REPENT FOR THE LITTLE THINGS

After preaching in Zarahemla, Alma left for the land of Gideon.  The people in Zarahemla were, for the most part, members of the Church, but, while they hadn't been wicked per say, they also had not been stalwart.  Alma called them to a remembrance of the blessings of God given to their fathers.  He called upon them to take moral inventory.  

From there, he called them to repentance that they might become more faithful on the Covenant path.

The people in Gideon were far more stalwart and received to formal reprimand from the prophet.  They seemed to remember well the Lord and His blessings.  He rejoiced that they were not in the same state of much unbelief as were your brethren.  He gave specific positive feedback.  The people were not

• Lifted up in pride
• Set upon obtaining riches and vain things of the world
• Worshipping idols

They were worshipping the one true and living God and looking forward for the remissions of their sins with an everlasting faith. (Alma 7: 6)

He taught them that the Savior would be coming soon.  He had asked God what he, as prophet, should say to prepare the people.  His response, in light of all of the positives he noted about them, may seem a little surprising.  

The Lord hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people saying - Repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in His paths which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth (Alma 7:)

It may seem counter-intuitive to compliment someone and then, in the next breath, call them to repentance.  It helps me to remember that we all need repentance every day.  Remember the spiritual cardiogram we did yesterday?  Only Jesus Christ could answer those questions always. It will take a lifetime and then into the eternities to approach always.

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I find that its the little things that can sneak up on even the best of us.  I recall a conference address when President Dieter F. Uchtdorf talked about not being invited to participate in the dedication of the Madrid temple. At the time, he was serving as the area president in Europe and felt a small amount of ownership in the new temple. Days passed, and his anxiety of not receiving an invitation grew.  Having struggled with anxiety often in my life, I can relate to those feelings.  Did he do something wrong? Had he been forgotten?  Those kinds of thoughts can eat away at one's soul. Finally, President Uchtdorf confessed that, this kind of thinking was taking me to a place that I did not want to take up residence. He and Harriet realized that the temple dedication was not about them. (given at the General Priesthood Session, April 1, 2017)

This humble man, just a year or two later, stepped down from his calling as the Second counselor in the First Presidency under President Monson.  After Brother Monson's death, President Russel M. Nelson became the prophet and he called a different counselor, President Dallin H. Oakes.  President - now Elder - Uchtdorf resumed his position in the Council of the Twelve Apostles with dignity and continued to serve the Lord in whatever place in the Kingdom God chose. What an example he is to me.  He is an incredible disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet he was quietly called to repentance for feeling sorry for himself over not being invited.

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I have also been called to repentance, even when I feel I have been a good disciple. Several years ago, I was called to a mission.  I approached it with great trepidation, but with faith that the Lord could give me what I needed to do what was asked.  He did.  He gave me complete unconditional love for the person to whom I was to minister.  It was not an easy assignment and I shed many tears, but the Christ-like love I felt was there from day one and never left me.

President Uchtdorf told the priesthood brethren that night that to begin such a quest requires that we be able to see other people the way God sees them.  I was given that gift of sight immediately.  I have never been given the gift of seeing the child of God in another human being in my life. This young man was so hurt and separated from God, that he could not feel God's love for him, but over time he came to feel and trust my love for him. I came to understand more fully than ever before how our Heavenly Father feels when we fall short of our promises.  I didn't ever feel anger at my friend, I wept when he made self-destructive choices and loved him anyway.  I think that is how God responds to our mistakes.

There was a happy ending for my friend, but not for me.  Somehow, in the midst of things, I lost my focus.  I forgot that it was not about me. When he was unable to respond in true friendship, I was heart-broken and devastated.  Even though I understood in my head why he couldn't and didn't blame him in anyway, I beat up on myself without mercy.  It has taken about four years for the Lord to lead me through the most humbling experience.  Am I a bad person? - God forbid.  But do I need to repent?  I certainly do, and I do so every day. I was called to minister to one of God's children.  I somehow wound up expecting that the mission was about me.

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Alma left the Saints in Gideon with these words.  Become:

Humble

Submissive

Gentle

Easy to be entreated

Full of patience

Long-suffering.

This is great advice to us all.  I will not longer think that because I'm on God's errand that I am infallible. I have learned, quite painfully, that I am not.  I was gentle, but not submissive; patient but not humble.  Now after repenting in emotional sackcloth and ashes, I feel that I am growing closer to the goal.

© June 2020 Dr. Kathleen Rawlings Buntin Danielson