Read a wonderful article by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "Bearing One Another's Burdens's"
This is an amazing talk about serving others. These are some of the points the stuck out to me:
"When we seek to lift the burden of another, we are “saviours … on mount Zion” (Obadiah 1:21). We are symbolically aligning ourselves with the Redeemer of the world and His Atonement."
Which leads me to the question, how can I "[align myself] with the Redeemer of the world and His Atonement" today?
"If I understand the doctrine properly, in the experience of the Atonement, Jesus Christ vicariously experienced—and bore the burden of—the sins and sorrows and troubles and tears of all mankind, from Adam and Eve to the end of the world. In this, He Himself did not actually sin, but He felt the pain and consequence of those who did. He did not personally experience a broken marriage, but He felt the pain and consequence of those who do. He did not personally experience rape or schizophrenia or cancer or the loss of a child, but He felt the pain and consequence of those who do, and so on and on through the litany of life’s burdens and broken hearts."
There is nothing really new to me in the above description; however, it is said in such a way that I better understand it.
"That view of how the Atonement works suggests the one true divine example of empathy the world has ever known."
I have never thought of the Savior's atonement in this manner "the one true divine example of empathy the world has ever known."
Elder Holland's description of the young man suffering with same sex attraction was particularly poignant.
"Empathy. Sounds pretty inadequate, but it is a place to start. We may not be able to alter the journey, but we can make sure no one walks it alone."
I cannot "alter the journey, but [I] can make sure no one walks it alone." Surely this needs to start with my family, especially my wife.
"It is only an appreciation of this divine love that will make our own lesser suffering first bearable, then understandable, and finally redemptive.”
"...our best and most selfless services are often not adequate to comfort or encourage in the way people need...All this is why we must ultimately turn to Jesus Christ and rely on Him"
"But Christ can help. God the Father can help. The Holy Ghost can help, and we need to keep trying to be Their agents, helping when and where we can."
I must be "Their [agents], helping when and where [I] can." I believe this is most critical in my family with my wife, my daughters, and their families.
Elder Hollands description of the need to "Refortify [Ourselves]" gives me a view into this concept that I have never truly appreciated before, especially the Savior's example in doing this.
The quote about hope by "David Batty" gives me a better understanding of how hope applies in the struggles of this life.
"'Hope is the lifeline that can keep you from being overwhelmed by the storms in your life."'
The quote of Paul is enlightening.
"In the scriptures, the Lord explained that His grace was sufficient for Paul and that, in fact, His strength was actually “made perfect in weakness.” Then Paul wrote, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9)."
I also liked verse 10
"10 Therefore I take pleasure in ainfirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in bpersecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am cweak, then am I dstrong."
I linked this with Ammon descussion of weakness in Alma 26.
His statement about angels made me think of my wife and all the things she does for our family.
....we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. ... Some of them gave birth to us, and in my case, one of them consented to marry me. Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind.”
At times I have wanted to send a thank you letter to some of the general authorities to thank them the talks and teachings that have helped me so much. However, I am afraid it would only add to the tremendous number of letters they already receive. Perhaps this can be my way of saying thanks.
This also may be a small step in "Joining the Conversation" as Elder Ballard has ask us to do (see Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet).
This is an amazing talk about serving others. These are some of the points the stuck out to me:
"When we seek to lift the burden of another, we are “saviours … on mount Zion” (Obadiah 1:21). We are symbolically aligning ourselves with the Redeemer of the world and His Atonement."
Which leads me to the question, how can I "[align myself] with the Redeemer of the world and His Atonement" today?
"If I understand the doctrine properly, in the experience of the Atonement, Jesus Christ vicariously experienced—and bore the burden of—the sins and sorrows and troubles and tears of all mankind, from Adam and Eve to the end of the world. In this, He Himself did not actually sin, but He felt the pain and consequence of those who did. He did not personally experience a broken marriage, but He felt the pain and consequence of those who do. He did not personally experience rape or schizophrenia or cancer or the loss of a child, but He felt the pain and consequence of those who do, and so on and on through the litany of life’s burdens and broken hearts."
There is nothing really new to me in the above description; however, it is said in such a way that I better understand it.
"That view of how the Atonement works suggests the one true divine example of empathy the world has ever known."
I have never thought of the Savior's atonement in this manner "the one true divine example of empathy the world has ever known."
Elder Holland's description of the young man suffering with same sex attraction was particularly poignant.
"Empathy. Sounds pretty inadequate, but it is a place to start. We may not be able to alter the journey, but we can make sure no one walks it alone."
I cannot "alter the journey, but [I] can make sure no one walks it alone." Surely this needs to start with my family, especially my wife.
"It is only an appreciation of this divine love that will make our own lesser suffering first bearable, then understandable, and finally redemptive.”
"...our best and most selfless services are often not adequate to comfort or encourage in the way people need...All this is why we must ultimately turn to Jesus Christ and rely on Him"
"But Christ can help. God the Father can help. The Holy Ghost can help, and we need to keep trying to be Their agents, helping when and where we can."
I must be "Their [agents], helping when and where [I] can." I believe this is most critical in my family with my wife, my daughters, and their families.
Elder Hollands description of the need to "Refortify [Ourselves]" gives me a view into this concept that I have never truly appreciated before, especially the Savior's example in doing this.
The quote about hope by "David Batty" gives me a better understanding of how hope applies in the struggles of this life.
"'Hope is the lifeline that can keep you from being overwhelmed by the storms in your life."'
The quote of Paul is enlightening.
"In the scriptures, the Lord explained that His grace was sufficient for Paul and that, in fact, His strength was actually “made perfect in weakness.” Then Paul wrote, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9)."
I also liked verse 10
"10 Therefore I take pleasure in ainfirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in bpersecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am cweak, then am I dstrong."
I linked this with Ammon descussion of weakness in Alma 26.
11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not aboast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my bjoy is full, yea, my heart is brim with cjoy, and I will rejoice in my God.
12 Yea, I know that I am anothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will bnot boast of myself, but I will cboastof my God, for in his dstrength I can do all ethings; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever...
"Brothers and sisters, the service we provide when we bear another’s burdens is crucially important—literally the work of the Master."His statement about angels made me think of my wife and all the things she does for our family.
....we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. ... Some of them gave birth to us, and in my case, one of them consented to marry me. Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind.”
At times I have wanted to send a thank you letter to some of the general authorities to thank them the talks and teachings that have helped me so much. However, I am afraid it would only add to the tremendous number of letters they already receive. Perhaps this can be my way of saying thanks.
This also may be a small step in "Joining the Conversation" as Elder Ballard has ask us to do (see Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet).
