Bearing One Another’s Burdens

I had a visiting teacher, once, who was always there for me. If I had a sudden need arise, I could call her and no matter if she had a cake in the oven, was still in her pajamas, or had had an exhausting day, she would drop anything and come. She was an amazing woman. And I knew that she loved me far beyond her calling to serve me as a visiting teacher.

I’m not that good. But I do know that the best way to show our love for God is to show love to each other. The Lord counts on us to be there for each other when He cannot personally, physically, be there to strengthen, comfort, and satisfy our needs.

At the Last Supper, Jesus plead: “Little children, yet a little while I am with you.…Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:33-34). In His absence, He gave his disciples each other.

Likewise, the Lord cares so deeply about us that He gave us each a Visiting Teacher (or two) to meet our needs. It is a marvelous plan created by a wise and loving Heavenly Father, that allows for both personal growth and succor during times of need. This plan is foiled, however when we either fail to serve or fail to accept service.

Do we know what the needs are of those we visit teach? Do we do our best to meet them? Or are we too busy, too distracted, or oblivious to their needs? Are the sisters you visit at church each Sunday? If not, do you know why?

On the other hand, how often do our needs go unmet because of pride? Do we choose to carry burdens alone that could be shared? Do we feel lonely, isolated, or discouraged? Does not God weep to see us struggle, our lack provided for yet refused?

We each have very busy, complex lives. Sometimes it may seem we barely have enough time or energy to take care of our own problems. But the choice to serve is just that—a choice. By obediently serving we unleash the power of God “to prepare a way… that [we] may accomplish the thing which he commandeth [us]” (1 Nephi 3:7). And having served, our own burdens will be lightened.

There, go find someone to love.

Obedience and Faith

"If we desire more faith, we must be more obedient.... Desire, hope, and belief are forms of faith, but faith as a principle of power comes from a consistent pattern of obedient behavior and attitudes" (Kevin W. Pearson, “Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,” Ensign, May 2009, 38–40).

Reading the scriptures, prayer, bearing testimony--these are methods of increasing faith that I've heard recommended. But this is a first. I have ever supposed that increased faith would answer in increased obedience, not vice versa.

But there is such wisdom and clarity--and possibility--in Elder Pearson's words: faith comes from obedience. Faith is one of those elusive qualities that are difficult to snare and even more difficult to ascertain that you've acquired it, but obedience sits right there in front of you, attended to or ignored. It's hard to push in the direction of faith, but being more obedient, more consistent in attitude and practices, more responsive to personal impressions and direction from leaders is discernible, finite, and quantifiable.

I want to have greater faith. I want to move mountains and cure ailments. I want to be stalwart, not wimpy, and bold, not tepid in my witness and habits of faith. And most certainly, I want to know mysteries.

"But unto him that keepeth my commandments I will give the mysteries of my kingdom, and the same shall be in him a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life" (D&C 63:23). And, remember, when Nephi saw his father's vision of the Tree of Life, he saw the rod of iron and understood it to be "the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life" (1 Nephi 11:25).

Tree of Life/Living Waters/Mysteries of the Kingdom/Love of God--it seems these are interchangeable and can be obtained by grasping the word of God and following where it leads. Obedience, in a word.

Worth getting out of bed a bit early to leave time for scripture study and prayer?

Worth magnifying a calling or giving up a Sabbath for?

I think so.