Kindness and Unity

I am grateful for the teachings and example of Jesus Christ.  His love for each one of us is beyond our comprehension and He has asked us to “love one another.”  He called it a new commandment:

“That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”[1]

As we study the New Testament, we can see the Savior love others.  It’s evident in the way He spoke with individuals and groups.  He shows it in His service – providing both physical and spiritual nourishment.  He healed countless of the sick and afflicted, lightening their burden.  He was kind to those who were different, weren’t “chosen”, or treated Him poorly.  He forgave those who crucified Him.  Using the parable of the Good Samaritan, he taught what it meant to be a neighbor – to serve and help those who society may say should be our enemies.

The Apostle Paul taught:

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”[2]

I love what a modern Apostle of Jesus Christ taught regarding kindness.  Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said:

“Kindness is the essence of greatness and the fundamental characteristic of the noblest men and women I have known…It softens hearts and molds relationships that can last lifetimes.”[3]

We can feel that greatness that comes from kindness as we read the account of Jesus washing the dusty feet of His apostles and the way He lovingly ministered to those in Bountiful as recorded in the Book of Mormon.[4]

Along with a commandment “to love one another” as He loves us, the Savior has also commanded us to be one.  He was quite direct in the commandment:

“I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.”[5]

The adversary is making it particularly difficult at this time in history for us to be:

“Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” and to be of “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.”[6]

Today, along with all of our normal disagreements, we are faced with polarized opinions about how to deal with a global pandemic and significant racial issues.  Social media, rather than strengthening our ties, is in many cases the platform for callousness, cruelty, meanness, impatience, contention, provocation, and pride.  Too many individuals engage with the intent of proving one another wrong rather than to have a meaningful discussion.  Social media makes it easy for us to forget that we can be right about an issue, but still be wrong in how we treat one another.  I worry that we’re trading our love, kindness and unity for the sake of winning arguments.

The Lord gave us the perfect instructions on how to influence one another His way.  (I’m not going to lie, His way is difficult but actually effective.)

“No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood,[7] only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

“By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—

            “That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.

“Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith…”[8]

The Lord sets a high bar.  Frequently I find myself coming up short.  Too often I find myself reviewing what I said or wanted to say or write and realizing that my approach or my words don’t measure up to the Lord’s standard.[9]  With each failing, I hope to do a little better.

We have historical and scriptural proof that the Lord’s people can truly be one.  Remember the City of Enoch?

“And the Lord called his people ZION, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.”[10]

I can only imagine the sheer effort it took for them to achieve this, the amount of patience it took to have meaningful and productive conversations about topics such as helping the poor.  How did they do it?  Going back to the words of Elder Wirthlin, he said:

“Kindness should permeate all of our words and actions at work, at school, at church, and especially in our homes.”[11]

I am grateful for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and for the fellowship of the Saints.  I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve, worship and learn with individuals, children of God, who come from different backgrounds and experiences and have different views of the world.  I enjoy the opportunity to learn from them.  I hope and pray that I can find the strength to be more patient, long-suffering, gentle, meek, kind and loving in my communications.  If I do so, the Spirit will bless those communications and relationships.  And, if the Spirit is present, by revelation eternal truths “shall distill upon [our] souls as the dews from heaven”.[12] 

As we prepare to gather together again for sacrament meetings under the directions of our bishops, I pray that we can set aside differences and disagreements.  I pray that we can be patient and forgiving.  I pray that we can support, sustain, and uplift one another in our efforts to become like our Savior. 

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[1] John 13:34-35.

[2] Ephesians 4:32.

[3] Joseph B. Wirthlin, The Virtue of Kindness.  General Conference, April 2005.

[4] 3 Nephi 11:17.

[5] Doctrine and Covenants 38:27.

[6] Ephesians 4:3, 5.

[7] Note: Our priesthood office, Church callings, and gospel-understanding don’t automatically make us right on every other issue.  Even if we are correct about a particular issue, that doesn’t mean we should force our thoughts and opinions on others.  One, it’s not kind; and two, if we are right, it’s not an effective method for changing hearts and minds.

[8] Doctrine & Covenants 121:41-45

[9] Note: Looking back, I can see that I have never won a heated argument on social media.  I’ve only lost.

[10] Moses 7:18.

[11] See Wirthlin.

[12] Note: I expect to find out over and over that my thoughts and opinions are wrong on a number of issues.  While I know the Restored Gospel is true, I can’t even comprehend how little I actually know about anything in mortality.  I’ll do my best based on eternal principles and hope and trust that I will be taught and learn as I progress.

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood

A beautiful day for a neighbor

Would you be mine?

Could you be mine?

As so many others I enjoyed watching Mr. Rogers walk into his studio home, change his jacket for a sweater and his shoes for house slippers as he sang Won’t You Be My Neighbor?.  Of course, I watched enough to have the words of the song memorized and I always sang along without ever thinking much about the words.  I watched because I enjoyed the imaginative way of teaching and showing things.  Mr. Rogers always taught kindness through stories, using imagination and conversations on screen with a number of different guests.

It’s a neighborly day in this beautywood

A neighborly day for a beauty

Would you be mine?

Could you be mine?

With each story and interaction, I most often recognized the lesson being taught.  Sometimes it was a simple educational opportunity – knowledge about how the world works.  Invariably, however, the ultimate lessons were about kindness to one another regardless of our differences.

I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you

I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you

Because of his kindness, Mr. Rogers created a safe place for millions of children.  He taught lessons that many might not be learning otherwise.  He was a role model for children and adults alike.  He invited us to be his neighbor, to be his friend.  He let us know that he cared.

So let’s make the most of this beautiful day

Since we’re together, we might as well say

Would you be mine?

Could you be mine?

Won’t you be my neighbor?

Won’t you please

Won’t you please

Please won’t you be my neighbor?

Now, as an adult, looking back I’ve learned some new lessons about Fred Rogers.  As a child, he experienced first-hand unkindness from other children.  This helped him to be friend to himself and develop his imagination.  Most know he was an ordained Presbyterian minister, something he earned after starting his career in television.  I’ve listened to and read some of the things he’s said and written on and off of his famous show.

There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind.  The second way is to be kind.  The third way is to be kind.

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Because deep down we know that what matters in this life is much more than winning for ourselves.  What really matters is helping others win too, even if it means slowing down and changing our course now and then.

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I hope you’re proud of yourself for the times you’ve said “yes,” when all it meant was extra work for you and was seemingly helpful only to someone else.

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I believe that appreciation is a holy thing, that when we look for what’s best in the person we happen to be with at the moment, we’re doing what God does.  So, in loving and appreciating our neighbors, we’re participating in something truly sacred.

There’s that word again neighbors.  Why does he focus on asking us to be his neighbor?  Because as he’s lived the Greatest Commandment, he is also living the second greatest commandment.

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all they soul, and with all they mind.

“This is the first and great commandment.

“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself.” – Matthew 22:37-39

As Fred Rogers invited us, pleaded with us to be his neighbor, he was obeying the second great commandment.  He was following the example of Jesus Christ. He lived this commandment openly and fully.  The lesson for me is this.  We are all neighbors.  The second great commandment instructs and invites us to love everyone as we love ourselves.  It takes a deliberate effort.  It is ministering as the Savior ministered.  Like Mr. Rogers, we should be valiant and magnify our efforts to obey this commandment by expanding our circle by helping others to recognize they are our neighbors by loving them, by ministering to them.  

Larry Burns: Here Am I, Send Me

Here am I, Send Me…

In the doctrine and canonized scripture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there is a belief and understanding that before this Earth was created a Great Council was held.  This Council was led by God, our Heavenly Father.  The goal of the Council was to present to us, His spirit children, a plan that would allow us to progress and to become more like Him.  This plan involved us leaving His presence, to pass through a veil of forgetfulness and to have our spirits enter mortal bodies.  With these mortal, physical bodies, and with no clear memory of our pre-existence, each of us would be tested and tried to see if we would be faithful to return to our Heavenly Father and receive eternal life with Him.

Key to this plan was the fact that all of us would fall short of what was required to return to dwell with our Heavenly Father.  All of us would make mistakes and sin.  All of us would struggle with the appetites and weaknesses of a physical body.  In order for us to be cleansed, a Savior was required.  This Savior also would be required to receive a body, to face and experience all of the temptations, sufferings, and sorrows common to humanity…and to be perfect, to be clean.  This Atoning sacrifice would bring pain that we cannot comprehend.

The great Father of us all asked: “Whom shall I send?”

One of His Sons, who sought to glorify his Father and save and exalt the others, said: “Here am I, send me.”

The Father accepted the offering.  Jesus Christ came to Earth to save mankind.  In the Garden of Gethsemane, prior to His death, the pains and sorrows of humanity began to settle upon Him.  Twice He asked the Father if the “cup might not pass away from me.”  Both times He accepted the Father’s will and drank the bitter cup.

For the past week, as I thought of Larry Burns, I can’t help but think of how he emulates our Savior Jesus Christ.  Larry made the choice to be a law enforcement officer, to serve and protect the people of his community.  During that time Larry chose some of the most dangerous assignments by serving in and commanding the SWAT team.  Each day that he, and every other law enforcement officers, put on his or her uniform, they are offering up their lives on behalf of others. 

In the New Testament, Gospel of Matthew chapter 10 verse 39, we read:

“He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”

Each day, Larry willingly offered up his life, and because of that he found it in a life of service and influence.  His wife and children made the same sacrifice throughout his career.  Each day they walked out the door not knowing when or if he would come back home.

We also read in the New Testament, Gospel of John chapter 15 verse 13:

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

With each action and door entry as a member of SWAT, with each traffic stop, with each welfare check, or community engagement, Larry laid his life upon the altar for his friends, those he knew and those he didn’t.  Just because the Lord didn’t take the offered sacrifice, doesn’t diminish the value or sincerity of the offering.  Larry loved his friends.  His friends were his community.  His friends were everyone. 

With retirement, Larry didn’t pick up his offering and walk away.  His time, his talents, his resources, and his life remained upon the altar available to any who were in need.  Last week, God leaned over and picked up his sacrifice, taking Larry home to him.

For some reason, a few decades ago, Larry stood when he heard the call and said, “Here am I, send me.”  Then he said the same thing every day for the rest of his life.

Godspeed, Larry Burns.  God bless his family and loved ones.