To be honest, I didn't think that I would have much insight or anything to share from the rest of Mormon. Just sadness, carnage, and loneliness of a prophet and his son. Sad stuff.
But, just now I read Mormon 9 and guess what? I can see how some things can apply to an actual situation that I've been facing with a family member. We've had, shall we say, a little tiff. Where I may or may not have been somewhat critical or chastising of them.
Verse 27: "and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him."... well, from this I take it I need to probably lay off and a) take my grievances to the Lord, humble MYSELF, and worry about my relationship with Heavenly Father first and b) let my family member work out THEIR OWN salvation instead of me getting all in their face and business. Hmph. I guess that put me in my place. We are our own agents. Particularly when I should honor and respect this family member quite significantly, I think that in this case... I am not responsible for their salvation. As a friend of mine once said about her husband who was, as she saw it, less observant than she: "I realized that he didn't need a Savior. He has a Savior. He needs me to love him. To be his wife, not his Savior." More love, more charity. Less chastisement. Okay, I see. It applies to me today.
and Verse 31: "Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection,..." Again, the same mercy which I hope to receive (and honestly have received) from this family member and from God, should be the same that I show unto him/her. I don't want to be condemned for my imperfections and neither should I condemn. Oy. I have been put in my place. And exactly at a time when I though these particular chapters were "yadee yada" - stuff that I thought was good but not applicable. How much I have to learn.
God is a God of miracles. He miraculously guides me and has mercy on me. Reminds me continually. Gets me through things. Is there for me. It's a miracle, especially considering all that He has on His plate.
This is a VERY interesting perpective! It makes so much sense.
ReplyDeleteWhile we all have a responsibility to help, encourage and teach each other along the way, ultimately, we are responsible for ourselves alone. We cannot force anyone else into salvation just because we want it for them.
This is good. Real good! (albeit kind of hard not to be able to force our loved ones to do exactly what we think they should do ;)