Tag: love

Finding Unity in Diversity

Original entry 24 January, 2021


One challenge we face today is finding unity amongst diversity of our beliefs, backgrounds, cultures, goals, and desires. How can we seek for unifying ideas in such a time as this? The answer may lie within past experiences and words spoken by historical figures, lyricists, and everyday people.


What will happen if individuals continue to interact with hostility towards others? Martin Luther King Jr. described the end result of our interactions if we approach one another with hatred and anger when he stated,


“Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? [2010], 64-65


Rather than focusing time and energy on hating others because of different beliefs and values, we can root out the hatred and anger by choosing instead to love others. Jesus Christ exemplified perfect love for all races, kindreds, tongues, and people. Why not choose to do love others as He did?
It’s hard to love someone who may declare your views as wrong, senseless, ancient, sinful, or godless, but it’s even harder to love someone when you’re choosing to be intolerant of them as a human being. When faced with differing opinions or views, why not give a listening ear without choosing to criticize, hate, or retaliate? In an article published online in The Liahona, Lori Fuller Sosa brings awareness to the following idea:

“If we could just listen without trying to change someone’s mind, I think we’d be surprised what we might learn” (2019).

Imagine if we all followed this line of thinking. Would it bring more unity?
Nearly 50 years ago, John Lennon once speculated the outcome of our world if we put our differences behind us and sought to live on earth, harmoniously.

You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be as one.
Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can. No need for greed or hunger. A brotherhood of man. Imagine all the people, sharing all the world.
You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be live as one.
Original Lyrics by John Lennon taken from Pass It On


Notice how Lennon erases the concept of greed and hunger. Is this what divides the nations? Money and power?

In 1976, Howard W. Hunter stated,

“It is the proposition that everyone has a price, that material things finally matter most, that ultimately you can buy anything in this world for money.”

It’s true, you can have anything in this world for money, but at what cost? Is a life not worth so a great a value? In Lennon’s lyrics, he shifted the focus from earthly possessions to a “brotherhood of man.” Placing pleasures and monetary value above human life will not unify us. It will divide us. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? …[W]hat shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36–37.)


Many powerful leaders have sought to eradicate the existence of the poor, the mentally ill, and the races that were not considered elite in their eyes. In God’s eyes, we are all His children. He created us equally. It is not Christ’s doctrine to divide us or to bring contention. This is not from Christ. Christ’s teachings seek to uplift, unify, edify, and inspire all to love.

As The Savior taught,

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.

John 13:34-35

I know for myself the impact pure Christlike love can have on an individual. I hated religion and any person who preached their beliefs. I discovered that I believed, these religious people thought they were so much better than me. I was judging. The same thing I didn’t like about religion, I was still practicing.

I came to see that I was not loving. I was a very judgmental person. I carried so much hatred, yet it was a religious person who showed me pure Christlike love and did not judge me for my choices, my mistakes, or my beliefs. Charity, the pure love of Christ has the power to change hearts. This love has changed life.


In moving forward to seek unity in diversity, the following question posed nearly 200 years ago, may be relatable to today:

In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it?

Joseph Smith


We all share differing perspectives, opinions, and beliefs but ultimately, the way we can seek unity in diversity is to love one another as Christ has loved us. This is my prayer for each of us in the world today. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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How Do We Move Forward in Love and Unity Amongst Diversity? 

Back in Nov 2020, on the radio program, Top of Mind with Julie Rose, Pastor Oscar T. Moses, from Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City,Utah, USA, shared his background as a police officer in Chicago, what it meant to receive a call to ministry, and perspectives on race and faith in the time of Black Lives Matter.

On the show, Pastor Moses describes his experience in the PD, including witnessing people who were treated as if their lives didn’t matter because of the perspective coming from the police officers. Some of these officers came from war, and they viewed citizens in a similar way, as the enemy.

He discussed that there comes a point when you have to speak up, for if you have a voice and you don’t speak up, you become complicit. 

He relates the modern affliction and devastation that many face today to the ancient judaic roots of the human family saying,

“From the biblical perspective, I see the scriptures from a harmonudic perspective. The lenses of those who have been marginalized. I can relate to the children of Israel coming out of the flesh pots of egypt.

“We are preaching in the midst [of many who are suffering from all manner of ailments]. Christ was in the midst of poor people, hurting people, those who didn’t receive equal distribution of wealth or power. I preach to the gospel that comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comforted.”

Moses, 2020

The challenge today is finding unity amongst diversity of beliefs, backgrounds, goals, and desires. Martin Luther King Jr., described the end result if our goals are approached with hatred and anger when he stated,

“Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? [2010], 64-65

Loving others is not easy. Pure religion, as described by James, who is writing to the 12 tribes of Israel (James 1:1), aka us, is this, “To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world (1:27).

How do we move forward during these times of tribulation, calamities, and a spectrum of illness, trauma, addiction, and affliction especailly when the way we associate has changed? 

Robert D.Hales once advised David A. Bednar with these words, “When you cannot do what you have always done, then you only do what matters most.” 

What does this mean? Search, ponder, and pray. I believe it is different for each person, which would require the ability to receive personal revelation from the Lord. He will guide you. Believe He is guiding you. Trust that he will guide you. This is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.


Sources

http://byuradiostage.byu.edu/episode/4eb6e3b7-4026-495d-95e4-49afa0b8e2d5/in-good-faith-pastor-oscar-t-moses

Unity in Diversity

One challenge today is finding unity amongst diversity of beliefs, backgrounds, cultures, desires, goals, and ideas. How can we seek for unifying ideas in such a time as this? The answer may lie within past experiences and words spoken by historical figures, lyricists, and everyday people.

First, what will happen if individuals continue to interact with hostility towards others? Martin Luther King Jr. described the end result of our interactions if we approach one another with hatred and anger in the following statement:

“Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? [2010], 64-65

Rather than focusing time and energy on emotionally-charged arguments and disagreements because of different beliefs and values, we can root out the hatred and anger by choosing, instead, to love others regardless of differences. Jesus Christ exemplifies perfect, infinite, and eternal love for all and teaches us to “love one another;” He reminds us through his example that as he loves us and all members of the human family, he expects us to do the same.

It is hard to love someone who may declare your views as wrong, senseless, ancient, sinful, or godless, but it is even harder to love someone when you choose to be intolerant of them as a human being for your own reasons. When faced with differing opinions or views, why not listen without choosing to criticize, hate, or retaliate? In an article published in The Liahona, Lori Fuller Sosa brings awareness to the following idea: “If we could just listen without trying to change someone’s mind, I think we’d be surprised what we might learn.” Imagine if we all followed this line of thinking. Would it bring more unity?

Another idea, brought to the center of media through John Lennon’s lyrics nearly 50 years ago, speculates on the outcome of our world if our lives were rid of earthly goods, and we sought to live on earth, harmoniously.

You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be as one.

Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can. No need for greed or hunger. A brotherhood of man. Imagine all the people, sharing all the world.

You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be live as one.

Original Lyrics by John Lennon taken from Pass It On

Notice how Lennon erases the concept of greed and hunger. Is this what divides the nations? Money and power? In 1976, Howard W. Hunter stated, “It is the proposition that everyone has a price, that material things finally matter most, that ultimately you can buy anything in this world for money.” This “false but fundamental proposition,” removes our hearts far from loving others and prioritizes lustful and prideful pursuits. In Lennon’s lyrics, he shifted the focus from temporal possessions to a “brotherhood of man.” Ultimately, placing pleasures and monetary value above our need to care for the poor, the hungry, and the needy will divide us. (This refers to the need to care for those within our reach, including ourselves. This can refer to being poor, hungry, and needy in a physical, mental, and spiritual sense.). Conversely, coming together and unifying our efforts to support the weak and the weary can create unity (Again, “weak” and “weary” can refer to ourselves as we face trial, hardship, addiction, and affliction and other daily needs; see also the words given by a compassionate leader during a time when contention did not exist in one nation).

It can be difficult to unify with others if we hold hostility or a grudge toward others for their wrongdoings toward us. I had the the important reminder recently to forgive others. Even ourselves. We may feel wronged by another’s actions, which can in turn create vengeful feelings. How can we move past anger, hatred, bitterness, or retaliation if we retain resentment within our hearts? To illustrate the importance of forgiveness, consider the following experience:

When the [Jesus] taught His disciples what to do when they felt offended or received trespasses (see Matt. 18:15–35), it seemed to them to be a new doctrine. “If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother” (Matt. 18:15). The Savior’s words about forgiving others required a significant adjustment in attitude. They had been schooled in the notion of “an eye for an eye” (Matt. 5:38; see Lev. 24:20). Peter, wanting to be sure he understood the meaning of the teaching, asked, “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?” (Matt. 18:21). Peter was probably aware of the rabbinical requirement that the offender make the first move to resolve the offense and that the offended person forgive only two or three times (See James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, 3rd ed. (1916), 391–93).

Jesus answered with clarity, “I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven” (Matt. 18:22). In other words, there must be no constraints, numerical or otherwise, placed on our forgiveness of others.

The Savior then told His disciples a parable so that they might more fully appreciate, remember, and apply the lesson that we must forgive everyone (see Matt. 18:23–32).

Cecil O. Samuelson Jr., “Words of Jesus: Forgiveness,” Ensign or Liahona, Feb. 2003, 28

This is the story of the servant who owed the king 10,000 talents. This debt has been compared to an astronomical amount of money. According to one source, a single talent weighed 75.5 pounds or approximately 34.24 kilograms (Reader’s Digest Atlas of the Bible (Pleasantville, New York: The Reader’s Digest Association, 1981), pp. 24–25; J. D. Douglas, The New Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company), 1962, p. 1320). Another source shows a talent equated to 6000 denarii which each denarius was a silver coin that weighed 60 grains (Gehman, pp. 631–32.). In 1987, “at $5.42 an ounce, the silver in one denarius would be worth almost 68¢… Thus, a talent would come to slightly under $4,080” (1 grain = 0.00228571 ounces; 60 grains of silver = 0.13714286 ounces of silver).

In 2021, this talent would be worth more.The servant was not able to repay the debt, so the king ordered him and his family to be sold into slavery. The desperate servant petitioned for time and patience, promising to pay all. Touched by his sincerity, the king was moved with compassion and forgave his very large debt. The servant, therefore, fell down and worshiped him.

This same servant, who had just been the recipient of the king’s wonderful act of mercy and forgiveness, immediately went in search of a fellow servant who owed him 100 pence, the probable equivalent of a few U.S. dollars. He rudely demanded immediate payment. When the fellow servant pleaded for time and patience, the first servant was not willing to extend what he had just freely received from the king. He had his fellow servant cast into prison until he could pay the debt. This callous act was observed by other servants and duly reported to the king. “And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.” Jesus then added this postscript, “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses” (Matt. 18:34–35).

We all share different perspectives, ideas, beliefs, and values. I once shared the view of hatred towards nearly everyone I met. I came to see, I was not listening, I was not loving, and my main cares and concerns lied within the walls of a mall, and the latest trends in music and apparel, not in my neighbor or myself. Though I struggle at times to love others as the Savior did, I am trying. This love has changed my life. I know for myself the impact pure Christlike love can have on an individual. This love has the power to change hearts, so that we can become one as Christ taught us to become. Ultimately, we can seek unity in diversity as we strive to love one another, listen to each other, and shift our focus from material wants to care for those around us and, as a famous lyricst sings, “live as one.“

Cecil O. Samuelson Jr., “Words of Jesus: Forgiveness,” Ensign or Liahona, Feb. 2003, 28

See John Lennon’s video here (30) Imagine – YouTube

Step 2 – Hope

_______________________________________________________________________

Dear Struggling Soul,

You are not alone in your fight for truth.

You are not alone in your constant battle with addiction.

You are not alone in wanting to end it all.

I Promise there is hope.

___________________________________________________________________________

I just finished watching Love Kennedy which is a true story about Kennedy Hansen’s experience with a very rare disease, Juvenile Batten Disease. I’ve never experienced such deep emotion over a film. Words fail to express the beautiful finite details of her life that were so intricitaley woven together to bring truth, peace, love, joy and understanding to those around her and anyone who knows her story.

At one point in the film, all the cheer leaders were gathered in a circle discussing their challenges. When they came to Kennedy and asked her what her challenges were, she simply responded, “none.” The cheer coach thought she didn’t understand the question due to her declining health, blindness, and mental deteoriation, but Kennedy repeated the same response when the coach again asked her about her challenges.

We all have challenges, we all face hardship, and some survive unspeakable trauma. From mental health, physical health, sickness, death, infinite forms of abuse, murder, violence, suicide, human trafficking, bullying, infedility, divorce, homelessness, poverty, hunger, and addiction. The trials,the hurt, and the pain seems endless.

I can relate to many suffering the pains of addiction. I’ve struggled with addiction for close to 20 years. Sometimes I wonder if I continue to struggle with my addiction because I struggle with obedience, being kind, withholding judgement, and exercising faith and trust in The Lord.

I wonder if I could just learn to be obedient then maybe I’d overcome my multiple addictions. What’s stopping me?

Sometimes, I just need to numb my brain; however, I know that this is a form of “putting other Gods before [Christ]” (Exodus 20:3). I know it’s some form of idol worship, but here I am, still struggling. This may be something that I struggle with all my life, but I take comfort in believing that there is hope (I don’t always remember to have hope). It seems too simple, but I have hope that one day I will “Come to believe that the power of God can restore [me] to complete spiritual health”¹ I have hope that I will overcome these trials, challenges, and afflictions through the power of Jesus Christ’s infinite atoning sacrifice.

There is no sin or transgression, pain or sorrow, which is outside of the healing power of His Atonement (“The Miracle of the Atonement).

Watch Preston’s story of Hope.

  1. (Addiction Recovery Program, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2005, p.7)

Love Soften’s the Heart

My husband and I are taking Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Gospel institute course this term. This morning I was reading Doctrine and Covenants 76:22–24 from lesson 4. As I was reading I remembered Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s talk, “Abide in My Love.” He talks about Helen Keller’s experience with Anne Sullivan. The following account of Helen Keller was given by Elder Christofferson in his October 2016 General Conference and 2016 November Ensign article.

The story of Helen Keller is something of a parable suggesting how divine love can transform a willing soul. Helen was born in the state of Alabama in the United States in 1880. When just 19 months old, she suffered an undiagnosed illness that left her both deaf and blind. She was extremely intelligent and became frustrated as she tried to understand and make sense of her surroundings. When Helen felt the moving lips of family members and realized that they used their mouths to speak, “she flew into a rage [because] she was unable to join in the conversation.”26 By the time Helen was six, her need to communicate and her frustration grew so intense that her “outbursts occurred daily, sometimes hourly.”27

Helen’s parents hired a teacher for their daughter, a woman named Anne Sullivan. Just as we have in Jesus Christ one who understands our infirmities,28 Anne Sullivan had struggled with her own serious hardships and understood Helen’s infirmities. At age five, Anne had contracted a disease that caused painful scarring of the cornea and left her mostly blind. When Anne was eight, her mother died; her father abandoned her and her younger brother, Jimmie; and they were sent to a “poor house,” where conditions were so deplorable that Jimmie died after only three months. Through her own dogged persistence, Anne gained entry to the Perkins School for the Blind and vision impaired, where she succeeded brilliantly. A surgical operation gave her improved vision so that she was able to read print. When Helen Keller’s father contacted the Perkins School seeking someone to become a teacher for his daughter, Anne Sullivan was selected.29

It was not a pleasant experience at the beginning. Helen “hit, pinched and kicked her teacher and knocked out one of her teeth. [Anne] finally gained control by moving with [Helen] into a small cottage on the Kellers’ property. Through patience and firm consistency, she finally won the child’s heart and trust.”30 Similarly, as we come to trust rather than resist our divine Teacher, He can work with us to enlighten and lift us to a new reality.31

To help Helen learn words, Anne would spell the names of familiar objects with her finger on the palm of Helen’s hand. “[Helen] enjoyed this ‘finger play,’ but she didn’t understand until the famous moment when [Anne] spelled ‘w-a-t-e-r’ while pumping water over [Helen’s] hand. [Helen] later wrote:

“‘Suddenly I felt a misty consciousness as of something forgotten … and somehow the mystery of language was revealed to me. I knew then that “w-a-t-e-r” meant the wonderful cool something that was flowing over my hand. That living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free! … Everything had a name, and each name gave birth to a new thought. As we returned to the house[,] every object … I touched seemed to quiver with life.’”32

Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan

As Helen Keller grew to adulthood, she became known for her love of language, her skill as a writer, and her eloquence as a public speaker.

In a movie depicting the life of Helen Keller, her parents are portrayed as satisfied with Anne Sullivan’s work once she has domesticated their wild daughter to the extent that Helen will sit politely at dinner, eat normally, and fold her napkin at the end of the meal. But Anne knew Helen was capable of much, much more and that she had significant contributions to make.33 Even so, we may be quite content with what we have done in our lives and that we simply are what we are, while our Savior comprehends a glorious potential that we perceive only “through a glass, darkly.”34 Each of us can experience the ecstasy of divine potential unfolding within us, much like the joy Helen Keller felt when words came to life, giving light to her soul and setting it free. Each of us can love and serve God and be empowered to bless our fellowman. “As it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”35

References

D. Todd Christofferson, “Abide in My Love,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 48. 17. Retrieved from https://www.lds.org/study/ensign/2016/11/saturday-afternoon-session/abide-in-my-love?lang=eng

References used in Elder Christofferson’s Article.

26. “Helen Keller,” perkins.org/history/people/helen-keller.

27. “Helen Keller,” perkins.org/history/people/helen-keller.

28. See Hebrews 4:15.

29. See “Anne Sullivan,” perkins.org/history/people/anne-sullivan.

30. “Helen Keller,” perkins.org/history/people/helen-keller.

31. See, for example, Doctrine and Covenants 93:28: “He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.”

32. “Helen Keller,” perkins.org/history/people/helen-keller.

33. See William Gibson, The Miracle Worker (motion picture, 1962).

34. 1 Corinthians 13:12.

35. 1 Corinthians 2:9.