Retaining a Remission

These last six weeks have opened up an opportunity for me and my kids to spend more time with the Come Follow Me church curriculum than in the previous year.

As our lives have calmed down substantially we've had more time for daily family study and I have been so grateful to see how even our small efforts have invited the spirit into our home, increased our understanding of truth, and strengthened our hearts. There really is life giving force in the study of the scriptures that comes from Jesus.

This last week I loved reading the sermon of King Benjamin in Mosiah chapters 4-6 and having time to record the ideas that came to my mind and heart. It was also a poignant week for us as we passed the 4th anniversary of Jacob's death. 4 years.

April is Jacob's month and there are hours and days that bring memories that are both sweet and sorrowful. It is so much better, time and life and Jesus have provided much healing but some of the scars on my heart will probably be there for as long as I live.

And that may be the beauty of the experience. Jesus chose to retain his scars in memory of what He suffered to bring about new life for each one of us. And as I seek for new life and purpose my own scars keep me close to the Savior and remind me of all that He experienced willingly and in agony to provide relief for my suffering. To ease and comfort my pain. To help me become like Him.

That is what I loved while reading Mosiah chapter 4 this week. The doctrinal discussion is powerful and important but one idea stood out among the others. In the chapter, the people of Mosiah fall to the earth and recognize their worthless and carnal state before God. Then they cry out for mercy and forgiveness and purification through Jesus Christ. The spirit comes to fill them with joy and peace of conscience and remission of sins. Then they are invited to live the principles of the gospel of Christ- to believe in Him, to repent, to call on His name daily, to live peaceably with others, to care for their children and and teach them God's laws.

This seems to be the life of a Christian- to believe in Christ, follow Him and teach our families about Him.

But then the invitation goes one step further- we are invited to succor those that stand in need of our succor. Mosiah reminds his people that "If God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right... O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another."

I don't believe this means just temporal substance. I think it means all of it- words, help, kindness, sympathy, time, basically anything and everything we have or possess that could provide help or relief to someone else should be employed.

Mosiah goes on in verse 26 to share that "for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God- I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants."

This was the truth that stood out clearly to me this week- that to keep us clean, to keep us with Him, God uses us to care for the people around us. From day to day. And the very act of our reaching out to help someone who is hurting, to spend time with someone who is in need, to administer relief in any way to another person in turn helps us. It cleanses us. It helps us retain a remission of our own sins and walk guiltless before God.

I am amazed at the economy of heaven.

As Elder Neal A. Maxwell once stated "In the economy of Heaven, God does not send thunder if a still, small voice is enough, of a prophet if a priest can do the job."

And the same is true for us. God does not need to send an angel when he can send a friend. He doesn't need to answer with lightening and thunder if a text, appropriately timed and sincerely expressed, can lift the heart of one who is hurting. And He does not need to personally visit us as we ache, when we can visit and encourage and help each other.

I can speak to this fact as the recipient of countless acts of kindness, love and sincere administration of relief. I was so encouraged this very week. Through messages people sent me, hugs I received, visits, help, packages, flowers, and prayers. I was sustained, again, by the loving kindness of people choosing to act and administer relief to me. I can't even type this without tears running down my cheeks. I am in awe at the goodness of God, His mercy and loving kindness that is so very evident in my own life. I am so so grateful to Him and to each of you. 

I know that God's love is over all of His children. He cares deeply and intimately for each one of us. He is there sending help and administering relief. I want to be someone that God can always count on to act for Him and to impart of my substance to provide relief, as others have acted for Him in my behalf. This is the way to retain a remission of our sins. It is the way to live a happy life. It is the way to Jesus.