift up

In first Corinthians, Paul wrote to the people there, and talked of a man who had committed adultery with his father's wife. He told them to "therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person" (1 Cor. 5:13). However, in 2nd Corinthians 2:6-8 Paul again addresses the problem of those who have sinned and been cast out. He says,

"Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him."

I find this passage of scripture one of the most beautiful examples of forgiving and loving one another. How many of us do not make mistakes? How many of us feel the shame, or the hurt from the consequences of our actions? Elder Holland discussed a scenario of a man, who in case of bad judgement, went out into rough waters, and then after being beaten by the waves, realizes his mistake and tries to come back to safety.

"When a battered, weary swimmer tries valiantly to get back to shore, after having fought strong winds and rough waves which he should never have challenged in the first place, those of us who might have had better judgment, or perhaps just better luck, ought not to row out to his side, beat him with our oars, and shove his head back underwater. That’s not what boats were made for. But some of us do that to each other.”

We are all in the position of both the drowning man and the saving boat. We all sin, and make mistakes we wish we could take back, and we are all longing for loving forgiveness from those around us. A forgiveness that can help lift us out of the sins we have committed and help us to rise above them and become better. However, we are also the holders of the oars. It is our decision whether we use those oars to beat others for their sins, or if we use them to reach out and lift others to higher ground through our own forgiveness and love.

"Teach me all that I must Know, Do, and Be."

In the famous LDS song "I am a child of God." There is a line that originally said, "teach me all that I must know, to live with him someday." Later this line was changed to "teach me all that I must DO . . ." My religion teacher said that if it were to be changed again, it would read "teach me all that I must BE . . . " This procession of know, do, be, is a process. Our actions depend on our knowledge, and our character depends on our actions. I really liked this idea, because it points out our purpose and gives us steps to getting there. My professor posed this question: is our purpose on earth to get somewhere or to become something? In the context of the question (after emphasizing the BE) I was sure that the correct answer was to become something. However, this is a trick question. The answer is BOTH. We are to become like our Savior in order to return to be with Him someday. We should not get so caught up in our purpose to BE better, that we forget our destination and the reason behind becoming. In  order to fulfill our purpose on earth, we need to learn of Christ and what he did. Then we need to come unto Him and do as He does, so that we can become as He is. I know that as I strive to follow Christ that He will help change my heart and lead me to be like Him.

I grew up in a family that consistently observed the Sabbath day. I was taught the commandment of keeping the Sabbath day holy through appropriate activities and church attendance. I was told about the creation and how God rested on the Sabbath day, just as we should use it as a day of rest and spiritual rejuvenation. To this day, I believe in the importance of keeping the Sabbath day holy. However, this week I was reminded about the true reason for Sabbath day worship, and I was a little ashamed that I had lost sight of the reason behind it all. My professor, Brother Griffin, discussed how the Sabbath day is a day of celebrating and commemorating. Before Christ, they celebrated the most miraculous and important event known to man, the creation. After Christ, we now celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior, which is the most magnificent, redeeming event in all existence. Our Sunday meetings and Sabbath observance are to help us remember and review the Savior's life, death, and resurrection. Everything should point to the savior and his sacrifice for us.

I like Sundays, but I had forgotten their importance. It had become a day to go to my three hour block, not do homework, and to just relax. All of which are good things, but they should be accompanied with earnest effort to open my heart to my Savior. Resting is not the same as slacking off and vegging out. We are supposed to rest from our labors, the things that are burdening us, by turning to the Savior and letting Him lift our burdens for us. Last night I was able to experience the lifting power of Christ in my life. I was feeling extreme anxiety about my first exam review. I felt almost sick with worry, and I couldn't get it off my mind. I did not think I was going to be able to sleep, I felt so awful. Then I found a book I had made last summer, filled with all my favorite quotes. Below is one of the quotes I read from President Hinkley.

We know not what lies ahead of us. We know not what the coming days will bring. We live in a world of uncertainty. For some, there will be great accomplishment. For others, disappointment. For some, much of rejoicing and gladness, good health, and gracious living. For others, perhaps sickness and a measure of sorrow. We do not know. But one thing we do know. Like the polar star in the heavens, regardless of what the future holds, there stands the Redeemer of the world, the Son of God, certain and sure as the anchor of our immortal lives. He is the rock of our salvation, our strength, our comfort, the very focus of our faith. In sunshine and in shadow we look to Him, and He is there to assure and smile upon us.

This was so comforting to me. I literally could feel the stress, and anxiety I had been holding onto all evening melt away. The sure knowledge that the Savior lives, loves me, and wants to help me with any problem I may be having helps me to keep perspective. I hope to work harder to take advantage of my Sundays, that I realign my priorities with the Lord and truly rest from my labors.

I am a planner. I'm not too extreme, because i really like to be relaxed and have a "go with the flow" kind of attitude. However, when it comes to major life decisions, and my future, I really like having a plan. Planning helps me put what is in my mind, on paper. It helps me feel secure and motivated. Although planning is great, not all my plans actually work. Like many others I have made plans just to find out that it isn't what God wants of me at the time. And, like many others, that is sometimes hard for me to deal with. How does this all relate to the New Testament? Well, in Act 16, Paul and company are on a mission. They keep  planning the areas they are going to preach, but these plans aren't exactly approved by the Lord. 

 6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

 7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

So, Paul kept making new plans and inquiring of the Lord for where he should go. He then received a vision telling him to go to Macedonia. THIS is the cool part. He IMMEDIATELY left. The reason this is so cool for me, is that Paul didn't sit there and mope about his past endeavors. He let it go. He moved on. Too often, I hold on to my past plans, and what I wanted my future to be, when I should really let go and allow God's plan for my future take hold. He knows better what will make me happy, and what will help me to become the person I need to be. So that's my advice to myself this week, and I guess forever. Let it go. Give it to the Lord and move on.