I’m learning daily about Charity, especially in this calling as R.S. President.
I’m realizing that there are so many things I learn that don’t come from the handbook, from the Bishop, from Jimmy, from the sisters … I learn it from experience… through the Holy Ghost.
Last night I learned to be more aware and sensitive – even with those whom I assume are strong. We may think they are able to watch over and strengthen others, but some days they are about to crash too.
This experience reminded me of this quote (which has been attributed to many authors. I believe Marjorie Hinckley quoted it, so it’s definitely a keeper!)
The more I know about other’s situations (and believe me – sometimes I know much that goes on in the ward… it’s weird since I’m usually the one who knows nothing… anyhoo)… the more I realize that everyone really has super hard things. So often we focus on those that have crashed … or are about to crash … and my bishop has reminded me that we also need to help keep the strong going too… keep them on that straight path they are on… strengthen those families too.
Anyhoo… mostly… I learned to be sensitive to what you ask of others. Be aware that they may have a hard battle at the present. Listen to the Spirit and follow it.
I really like this message by President Eyring from 2004. It applies to so many things I deal with in life and in my calling… why we have trials… how we can teach others to deal with challenges… how we can deal with hard circumstances… that it’s all part of God’s plan to qualify us to live with Him again.
Henry B. Eyring, “In the Strength of the Lord,” Ensign, May 2004, 16
“When I was a young man, I served as counselor to a wise district president in the Church. He tried to teach me. One of the things I remember wondering about was this advice he gave: “When you meet someone, treat them as if they were in serious trouble, and you will be right more than half the time.”
I thought then that he was pessimistic. Now, more than 40 years later, I can see how well he understood the world and life. As time passes, the world grows more challenging, and our physical capacities slowly diminish with age. It is clear that we will need more than human strength. The Psalmist was right: “But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.” 1
The restored gospel of Jesus Christ gives us help in knowing how to qualify for the strength of the Lord as we deal with adversity. It tells us why we face tests in life. And, even more importantly, it tells us how to get protection and help from the Lord.
We have trials to face because our Heavenly Father loves us. His purpose is to help us qualify for the blessing of living with Him and His Son, Jesus Christ, forever in glory and in families. To qualify for that gift we had to receive a mortal body. With that mortality we understood that we would be tested by temptations and by difficulties.
The restored gospel not only teaches us why we must be tested, but it makes clear to us what the test is. The Prophet Joseph Smith gave us an explanation. By revelation, he was able to record words spoken at the Creation of the world. They are about us, those of the spirit children of our Heavenly Father who would come into mortality. Here are the words:
“And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them.” 2
That explanation helps us understand why we face trials in life. They give us the opportunity to prove ourselves faithful to God. So many things beat upon us in a lifetime that simply enduring may seem almost beyond us. That’s what the words in the scripture “Ye must … endure to the end” seemed to mean to me when I first read them. It sounded grim, like sitting still and holding on to the arms of the chair while someone pulled out my tooth.
It can surely seem that way to a family depending on crops when there is no rain. They may wonder, “How long can we hold on?” It can seem that way to a youth faced with resisting the rising flood of filth and temptation. … It can seem that way to a person faced with the erosion of health and physical strength which may come early or late in life for them or for those they love.
But the test a loving God has set before us is not to see if we can endure difficulty. It is to see if we can endure it well. We pass the test by showing that we remembered Him and the commandments He gave us. And to endure well is to keep those commandments whatever the opposition, whatever the temptation, and whatever the tumult around us. We have that clear understanding because the restored gospel makes the plan of happiness so plain.
That clarity lets us see what help we need. We need strength beyond ourselves to keep the commandments in whatever circumstance life brings to us.”
