Validation and the Gospel Part 2

When I was a teenager, I only understood one part of repentance: I understood that following the Gospel means living according to the commandments, and that if we did not, then we should repent. We should seek to make our wrongs right, and where we cannot, then we should seek to live better and have faith that the Savior can heal the difference. In all cases, we should seek His forgiveness and work to live better.

Those principles helped me then and they still help me now, and attempting to live them has helped me learn another powerful truth: I can be better tomorrow than I am today. Not all changes happen overnight; perhaps none of the most important ones do, but trying to live the Gospel has helped me see that I have great potential as a child of God, and that I can be better every day.

Specifically, the process of trying to become a little better has showed me that I do not have to repeat the same mistakes indefinitely. It isn't "just how I am" unless I continue to make the same choices I have made in the past. I don't have to be angry and I don't have to be in pain if I can find the strength to choose differently. Repentance doesn't make it all easy, but over the years it has helped me see significant changes that make me happier with who I am. I'm grateful for these chances to continuously become a better version of myself.

Validation and the Gospel Part 1

One thing that I think everyone wants is to feel validated. We want to feel that our lives are meaningful, and that we have value. This can manifest itself in positive ways, such as generosity and selfless service, as well as in negative ways, such as constantly needing to be recognized as the smartest, the most attractive, the funniest, the tallest, the strongest, or the richest, etc in order to have self-esteem and feel good about ourselves.

The Gospel offers an eternal truth that should help us all feel validated. Once, after a vision, Moses felt weak and alone, being pulled back into the world. He felt humbled at the difference between his normal life and the celestial vision he'd experienced, so Satan came to tempt him, seeking to turn the feelings of humility into weakness:

12 ... Satan came tempting him, saying: Moses, son of man, worship me.

13 And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee?

 Moses knew that he - as we all are - was a child of God. He understood that this divine parentage means that each of us have tremendous potential, and he knew that 'son of man' was a lie: a tempting half-truth of a lie, but a lie nonetheless. As I have understood the Gospel more and more, and especially as I have prayed and sought answers, I have understood that God is my Father and that He loves me because I am His child. I know this is true of every person on the earth, and that if we open seek Him, we will find Him and learn of His love. It has helped me to feel validated.

The Healing Power of the Gospel

I want to preface this post by calling out that nothing replaces medicine. When we are sick - whether mentally or physically - we should seek appropriate medical treatment. Modern medicine is - in my estimation - a gift from God to help us be healed of and comforted during the effects of many physical ailments; therapy can help people examine their lives in new ways and change in ways that people often cannot do by themselves. Lastly, faith in God includes doing what we can as well as seeking His blessings. That being said:

The Gospel of Jesus Christ provides healing. Christ took upon Him every unfair and unjust thing that would ever happen in the world so that He could heal us from it. As taught in Alma 7:11-12:

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

Those "pains and afflictions ad temptations of every kind" include the traumatic events that happen in life. They include personal tragedies and heartbreak, mental anguish, loneliness, depression, anxiety, betrayal, being forgotten, suffering due to a loved one's sins, and even being a victim of those whose duty it is to nurture and protect. Christ suffered these things "according to the flesh" and "His bowels are filled with mercy" on our behalf. As a result, He can understand what others cannot, and He is mighty to save, even from overwhelming anguish and suffering.

Our Father in Heaven knew that we would not be perfect and provided a Savior for us as part of the Plan of Salvation so that we could repent and return to Him. By the same token, He knew that we some of our sufferings would change us; if not healed, these traumas can limit us, affect our relationships, or otherwise stunt our growth and well-being. Just as the Savior can forgive sins, He can heal our hearts and minds and to right the wrongs of life. I have felt this healing power in my own life and I have seen it in others. I am grateful for the Risen Lord, and for His great patience and love. I know that He loves us and wants to heal us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Forgiving Ourselves

Something I've seen too much of in my life is people holding onto guilt for years and years about something they've done wrong, or something that happened which they wish they could've prevented, feel they should've prevented, or otherwise holding onto regrets and pains of the past.

I believe that Christ suffered to so that He could help us move beyond these feelings of guilt and continue forward in life; I also can't really think of times in my own life where continuously beating myself up has been a helpful, uplifting experience. I can't really think of a place where it helped someone I knew either. I believe the scriptures teach us some principles to help us move forward. From Isaiah 53:4-5:

4 ¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Many times I've read this scripture and thought only about achieving forgiveness, but it plainly states that our Savior suffered for our sins, our sorrows, griefs, iniquities, and so that we might have peace. He wants us to allow Him to carry these burdens rather than for us to endlessly flagellate ourselves for how we mess up. Rather than carry guilt forever, the Savior would have us "go, and sin no more."

As I prepare to celebrate Easter later this month, I want to take greater advantage of the Savior's efforts for our peace. For me, in many cases it's deciding to have faith that if I do my best - because the Gospel isn't meant to make us give up or defer responsibility - that the Lord can make up the difference between my best and what is good enough.