Choices, Christianity, and Politics

Yes, you read that title correctly. I've had some things on my mind today, and I want to share them.

Someone wrote to Matt Walsh complaining that Matt was being unfair by only accepting, publishing, and sending in the stories that represent the problems with Obamacare. This man basically said that he now has health insurance, and his success story is more important than the many, many disastrous stories. Watch Matt's response here. Matt's response was judged by some as cold because he said he would always choose to care for his family first.

A couple of Bible stories have come to my mind today, accompanied by the thought I've seen perpetuated by many Democrats recently that Jesus Christ was not Republican and that Republicans do not represent Christian values. I am not looking for confrontation here. I will say, however, that associating Jesus Christ with any political party (and accusing those of the opposite party of not being Christian) is not only un-Christian but sacrilegious.

The most common accusation I have seen is that too many Republicans complain about taxes being raised to give services to those who may be in need--or something along those lines. (I'm trying to keep these as unpolitical and as unbiased as possible, so please recognize that.) They point out that Jesus Christ would care for the poor and suggest that the Republicans do not.

It is, of course, true that Christ cares for the poor. Jesus Christ cares for all people. He cares for all of us so much that He has given us agency: the opportunity to choose for ourselves.

So which Bible stories have come to my mind? The first was the story of the rich young man who had been observing the commandments and wanted to know what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. The scriptures say, "Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions." (New Testament, Mark 10:21-22) Lest someone say this proves the point because this young man was un-Christian, there are several things that I believe we should all notice in this story. First, we know that Jesus loved the young man. Second, the young man was given the choice of whether to sell his possessions. Finally, all we know is that he went away grieved. The scriptures do not tell us what he did after he left. He was grieved, but perhaps we should also consider that he was caught off-guard. The scriptures don't tell us that he didn't sell his possessions to give to the poor; maybe he did. At one time or another, I'm sure each of us has left a church meeting sobered, perhaps even grieving, over instruction we received, because it was difficult. It doesn't mean we didn't do it.

My greatest point in sharing this story is that Christ did not demand this of the young man. He commanded it, yes, but He did not take the agency of the young man; he still had the opportunity to consider and choose for himself.

The second was that of the Elijah and the widow. If you remember the story, there was a famine in the land. Elijah asked the widow for food, but she only had enough for a last small meal for herself and her son:

"And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah." (Old Testament, 1 Kings 17:12-16)

Again in this case, we see that the widow had a choice. Could there have been a more difficult choice? But what a beautiful promise she received: "The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth." I can only imagine her faith in God and in His prophet here on earth, the absolute trust she must have felt in giving up what she believed to be her last meal to feed a man of God. She did it by choice. And she was blessed for it.

I'm not sure how clearly I can word what I want to say from here. I just know that it is painful to be accused, and to see others accused, of not being Christlike, and I am grateful that it is Jesus Christ Himself who will judge me, since He knows me and my heart and my desires perfectly.

But when either party accuses the other of not being Christ-like or Christian, it is as if they are attempting to put the government in the place of God. Not only did Christ not force obedience or giving from either the rich young man or from the widow, but He provided amazing blessings to the widow and her son. The government can't promise that--if they do, it's an empty promise. The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches self-sufficiency, which must involve caring for oneself and one's family first. Then, any surplus can be given to help those in need.

One major problem I see is using the government as a middle-man in caring for the poor. Our big government is out of touch with the people, and it takes to much overhead to implement any program, no matter how well-intended. There are other organizations to whom I readily and generously donate: various programs within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but also always to two or three other charities each year. I do want to help people! I do want to be a part of good causes! But I have yet to see an efficient government program, so yes, I do complain about money being taken from me to cover government attempts at caring for the poor. I would rather donate where I know that (1) every cent goes to those in need and (2) the money does not go only to provide for those in need, but to help them provide for themselves.

Not only that, but I've been grateful to feel like I can help others here and there: immediate family, grandparents, close friends. Is it un-Christian that I choose to help those I know who are doing their best to stay afloat? Especially when I can see their struggles to stay afloat? I'm pretty sure it is most Christian to care first for those I know and love, and then to reach out to others if I am still able. Matt Walsh's point in his response was not that he wants anyone to go hungry. It was simply that if someone must go hungry, he will feed his family first. I do not see this as un-Christian. His responsibility is to his wife and children before any other person. As a single person, my responsibility is first to myself (I can't help others if I can't help myself!), then to immediate family (parents and siblings).

But I'm not looking to place myself above anyone else, either. I know there are many Christians still in our country. Sometimes we do not agree on politics. But if we are to save this country, we need to join together. We can't point fingers and accuse others of not being Christian because they aren't exactly like us. We need to stand together on common ground. We need to stand for Jesus Christ and for the values He taught and lived. In short, we need to be Christian--we need to be disciples of Jesus Christ. If we are willing to work together instead of pointing fingers and accusing, I believe we will quickly find that conditions will improve for everyone. Remember the people of Enoch? "And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them." (Pearl of Great Price, Moses 7:18) Instead of pointing fingers and accusing, let's work on becoming a Zion community: a people who love each other and who truly want the best for each other!

Government will not be perfect until Jesus Christ returns in glory to the earth, to rule and reign. But we can prepare now by striving to become a Zion community. We can prepare by loving and serving and giving--and by allowing others the opportunity to choose to love and serve and give. Let us become a Zion people, a people whom Jesus Christ will claim when He returns to the earth!

Choice and Accountability

There seems to be an epidemic in the world today--not a physical disease, but an idea: the idea that there should be no consequences for our actions. This was prophesied long ago:

"Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us. And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark." (2 Nephi 28:7-9)

What happened to the understanding that with actions come consequences? I'm pretty sure most of us learned this when we were quite young.

One of the Young Women's values is Choice and Accountability. It is accompanied by the statement, "I will choose good over evil and will accept responsibility for my decisions." Young Women ages 12-18 recite their theme, which includes this value, every week. Is it too much to expect adults to remember the same?

For that matter, I learned a little song when I was four years old at most:

"Choices, choices, good and bad--

The good ones make me happy, and the bad ones make me sad.

When I make a mistake, then I'll fix it, I will,

'Cause my choices are connected to the way I feel."

Our Heavenly Father sent us to this earth with agency: the freedom to choose. With that agency came the ability to discern between right and wrong--the ability to judge. Agency does not exist without (1) opposition and (2) knowledge: "Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other" (2 Nephi 2:16). This ability to discern between right and wrong is given to every person:

"For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him. And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged." (Moroni 7:16-18)

Did you catch that? "I show unto you the way to judge" and "see that you do not judge wrongfully." Mormon's letter to his son, Moroni, makes it clear that our agency must involve judgment: we must judge between right and wrong, between good and evil. Not only must we judge, but we can judge with a perfect knowledge based on the criteria that are listed.

Those of us who have received the gift of the Holy Ghost have an even greater ability and responsibility to judge--not to condemn, but certainly to judge! We have the promise of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, but we can only have that constant companionship as we constantly make judgments and choose good over evil.

With agency comes the knowledge that there are consequences for our actions:

"And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away." (2 Nephi 2:13)

There will always be consequences. It was Lucifer's plan to force us all back to heaven--to remove agency and thus remove accountability and consequences. That plan was rejected. We chose our Heavenly Father's plan, in which we would have agency. We knew we would make mistakes. We knew that each action would come with a consequence.

Remember when Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden? Here are God's words to Adam and Eve:

"Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." (Genesis 3:16-19)

They suffered consequences because of their choice to partake of the forbidden fruit. However, there is a phrase in there that stands out: for thy sake. There will always be consequences, not because of a desire for punishment or revenge, but for thy sake. I must be accountable for my own actions, but this is partly because the Lord will use these consequences as teaching opportunities, if we will allow it.

And remember, there is good news in all of this! We must accept the consequences, but because of the atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we are not called upon to bear the full punishment. He has redeemed us. "Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered" (2 Nephi 2:7). But our eventual exaltation depends not only on the atonement and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, but on the conditions described: a broken heart and a contrite spirit, which often come by accepting the consequences of our own actions.

Amulek further clarifies the conditions for salvation: "And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins" (Alma 11:37). While Christ has taken upon Him all of our shortcomings, He will not save us in but rather from our sins. This is accomplished partially by our own judgment, aided by the gift of the Holy Ghost, when we choose good over evil; we will continually receive His help and guidance as we strive to choose right. It is also accomplished as we humble ourselves before God and repent of our sins, which must come with some penalty. There must be remorse, and there must be some degree of suffering on our part if we are to be forgiven. Jesus Christ, the only perfect Being to ever walk the earth, suffered all things. Can we expect, in our imperfections, not to suffer at all? Of course not. We must accept the consequences of our actions, as this is part of the repentance process.

Will the consequences bring sorrow? Probably. That's part of life. That's part of the process of learning and growing and repenting. If the sorrow leads to a broken heart and a contrite spirit, to an acknowledgement of our wrongdoing and a desire to be forgiven and to improve each day, then the atonement can "answer the ends of the law."

Our Heavenly Father has provided a perfect plan: a plan for our happiness, for our growth, and ultimately for our immortality and eternal life. Through the sacrifice of His Only Begotten Son, we have the opportunity to progress and to become like Him. Let us never forget our eternal potential! Along with that, may we also remember that consequences are for our own good, to teach us and mold us and help us to become like Him. And as we remember this, we must also remember how judgment relates to this plan of happiness.

Ultimately Jesus Christ will be our Judge. For that I am humbly grateful. He knows my heart, He knows me better than I know myself, and He will judge me as only He is able. I am also grateful to know that I do not have to carry the burden of judging other people; that judgment, too, is His. However, if I expect mercy in His judgment, if I want to become like Him, as He has commanded, I must continually be judging now: judging between good and evil and striving to choose good over evil.

Hold fast to your agency. Yield it only to your Father in Heaven, in the form of a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Acknowledge His wisdom and power. Acknowledge His grace, through which we have the opportunity to repent and to be saved. Acknowledge His hand in all things. Acknowledge that He desires our happiness, and that sometimes unpleasant consequences come in order to steer us in the direction of lasting happiness. Acknowledge that He is the Creator of all things, and most importantly of all mankind, and that His plan is for us to return to Him and to partake of all that He has.

His plan is perfect. We accepted it once; we know this because we are here on earth. Let us continue to accept it and to fight for it, agency, consequences, and all!

Now we have a world where people are confused

I've been listening to C-SPAN this evening, and the most prevalent thought that comes from this is how very grateful I am for a living prophet on the earth today, who receives revelation for our day. I feel a greater excitement for General Conference, knowing that we will be instructed at the feet of men of God. Our government is full of talk, and that's about it. The last verse of the Primary song, "Follow the Prophet," comes to mind:

Now we have a world where people are confused.
If you don't believe it, go and watch the news.
We can get direction all along our way,
If we heed the prophets-follow what they say.

Safety comes only in hearing and following the words of the prophet--the words of God. Truth and assurance does not come from any mortal government. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

I know this is a short post. I just can't help thinking how grateful I am for living prophets and apostles. From them I learn truth. I know they will speak and act according to the will of God. When the country and its government, when the whole world is in confusion, peace and safety are to be found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this I am grateful.

"This is my day, my baptism day!"

Today I got to attend my cousin, Sheldon's, baptism and play the piano for the service. It's always a special occasion to see another child of God make the decision to be baptized. Today seemed to be more special, maybe because it is the anniversary of my own baptism--22 years ago.

Sheldon was so sweet! It was neat that his sister, Ashlynn, gave the talk on baptism and that his brother, Brendan, gave the talk on confirmation and receiving the Holy Ghost. They both did a great job.

It was especially fun to see Sheldon's excitement. As soon as Ashlynn said amen at the end of her talk, he said, "OK, now it's time," and jumped up and almost ran to the font. Uncle Jon (also Sheldon's uncle) baptized him.

Grandpa Sommerfeld confirmed him and gave a wonderful blessing. Afterward, when he was told to shake hands with those in the circle and to hug his family, he made his way around the whole room hugging members of his family. No one felt impatient; even though the instruction was just intended for those who participated in confirming him, it was so sweet and wonderful to see his excitement and happiness and love as he hugged each member of his family and shook hands with the others in the room. As I still sat at the piano, I could see both smiles and tears on many faces.

Of course, we all missed having his dad there. Grandpa's blessing for Sheldon included a blessing of safety for Uncle Chris (Sheldon's dad) as he is currently deployed in Afghanistan. We are all grateful for Chris and his continued sacrifice to serve our country and preserve our freedoms; we missed him today.

As I said, today is also the anniversary of my baptism. I remember also feeling excited. But I also remember that I didn't necessarily feel any different after being baptized. One of the things that has always stood out to me was that it was special that I got a little extra time with my dad that day, since we went to the church earlier than the rest of the family. For a time I thought maybe there was something wrong with that--why was that what stood out to me most? As I reached adulthood, I also found a parallel in this feeling. My Heavenly Father entrusted me to earthly parents. As I enjoyed being close to my earthly father that day, I was taking an important step in coming closer to my Heavenly Father. The love I feel toward my earthly father and the love I know he has for me is small and imperfect compared to the love of my Heavenly Father, but He sent me to an earthly family so I could be reminded of His love.

I do remember that I sang that day, as well: "I Believe in Christ." From the first time I remember singing this beautiful hymn in a Primary singing time, it has been one of my favorites. And, of course, my choice to be baptized was an outward expression of my belief and faith in Christ, a covenant with Him that I would take His name upon me and strive to keep His commandments and always remember Him.

I am grateful for parents who taught me the gospel and prepared me for baptism and for other ordinances. I am grateful to have witnessed Sheldon's baptism today. I love this gospel. I know it is true. I know that through the restoration of the priesthood, we have access to the ordinances necessary to be able to return to our Heavenly Father. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior, that He was baptized to set the example for all mankind, and that it is because of His atonement, death, and resurrection that we will all live again and that we can return to our Heavenly Father.

Her price is far above rubies

My baby sister is 17!!! I remember turning 17. I left home just a few weeks later to start college at BYU. That seems like a lifetime ago. So much has happened since then.

So, this post is for my sister... sorry, Christine, if it embarrasses you. I just want you to know that I'm proud of you! You're doing a lot of good. You just finished high school as a valedictorian. You've spent a lot of time volunteering in the library. And you've grown into a beautiful young woman. You're no longer the little four-year-old I had to say goodbye to when I started college, but I'm glad that you're now my friend as well as being my baby sister.

I also thought of the scripture in Proverbs, "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies" (Proverbs 31:10). You're a great example of studying and striving to live the gospel. I'm proud of you for that, too. I'm excited for you as you take a few classes and prepare for a mission over the next couple of years. I'm excited to see you continue to learn and progress in life. :)

I've also loved being able to trade book recommendations with you over the last few years. I've read some good stuff because of you. :) It's almost as good as reading it with you. I'm still glad I got to read The World of Winnie-the-Pooh and The World of Christopher Robin with you the summer you started Kindergarten. I'm glad for the little times like that, since I know I haven't been around for most of your growing-up years.

Anyway, I just want you to know that I love you, and I hope it's been a wonderful birthday! You're the best baby sister! I love you lots!

To thine own self be true

I saw a comment today, "Always be yourself," that really got me thinking. The world has it all wrong. The definition the world uses in suggesting that you "be yourself" is really suggesting that you rebel against everything that you have been taught and follow the world. It doesn't even seem to be about choosing your own path--just about breaking away from the "conventions" held by your parents.

I'm sure there are those who would be critical of the fact that I hold strongly to the things my parents have taught me. They have that right, though I disagree. You see, in thinking of how I can be myself, the first thought that came to my mind was that I am a child of God. I cannot very well be myself if I don't know who I am. But I do know. I am a child of God. As such, I have a divine heritage and destiny. I also have a responsibility to live up to that heritage.

I also keep coming back to a quote from C.S. Lewis in the Preface of The Great Divorce: "We are not living in a world where all roads are radii of a circle and where all, if followed long enough, will therefore draw gradually nearer and finally meet at the centre: rather in a world where every road, after a few miles, forks into two, and each of those into two again, and at each fork you must make a decision. Even on the biological level life is not like a river but like a tree. It does not move towards unity but away from it and the creatures grow further apart as they increase in perfection. Good, as it ripens, becomes continually more different not only from evil but from other good" (emphasis added). We become more different as we become more good, as we grow nearer to God. The differences develop because we open doors to new possibilities, to new options. Living the gospel does not make me a conformist. It makes me a unique person, part of a peculiar people. It makes me an individual. It makes me who I am and allows me to discover myself as God would have me be.

I also cannot help but think of Shakespeare's words from Hamlet (which prove that being oneself is nothing new!):

This above all: to thine ownself be true,

And it must follow, as the night the day,

Thou canst not then be false to any man.

Being myself, and being true to myself, does not require that I answer to anyone but myself. To become my true self, I must also be true to God, but that is because I am His daughter, and I cannot be my true self without being true to Him.

I find it interesting, in considering this quote, that "it must follow, as the night the day...." This suggests that we know darkness will come. While a pessimist might feel that morning will never come again, he/she will likely not question that night will follow day. It establishes this as a solid and undeniable truth, that remaining true to oneself allows us to be true to God and to all men (and women).

I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, for a guide that helps me to know who I am and who I can become. I am not "conforming" to anything in the sense that the world usually means by conforming. Rather, I am learning and becoming and progressing, with new opportunities and new lessons and new paths opening to me. By following the gospel plan, I differentiate myself from others, even from those who are also studying and following the gospel. We are not all the same, because God allows us to develop into the people He knows we can become.

I know that I am a daughter of God, with divine heritage and potential. I know that as I continue to study and learn and follow His plan for me, that I will eventually discover my true self--the self that my Heavenly Father knows I can become. He knows me, and His greatest desire is for me to return to Him. I trust in that knowledge and in the atonement of my Savior, which makes it possible for me to improve continually and to be my greatest self.

Peace be unto thy soul

I've had a lot going through my mind this afternoon and evening. Do you ever wonder why some people seem to have it easy, seem to be so blessed, while others seem to have more than their fair share of difficulties? Perhaps we question it even more when those in the first group seem to be living in their pride, doing what they want, while those in the second seem to be giving their all to do what is right. Unfortunately, we live in an imperfect world. Fortunately, we have a loving Heavenly Father who is always watching out for us and who wants us to succeed. Sometimes we can't see how, and sometimes we can't understand why He would send us such difficult tests when we are already trying so hard to be obedient.

I'm not posting this so I'll have a large number of people worrying about me--I'm fine. I posted last year about how I had learned what it means to mourn with those that mourn. Since then, including today, I have had times when I have felt this keenly again: a pain that isn't mine but that is very real, accompanied by an understanding that the Lord is slowly teaching me what it means to keep my baptismal covenants.

Other thoughts have come to my mind this evening as I have considered my friend's circumstances. Specifically, my mind went to Doctrine and Covenants 121: "O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place? How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries? Yea, O Lord, how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions, before thine heart shall be softened toward them, and thy bowels be moved with compassion toward them?" (verses 1-3). This was Joseph Smith's plea to God from Liberty Jail; he continued in verse 6: "Remember thy suffering saints, O our God; and thy servants will rejoice in thy name forever."

I can't imagine enduring what Joseph endured, including unlawful imprisonment on more than one occasion. Yet he allowed his trials to strengthen his faith in Jesus Christ and in His power to save. His plea is not a complaint, only a plea. He was suffering, but he expressed his faith and even his willingness to rejoice in the name of God.

And Joseph received an answer: "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes" (verses 7-8). Joseph was not promised immediate relief. In fact, in section 122 the Lord describes other calamities that could come upon him, ending with "... and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good" (verse 8). It doesn't sound very encouraging unless you read on: "The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?" (verse 8); and at the end of verse 9: "therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever."

Jesus Christ has the power to save from all circumstances. His atonement covers all our sins and our trials and sufferings, if we will but come unto Him. It is comforting to know that He suffered all that man can suffer, that He truly understands anything we can ever experience. While I may feel a small part of what my friend feels right now, I cannot fully understand. But Christ does, and He knows each of our needs and desires and the thoughts and intents of our hearts. He experienced everything, and He will be with us to comfort and strengthen us as we seek Him.

The beauty of the gospel and of the atonement is that even when we cannot see the way clearly, our Savior does. Even when it seems impossible to come through a situation, nothing is impossible with the help of the Lord. My friend has mentioned the need for a miracle. Well, fortunately, God is a God of miracles--yesterday, today, and forever. It still does not mean that things will happen in the way our mortal minds, with limited mortal vision, might like. We do not have the eternal perspective that He does. This makes it more difficult to understand. Though the Lord told Joseph Smith, as already quoted, "thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment," I suspect that small moment felt like an eternity at the time. This is a time when we slowly learn to trust, when we strive to perfect our faith, trusting that though we do not see the full picture, our Heavenly Father has something wonderful in store for us.

Someday we will also see things perfectly. We will also see the whole picture. Someday we will come to understand why we were tested in ways that sometimes seemed beyond our mortal capacity. Someday we will see that some trials were to allow us to draw near to the Lord, to strengthen us, to prepare us. If we allow Him to, the Lord will lead us through our trials to beautiful blessings. Some of these may come in mortality. Many will not come until later. But they will come. As the Lord promised Joseph Smith, again already quoted, "And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes." We can receive no greater reward than eternal life and exaltation. What we experience on earth is intended to prepare us for that.

So for now, we press forward. We seek the Lord. We lift up the hands that hang down and strengthen the feeble knees, hoping that someone will do the same for us in our time of need. We fast and pray and exercise faith, not just for our own benefit, but for the benefit of those we love. We seek the peace that comes only from the Lord, the peace that comes in spite of trials and hardships. And as we feel that peace, we seek to share it.

I certainly don't see everything. I wish there were some way that I could make things right for my friend, for others who suffer. I can't--not fully. But the Lord can, and I can continue to exercise faith that He is able to do so. I can offer a hand of friendship and support and a listening ear.

My hope is that we can all learn to rely more fully upon Jesus Christ and His atonement, both in times of need and in times of plenty. As we do so, we can be better prepared to overcome our own trials and to reach out to others in theirs. As we look for the small daily miracles, we will feel more able to ask for the miracles that may seem impossible. A Savior who can forgive sins, who can cleanse and purify and sanctify us, can surely bring us through any trial, great or small. I trust in this--for myself, for my friend, and for others who may be suffering right now. I know that our Savior can heal us completely and perfectly and bring us back to Him.