The theme of this conference is "having a heart like his." For several weeks this question RAN through my mind - WHAT SCRIPTURE OF PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURES CLEARLY EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT KIND OF HEART THE SAVIOR HAD? Of course there are many but this one came to the forefront.
If you will, I would like to turn your memory to 3rd Nephi. The Savior has been crucified and the entire earth has suffered. The people on the American continent have just seen destruction and death like they never could have imagined. Then it happens….In Chapter 10 The Savior appears and teaches the righteous that have been spared.
For 7 chapters He ministers to them. He gives them hope through covenants he has made with their fathers, the Atonement and the plan of Salvation. He lays out a path for their return to live with Heavenly Father again. He calls the 12 so that when He leaves they will be watched over. As if this already did not show the kind of love that the Savior has for God's Children, in chapter 17 it gets personal.
He announces my TIME IS UP. He needs to go back to the Father as the footnote states. But because of the love that He felt for these people, He couldn't leave just yet. It states:
3 Nephi 17:5-7
5. And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude ,and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.
6. And he said unto them: Behold, my bowels are filled with COMPASSION towards you.
7. Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have COMPASSION upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy.
Because The Savior loved these people, he used His EYES to LOOK for ways to help and then He used his HANDS to BLESS them.
When it comes down to it, I think we would like to do the exact same thing, but sometimes we have SPIRITUAL CATARACTS on our eyes and BOXING GLOVES on our hands.
Let me illustrate with a couple of stories:
1. Several Years ago in a World Wide Leadership Meeting to Patriarchs, President Hinckley recounted the following story:
I remember some years ago interviewing a patriarch in California. He was a railroad switchman, working with men who certainly were not known for their spirituality. He was a large man physically; I remember I was impressed with his size. He told me this experience.
He said, “I was having difficulty getting the spirit of my work as a patriarch. I struggled for it. I prayed for it. One day when I was working in the railroad yard, the noon whistle blew. I got my lunchbox and went over and sat on a pile of railroad ties to eat. I looked at my lunch. It included two big sandwiches, fruit dessert and drinks. As id did so, something seemed to say to me ‘you are a glutton. How can you expect the Spirit of the Lord to bless you?’
He said, “I was a glutton. I enjoyed eating more than anything else. I overate. I came to realize that I must change my ways that I could get by with eating less .
This Man's passion for food was blurring His Vision to the point that he did not want to "look for ways to bless,". Is there anything in our lives that has become such a passion that it is all we think about, look for, or concentrate on, GIVING US SPIRITUAL CATARACTS so that we cannot see the needs of the people that surround us?
Story #2
My dad grew up in a small mining community in Northern Idaho. It was called Burke Canyon. The people that lived in Burke were a tight knit group. They had an elementary school, but once they reached the 7th grade they were required to go to the big town of Wallace for school.
My dad was always rather large for his age and had a protruding and sometimes terrifying Jaw. His older brother, was always littler than he was.
Well, when my dad became old enough and started attending school in Wallace, it became quickly apparent that the big city kids liked to pick fights with the lowly Burke Canyon kids….and his brother Morgan was an easy target.
Out of necessity, my dad learned to box and for several years protected the Burke Canyon kids. Until the day he died he had a fierce reputation with his classmates. However, what was born of necessity soon became a passion. HE WAS GOOD. He had quick hands, superior strength, and a brilliant mind. As his boxing skills developed so did his temper, he would fight at the drop of a hat, and always win. He began entering competitions. This carried through as he graduated from High school and enlisted in the Navy.
One particular day, after winning a boxing match, it dawned on him. He loved to FIGHT. He loved Hurting people. And he realized that he had no other way of solving problems. When something was wrong, the only way to fix it was to fight.
His passion for fighting had tied his HANDS. What began as a compassionate act to protect became a passion that left very little room in his heart to love other people.
Have we ever limited our opportunities to help someone because of harsh words that quickly escaped our mouth, or quick judgments that blurred our vision?
Now lest you think the story ends there, my dad's boxing career ended that day. His heart softened, and shortly after, he joined the church. And to further tutor him in COMPASSION, the Lord sent him 6 daughters and NO SONS. Boxing was never to be thought of again.
Now the 3rd and final story:
When Spencer W. Kimball was the Prophet, a woman named Susan lived in his ward. Susan was a wonderful seamstress. One Sunday, Susan noticed that President Kimball had a new suit. Her father had recently returned from a trip to New York and had brought her some exquisite silk fabric. Susan thought that fabric would make a handsome tie to go with President Kimball’s new suit. So on Monday she made the tie. She wrapped it in tissue paper and walked up the block to President Kimball’s home.
On her way to the front door, she suddenly stopped and thought, “Who am I to make a tie for the prophet? He probably has plenty of them.” Deciding she had made a mistake, she turned to leave.
Just then Sister Kimball opened the front door and said, “Oh, Susan!”
Stumbling all over herself, Susan said, “I saw President Kimball in his new suit on Sunday. Dad just brought me some silk from New York . . . and so I made him a tie.”
Before Susan could continue, Sister Kimball stopped her, took hold of her shoulders, and said: “Susan, never suppress a generous thought.”
Does our PASSION to not look foolish ever prevent us from being kind?
I have told 3 simple stories that illustrate the same principle. And although food, anger, or pride may not be the things you and I struggle with, the principle is still the same. We all have things that blurr our vision and tie our hands on a daily basis. They are called PASSIONS. When passions go unchecked, they squeeze out any room in our hearts to love and serve.
So what do we do when we have a very human heart, that wants to be as kind and loving as the Savior's?
When talking to his son Shiblon, Alma gave him this timeless advice: See that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; Alma 38:12
This is a 2 party scripture. The first party is us. Bridling our passions requires some sort of action on our part.
The second party is the Savior. When we have acted, HE fills our heart with love.
In short, we DON'T CHANGE OUR OWN HEART, WE ACT IN FAITH, AND THE SAVIOR CHANGES IT FOR US.
For example:
Shortly after graduating from High School, I engaged in a conflict with one of my sisters that lasted for quite a while. Each time the two of us were in the same room, I could do little to prevent myself from saying something that ignited a firestorm. One day my dad and I were traveling to the airport and he began to question my motives for being so angry. I explained the entire scenario to him, and after hearing the whole thing, I think he thought I had a case. HOWEVER, he then gave me some great advice.
"Kathryn, I know you are mad, but it isn't doing anything good for you. "If you will stop saying it, you will stop feeling it." (Picture just like the scripture picture, me and then the Savior.)
I had to act, and THEN the Lord would change my heart.
You may remember this story from the April 2010 General Conference retold by Birshop Keith B. McMullin:
In Holland during World War II, the Casper ten Boom family used their home as a hiding place for those hunted by the Nazis. Four members of the family lost their lives for providing this refuge. Corrie ten Boom and her sister Betsie spent horrific months in the infamous Ravensbrück concentration camp. Betsie died there—Corrie survived.
In Ravensbrück, Corrie and Betsie learned that God helps us to forgive. Following the war, Corrie was determined to share this message. On one occasion, she had just spoken to a group of people in Germany. Her message was “God forgives.”
A man approached her. She recognized him as one of the cruelest guards in the camp. “You mentioned Ravensbrück in your talk,” he said. “I was a guard there. … But since that time, … I have become a Christian.” He extended his hand and asked, “Will you forgive me?”
“It could not have been many seconds that he stood there—hand held out—but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do.
“… ‘Help me!’ I prayed silently. ‘I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling.’
“… Woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. As I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes.
“‘I forgive you, brother!’ I cried. ‘With all my heart.’
“I had never known God’s love so intensely, as I did then.”
If we would like the Savior to change our hearts, it is going require some action on our part. And luckily for us, the Savior is mindful of even the smallest action.
To close your mouth when you would really like to say something!
To open your mouth, when you would really NOT like to say something.
To turn off the computer.
To walk away from the chocolate aisle when we would really like to drown our sorrows in a 2 lb bag of M&M's.
The list at this point should become personal.
As the Lord is aware of our downfalls, He is also very aware of our successes. And gratefully, He always keeps His promise. If we ACT, bridle our passions, even in the smallest measure, he will "supply the feeling."
If you made it to the end congratulations! The power point that went with it was impressive too :) Just because it showed pictures of my dad! Life is good!
