I Will Not Leave You Comfortless

There is one scripture that constantly gets misquoted. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 it says, ". . .but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able. . ." The key word is tempted. Some well meaning people have tried to substitute the word tested there. Maybe they are trying to be hopeful or reassure themselves that nothing so bad will happen to them that they can't handle it. For whatever reason, it is not true.

Otherwise, why would we have scriptures that say,

"Come unto me, 

all ye that labour and are heavy laden, 

and I will give you rest. 

Take my yoke upon you and learn of me…

for my yoke is easy, 

and my burden is light" 

or the one found in John 14:28 that says, 

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

These scriptures make me think that Christ is talking to those of us who are carrying loads too heavy for us to bear. One such experience happened to a family member when they lost three children in a car accident back in 2007. Just five years earlier they had a young daughter pass away and now four of their eight children were in heaven. 

My cousin and his wife had a load much too heavy to bear! It was beyond their capability even though they had very strong testimonies and were faithful members of the church. How could they believe a scripture that said God would not test them beyond their ability to bear? They not only had to turn over their burden to the Savior, but they also had to get help from counselors and therapists to overcome the tremendous, unimaginable grief they were experiencing.  

We know that we will be tested beyond our ability to bear, and that is why scriptures such as the one telling us that the Lord will not leave us comfortless are so valuable! Even though we might experience trials in this life that seem overwhelming, we can always turn to Christ and know that He will carry our burden so that it will be light. 

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, "Because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: ‘I will not leave you comfortless." (https://www.lds.org/manual/new-testament-student-manual/introduction-to-the-gospel-according-to-st-john/chapter-26-john-14-16?lang=eng)

Isn't it amazing to think that we have family members on both sides of the veil helping us!! And angels!! Heavenly Father provided us a way to never be without comfort in times of trial. We know we can turn to the Savior and have immediate peace and comfort in times of need. There are times when we have to turn to additional resources for help, too. We can be reassured that the Lord has provided a way for us to heal emotionally, spiritually, and physically. He will always show us the way when we are humble and willing to follow the Spirit. 

Remaining Steadfast Against Opposition

I have been hearing about the end of the world lately. With the recent United States presidential election, many people have exclaimed that it didn't matter who we voted for. Both candidates were evil and they seemed to find reassurance in the idea that the end of the world would get here faster either way. From what I read this week in the New Testament, that does not seem to be the case.

The end of the world is referenced in Matthew 24:14 when it says, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." 

What is meant by "the end"? 

Joseph Smith said the following: "According to the Savior’s language, the end of the world is the destruction of the wicked; the harvest and the end of the world have an allusion directly to the human family in the last days, instead of the earth, as many have imagined.” So, the end of the world is not the end of the earth but the end of wickedness."

That phrase gave me a great deal of hope as well as those around me who were struggling with who to vote for. We know that the world does not have to be more wicked. It has already passed the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah. What do we need to do to withstand the evil forces around us?

The answer is in Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:11. It says, "But he that remaineth steadfast and is not overcome, the same shall be saved."  

Elder David A. Bednar explained how we can remain steadfast. He said, "A person who is steadfast and immovable is solid, firm, resolute, firmly secured, and incapable of being diverted from a primary purpose or mission. A building or structure that is stable and immovable must be built upon a strong foundation. If you and I desire to become steadfast and immovable disciples of the Master, we must build appropriately and effectively upon Him as our foundation. As we become more spiritually mature and increasingly steadfast and immovable, we focus upon and strive to understand the fundamental and foundational doctrines of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Disciples who are steadfast and immovable do not become fanatics or extremists, are not overzealous, and are not preoccupied with misguided gospel hobbies.”

This does not mean that we stand still, however. Sometimes we have to be like Joseph and run! On Sunday our bishop told us about a documentary on iguanas. As soon as they hatch, their instinct is to cross the Galapagos Island and get to the other side. They barely crack out of their shells and snakes are trying to catch and destroy them. You can watch it here:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv9hn4IGofM&list=PLsbiKtJbTLpOpq1XHYilA98Zfz-7E21O0&index=8

As I watched this segment of the video, I pictured our youth and young adults out in the world. They are noticed and targeted. Satan is trying his best to capture and destroy them. I love the part in the video where the snakes have the iguana and then he gets away. All of us get caught and need a way to escape. Jesus Christ made our escape possible. We can turn to Him and through His Atonement, be rescued and have another chance to work toward eternal life.

In A.D. 70 the Jews were suffering in great tribulation and if the Lord would not have intervened, they would have been completely annihilated. We have been promised that the Lord will need to intervene in the last days for His people to survive. Knowing that we are not left alone and remembering that the righteous will win the war gives me strength to carry on with hope each day.

It's Never Too Late to Come to Christ

In Matthew 20 Jesus gives the parable of the laborers. Early in the morning, a man hired laborers to work for a penny in his vineyard. He also went into the city and hired more laborers on the third, sixth, and ninth hours offering them each a penny. At about the eleventh hour, he hired some more men. When it came time to pay, the Lord of the vineyard had those who were hired last be paid first and they were given a penny. The first men that were hired complained that it wasn't fair. They worked for much longer than those hired on the eleventh hour. The Lord of the vineyard explained that they had agreed on the wages before they were hired. 

Elder Holland gives a great explanation for this parable. He likens it to those who have lived the gospel their whole lives compared to those who learn and accept the gospel later in life. We all have access to the blessings of the gospel no matter how late in life we learn about it and start living it. Some may have the gospel and leave it for a time and then come back. Just like the parable of the prodigal son, we are grateful and happy when people choose to come back to the gospel.

I love this quote from Elder Holland,"However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines." 

There is nothing like hearing this doctrine straight from the lips of a living prophet. You can watch it here: 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/the-laborers-in-the-vineyard?lang=eng

Some people think the Atonement applies to other people but not themselves. One bishop I know said that some members who have come to him to confess a sin feel the Atonement won't work for them because they knew better. This is a lie that Satan perpetrates on us. He tempts us and wants us to make mistakes, telling us all along that it really won't matter. Then if we succumb to the temptations, he tells us we are worthless and that there is no hope for us. 

There is always hope for those who believe in the Savior and believe His teachings. It is important to believe Him and well as believe in Him. 

I found an amazing poem this week that opened my eyes to some of the ways we fail to come unto Christ. Here is the poem presented by its creator.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIQFLbvuWXc

We need Christ in our life and when we make Him the focus, we can achieve and become more than we ever could on our own.

Give All That We Have to the Lord

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President Ezra Taft Benson said, “Men and women who turn their lives over to God will find out that he can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life to God will find he has eternal life.”

It reminds me of this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjwv4SN1TfA

In Matthew 16:25 it says, "For whosoever will save his life shall lost it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."

There are two ways we can look at this scripture ~ literally and figuratively.  Many saints have lost their lives because they would not turn against God. Peter, Paul, Abinadi, and even the prophet Joseph Smith. Each of them were martyrs who stood up for their belief in God ~ and lost their lives in the process.

There were also the early Saints who crossed the plains. They willingly sacrificed all that they had to move their families to a place where they could worship God without persecution. Some of them sacrificed their very lives and never made it to the Salt Lake valley. The Martin and Willey Handcart Companies were hit the hardest. Many lives were lost, but those who witnessed the hardships at the Sweetwater River lived to bear strong testimony that Christ did not leave them comfortless. 

In a Sunday School class some members were criticizing the decision of the handcart companies to head west so late in the year. An elderly man stood and said, "I ask you to stop this criticism. You are discussing a matter you know nothing about. Cold historic facts … give no proper interpretation of the questions involved. Mistake to send the Handcart Company out so late in the season? Yes. But I was in that company and my wife … too. We suffered beyond anything you can imagine and many died of exposure and starvation, but … we became acquainted with [God] in our extrem[i]ties.  

I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and I have said, I can go that far and there I must give up, for I cannot pull the load through it. … I have gone on to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me. I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there. 

Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No. Neither then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company.” 

There are people who make similar sacrifices in the church today. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf was called as a general authority while he was living in Germany, the country where he was born and raised his family. In 1999 he and his wife left their home and moved to the United States where they would live for the rest of their lives. They had to move away from their children and grandchildren. This is a great sacrifice that they are willing to give to the Lord. 

We will probably never have to give our literal lives to God, but we can demonstrate our willingness to give all that we have to the Lord by serving Him. I know that when I have made sacrifices for the Kingdom of God, I have been abundantly blessed. 

Learning from the Master Teacher

"Jesus Christ was the greatest teacher who ever taught," said President Spencer W. Kimball. There are many reasons for this. First, He loved those whom He taught, even the people who were opposing him and treating him cruelly. Second, He taught in a way that was simple and yet profound. A child could be taught the doctrines by Christ and understand perfectly and an educated adult could learn deep doctrines by pondering His words. He used objects and symbols that were familiar and He taught using parables. His wise use of parables helped people understand according to their level of understanding.

As I thought about parables while reading the New Testament, I realized that the more we are in tune with the Spirit, the more we can learn. There is a reason we are commanded and counseled to feast on the words of Christ. They will tell us all things that we should do. In 2 Nephi 32:3-5 it says,"Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what you should do. Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark. For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do."

This scripture makes it clear that we need to do more than listen or read. We have to sincerely want to know the doctrines of the kingdom and have a desire to live the commandments. In General Conference in October 2016 one of our leaders counseled us to not just read our scriptures so we can cross it off our to-do list, but read them so we can receive inspiration and strength from them. Elder Craig C. Christensen counseled us to read the Book of Mormon like we were Joseph Smith. Can you imagine what the teachings of the Book of Mormon would sound like if we had never heard them before? We would be filled with so much excitement and joy to know the truths of the gospel restored.  

As we read the scriptures, we can receive inspiration from the Holy Ghost. What we learn may not come from the words on the pages that we read, but from the still, small voice speaking to our heart. That is similar to how people in New Testament times learned from Christ's parables. One person, depending on their experience and understanding, could learn something different from another person. 

Leave Your Nets and Launch out into the Deep

There is a great example in the New Testament of how we can follow Jesus Christ. When Christ was going about preaching and ministering near the Sea of Galilee, he called out to Peter and Andrew, who were brothers, and said, "I am he of whom it is written by the prophets; follow me and I will make you fishers of men." The scriptures say that "they straightway left their nets and followed him" (Matthew 4:20). He then called out to James and John who were in a ship with Zebedee, their father, and they immediately left and and followed him.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said, "They were fishermen before they heard the call. Casting their nets into the Sea of Galilee, Peter and Andrew stopped as Jesus of Nazareth approached, looked into their eyes, and spoke the simple words, ‘Follow me.’ Matthew writes that the two fishermen ‘straightway left their nets, and followed him.’ … ‘If the Savior were to call you today, would you be just as willing to leave your nets and follow Him?’ I am confident that many would. …

“… We might define a net as anything that entices or prevents us from following the call of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. Nets in this context can be our work, our hobbies, our pleasures, and, above all else, our temptations and sins. In short, a net can be anything that pulls us away from our relationship with our Heavenly Father or from His restored Church.

I loved thinking about this idea of leaving our nets to follow the Savior. Were there things in my life I was not letting go of or holding onto that were keeping me from following the Savior completely? Were my priorities in the right order; where they should be? 

I thought about Peter and how successful he was at his business. He had not had much luck finding fish and Jesus told him to "launch out into the deep" (Luke 5:4). Peter told Christ that they had been fishing all day and hadn't caught anything, but agreed to do what Christ said. As they let down the nets, they found that such a great multitude of fishes were caught that the net was going to break. They called for another ship to come and there was enough fish to fill both ships until they were about to sink. 

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said the following about Peter: "Launch out into the deep! Peter could not have known the ever-widening circles that single command would make in the stream of his plain and simple life. He was launching out into the expanse of godliness, into the eternal possibilities of redeemed and celestial life. He would be learning the mysteries of the kingdom. He would be hearing unspeakable things. To launch out into that limitless sea of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Peter brought his craft to shore, turned his back on the most spectacular single catch ever taken from Galilee, ‘forsook all, and followed him."

There have been times in my life where I experienced a reward from leaving my net and following Christ. In one circumstance a desire in my heart was actually changed. It was amazing to me to find that with the help of the Savior, and trusting in Him, I was able to let go of things in my life without the slightest indication of missing them. When we have faith to let go of our nets, we can launch into the deep and enjoy the "expanse of godliness" the accompany so many wonderful things in this life.