As I have struggled the last few months, and especially this last week on where to draw the lines of standing for whats right and showing love for persons who are violating God's commands, I received light and inspiration once again as the Sun Rose. I found myself three times in this last week finding basically the same answer in three different places.
First I was studying DC 18 and 19. DC 18:10-12 & 19. Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh: wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him. ..... And if you have not faith, hope, and charity, you can do nothing. I am always worried that this person doesn't understand the gravity of the situation and that I need to harp on them and nag them into repentance. I also felt I needed to do some punishing by withholding support of even some good actions on their part. Obviously this way does not work. We have to have charity and do things and say things that communicate complete love and understanding. We need to show faith in our Saviors plan and realize each person has their own path which they choose and we can let it be in the hands of the Lord to judge and punish. Each soul is precious, each one must be given opportunities to turn to the Lord and receive His light. I must be a light and an example through the light of charity which suffereth long, and is kind,...is not easily provoked....Wherefore, my beloved brethern, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth... Moroni 7:45 I am going to hold to the promise that it never faileth.
Second: I was reading our Relief Society lesson. Pres. Monson's talk in conference this past conference, Finding Joy in the Journey. In there he says: "Never let a problem to be solved become more important than the person to be loved."
Third: I was reading for the Sunday School Lesson Mormon 1 - 6 and Moroni 9: Here is Mormon surrounded by wickedness, leading them into battle, not withstanding their wickedness because he loved them, according to the love of God which was in him. Mormon 3:12. For a time he refused to take them into battle, but in Mormon 5:1 he repents of his oath and goes once again to battle with them, having no hope, for he knew the judgementsw of the lord would come. Then in Moroni 9: 4-6, he says he labors with them continually, "let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God. Moroni's situation is far more precarious and awful then mine. I still have hope. Moroni is a great example of love and enduring to the end.
Each reading this week gave me a deeper understanding and feeling of love. I have certain actions that I must accept and be supportive of. I need to pray for these feelings to be with me when I am confronting each new situation and have the kind of conversation that would allow the spirit to be there. DC 88: 125 And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and PEACE. I know this is a learning process and I will not be perfect at it. However, even Moroni gave up for a little while and then repented and went forward with his mission, laboring diligently until the end.
Now putting all this into practice will be another story. I'm sure I will fail miserably at times. I will have to review this lesson often so i can REMEMBER.
First I was studying DC 18 and 19. DC 18:10-12 & 19. Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh: wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him. ..... And if you have not faith, hope, and charity, you can do nothing. I am always worried that this person doesn't understand the gravity of the situation and that I need to harp on them and nag them into repentance. I also felt I needed to do some punishing by withholding support of even some good actions on their part. Obviously this way does not work. We have to have charity and do things and say things that communicate complete love and understanding. We need to show faith in our Saviors plan and realize each person has their own path which they choose and we can let it be in the hands of the Lord to judge and punish. Each soul is precious, each one must be given opportunities to turn to the Lord and receive His light. I must be a light and an example through the light of charity which suffereth long, and is kind,...is not easily provoked....Wherefore, my beloved brethern, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth... Moroni 7:45 I am going to hold to the promise that it never faileth.
Second: I was reading our Relief Society lesson. Pres. Monson's talk in conference this past conference, Finding Joy in the Journey. In there he says: "Never let a problem to be solved become more important than the person to be loved."
Third: I was reading for the Sunday School Lesson Mormon 1 - 6 and Moroni 9: Here is Mormon surrounded by wickedness, leading them into battle, not withstanding their wickedness because he loved them, according to the love of God which was in him. Mormon 3:12. For a time he refused to take them into battle, but in Mormon 5:1 he repents of his oath and goes once again to battle with them, having no hope, for he knew the judgementsw of the lord would come. Then in Moroni 9: 4-6, he says he labors with them continually, "let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God. Moroni's situation is far more precarious and awful then mine. I still have hope. Moroni is a great example of love and enduring to the end.
Each reading this week gave me a deeper understanding and feeling of love. I have certain actions that I must accept and be supportive of. I need to pray for these feelings to be with me when I am confronting each new situation and have the kind of conversation that would allow the spirit to be there. DC 88: 125 And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and PEACE. I know this is a learning process and I will not be perfect at it. However, even Moroni gave up for a little while and then repented and went forward with his mission, laboring diligently until the end.
Now putting all this into practice will be another story. I'm sure I will fail miserably at times. I will have to review this lesson often so i can REMEMBER.
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