Christ went about doing good

my Sacrament Meeting Talk, given on 9/12/2010

In our last General Conference, Elder Neal Anderson brought to our attention, the importance of reading and studying the stories of Christ and speaking of them often. Elder Anderson said, “The stories of Jesus shared over and over bring faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strength to the foundation of testimony.”

We’ve been reading the NEW Testament each morning as a family. Following Elder Anderson’s encouraging words, we’ve been trying to “make Christ real.” Last week, after reading the parable of the house built upon the rock and the house built upon the sand, we discussed the differences between a rock and sand. The kids suggested that a rock is immovable and solid, where the sand can be easily manipulated, moved and changed. Then, we compared ourselves to the rock and the sand. Each morning, as the babes go off to school, after I call out, “I love you! Make good choices!” and now they’ve added, “And be a rock! They got it! Making Christ our rock, keeping the commandments and being obedient like Him, we can be Rocks too!

I add my own testimony to Elder Anderson’s that the more we speak of Christ and rejoice in Christ, the more our testimonies of Him grow! As we study His life, we discover many of his marvelous traits and characteristics. Our own personal study of His experiences in life help us understand that He was real, he lived life, just as we are and his experiences helped Him understand our feelings and emotions.

I’d love to share just a few examples from the life of our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, that are applicable to each of us in the world today:

As Christ was teaching his disciples, we read “Mark 8:1-3. He could have sent them on their way to fend for themselves. He had just spent 40 days and 40 nights on a mountain, fasting himself. He could have said, “I did this for 40 days, you could go one more.” Yet, he fed them. We all know the story. He took the five loaves and the two small fishes and blessed them and he fed 5000 people with seven baskets leftover. Imagine how tired He must have gotten from the hours of preaching, serving and listening to everyone’s issues, even just the effort of being surrounded and pressed by the crowds would have been draining on him, physically and emotionally, Yet, he never said, “Enough.” He put the needs of those around him before his own.

What can we gain from this story? As members of the church, we’re asked to “feed the hungry“, to serve and sacrifice of our time and talents. We’re frequently asked to step out of our comfort zones, to give when we are tired or feeling poor or hungry. Most everyone in this room would be willing BUT. do we make it conditional? I’m so busy, I’m so tired, I’ve got other things that are more important, Why can’t they do it themselves? Why do they always ask me to do everything? OR. Do we do it, willingly, without murmuring. Do we do as the Savior taught and “go the extra mile”?

When my mother thought she had the flu and was diagnosed with Phase 4 Colon Cancer, there were many extra miles spent in behalf of my family. Within 30 minutes of the doctor’s shocking phone call and for the next 12 days, while I was by Mom’s side in the hospital in St. George, not once did I have to worry about my family, nor did I have to even ask. Meals were brought in, kids cared for, help was rendered. Mom came to live with us, during her recovery and chemotherapy, to have family near. When I approached Mike Lynch and asked him to “keep his ears open” for a possible home for Mom. Done! A home just five houses away.

Two weeks later, while Doug and I, along with friend, Denise, who left her family twice to help bring Mom home and then to help move her belongings, were in Mesquite, to move Mom’s things here to Smithfield, we called upon a quorum of Elders in a ward where we knew no one to come and assist. That same morning, who pulled up but Scott and Hollie Downs and their children, who live right up the street from us here in Smithfield. On their way home from DISNEYLAND over spring break. It was as though they were in fastforward speed, helping us finish packing and the entire truck was loaded before the Elders Quorum even arrived. Up since 5AM, driving from California, working all day, then driving another seven hours in time to make it to church the next morning. That’s more than going about doing good. That's even more than the extra mile.

Doug hates when I talk about him, but I share this example from my good husband. Yesterday, Doug’s brother called and asked for some help. While I was thinking of all the things on my to do list that I needed Doug’s help with, he didn’t hesitate and said, “I’d love to, Danny. Thanks so much for asking!” I appreciate my husband’s good example in appreciating the opportunity to serve.

I would like to mention another story and example from our Savior’s life. As Christ entered the temple courtyard, a group of scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who was caught in an adulterous act to Him. They asked Jesus if she should be stoned to death for her sin.
Jesus stooped down, as though he hadn‘t heard them and finger wrote something on the ground . When they pressed Him for an answer, He said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her”. One by one her accusers left, “being convicted by their own conscience“, until Jesus was alone with the woman. Jesus stood up, looked around, and turned to the woman. “Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
“She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. And the woman glorified God from that hour, and believed on his name.” (John 8:7–11)

The Savior did not condone the woman’s sin, but neither did He condemn her. He acknowledged her wrongdoing, but did not judge her to be an evil person or wish to see her punished. Jesus Christ set the pattern when He said, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven”.

Do we turn our backs on one who has sinned or point an accusing finger or gossip about another’s transgression? Christ reached out in love to the woman, as we should reach out to others.

Christ went about doing good… teaching us love, compassion, and understanding. His entire ministry exemplified love of neighbor. He healed a blind man, he raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead, he cleansed the lepers.

A few weeks ago, our family read the story of Jesus healing the leper. We discussed how the leper’s life must have changed…he could work again, he would no longer have to beg for food. He could return to his family and friends. Imagine his joy!

I can’t help but think of those that are inflicted with maladies of today’s world. Not a physical illness, like leprosy, but the spiritual illnesses that occur in the lives of those who’ve fallen away from the gospel or never found it yet. Do we reach out and touch those people? Or do we stand back in judgement? Not even judging that they are “bad”, but assuming that they would “never even listen” or be interested in the gospel?

Years ago, I had the opportunity to serve as a stake missionary. While tracting, the elders met two male partners who were living together. One had never heard of the church of them . The other actually been had been baptized as a child and they welcomed the Elders to return. I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in teaching them the discussions. When we got to the Law of Chastity, the elders, being young 19 year old boys, were mortified at the thought of sharing the importance of chastity to these two men who were living such a contrary lifestyle. I will never forget the words that one responded after the young Elder had explained the law of chastity to him and asked him, “Will you follow the teachings of Jesus Christ example by living the law of Chastity?” He began to cry and said, “If the Savior can do what he did for me, how could I not do what he’s asked in return?” He was baptized shortly after that. Like the leper and the adulterous woman, his life was changed because of the touch of the Master's hand.

Sometimes we alienate others, albeit ever so subtle, for whatever reasons…physical appearance, lifestyle, poor choices… without even considering that our acceptance of them could be the very thing that invites them back or into the gospel. Think of the leper and the many touched by the Savior's hand and how their his life changed by the touch of the Saviors hand. Those same affects can take place in the life of someone who’s been welcomed, accepted, loved. Their lives, too, can be turned toward the light of gospel by our touch.

Jesus taught us, by his example, over and over, to love our neighbor. And everyone was a neighbors to Christ. The woman at the well. The blind man. The man who had many devils. The hungry. The poor. He extended His hand to all. I could not give this talk without sharing the scripture ,“Mt 25:40. “In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

We learn of his compassion, love and tenderness, as we read in Third Nephi when the Savior visited the Nephites after his crucifixion and resurrection. He prayed unto the Father. And then, in verse 20, he said unto them, “Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now, behold my joy is full. And when he had said these words, he wept.”

His joy was full. He wept with love and compassion. Think of times in your own life when your joy was so full that you wept. I remember the joy and love that I felt the day that Doug and I watched our daughter Liza, kneel at the altar in the Logan Temple to marry her eternal sweetheart. Anyone who’s seen their children marry in the temple, knows of this joy.
When we were able to finally kneel around the Holy Altar with our babes to be sealed as an eternal family, after all the years of waiting for the adoption to be completed. Words could not describe that experience. That day, we, too, wept with joy. And we all grew from the experiences that brought us to that point.

Christ, himself, grew because of the things that he experienced in His life upon the earth. He IS real. He lived upon the earth, faced challenges and pain and joy, just as we do. He lived then and he lives still in His exalted state.

His love for us is unconditional and individual. He loves and cares for each and every one of us. He willingly wore the crown of thorns for us because he’d made promises to His Father.

The example of the Savior to keep his covenants with Heavenly Father set the bar. We can never match Him in this life, but we can attempt on a daily basis, as we serve others, as we accept and willingly are not only “called” his people, but act like them as well, so that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon us.

And finally, we can not discuss the Savior “going about doing good” without mentioning his generosity…the ultimate gift and sacrifice…the Atonement. He was the only sinless person to ever live, yet He gave the ultimate sacrifice, his life, so that we could all return to Heavenly Father. As we sang during the Sacrament today, "A sinless ransom for our sake."

Each of us needs to gain our own testimony of the reality and importance of Christ’s mission. As we do, we can appreciate how Christ has made eternal life possible for each of us. Only through service, study and obedience to his commandments can we come to know Him ourselves.

Quoting President Monson, "He was the teacher of truth. He was the example of the perfect life. He is the literal Savior of the world, the Son of God. He is the light and the life of the world. He is our advocate to our Father in Heaven." He is all this because he went about doing good.