Lift

(The following is an expanded version of an address given in a sacrament meeting of the Independence 1st Ward, Independence MO, on March 23, 2025)

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God is your Father. He loves you!

Jesus is your Savior, your Judge, and your Redeemer. He loves you!

The Holy Ghost is your Comforter and your Purifier. He loves you!

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The Savior can lift me "up out of [my] afflictions." (Doc. & Cov. 24: 1)

These words come from the book of Doctrine and Covenants, though I'll take today's comments mostly from other Testaments of Him. I'll leave it up to you and the Holy Ghost to study it out as outlined in our curriculum of Come, Follow Me.

The Savior can lift me up out of my afflictions.

The Savior lifts us up, out of our afflictions.

Occasionally has He lifted my afflictions up, off of me.

Though, usually, He lifts us up, out of the affliction.

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Righteousness does not preclude suffering. If it did, we should look to Jesus's life and see the easiest, least encumbered, and most luxurious path.

When I look to Him, this is not what I see.

Though He was the most righteous of all of us, Jesus's life was actually the hardest.

Beautiful artwork and illustrations celebrating Him can give us a false sense of staged elegance. Remember Isaiah described Him as one without worldly beauty, which would cause that we should desire Him. (Isaiah 53: 2)

Jesus walked a lot. He worked. He got tired. He got hungry, and thirsty. His feet became dirty. His brow crusted with sweaty salt. We might be surprised by seeing Him as He truly was. The power of His purpose and dauntless drive to determine His destiny may be overshadowed by how outwardly ordinary He would seem if we really saw Him during His mortal life.

Where do we get the idea that following Christ should ensure us an easy life?

Is it from this promise, in the Doctrine and Covenants: "that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come?" (Doc. & Cov. 59: 23)

Don't misunderstand me. That promise is real. But consider this clarifying promise, also from our Savior:

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

So we may expect to have peace in the world, but not from the world, or of the world.

The peace the Savior promises defies the world, by granting us calm assurances and confidences, even when our circumstances are chaotic, confusing, and uncertain.

Consider this other promise, from our Master:

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

John 16: 33

We too must overcome the world.

This doesn't mean "exploiting every loophole," and "dodging every obstacle."

Jesus passed through Gethsemane on His journey of overcoming. To follow Him, we must likewise pass through at least some tiny corner of our own Gethsemane. We must carry some cross of our own.

Embrace the expectation of adversity.

We don't seek out suffering or unnecessary struggle, for "sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," and sufficient unto man is the trial thereof.

Don't go about seeking affliction, but learn to welcome it in if it comes knocking.

We ought not to envy another's challenge, thinking that it would not be so hard for us if that were the only thing we had to do. For the one facing it, it may be all they can handle.

For each comes their unique test. From each is required their unique ability.

All are tested according to their differing abilities. This makes us all unique.

All are tested to their own maximum capacity to overcome. This makes us all the same.

There is much to be learned from emulating examples of excellence. Regardless to the actual mechanics involved in one particular problem or another, applying the same guiding principles that empowered others to ably overcome their challenges can bless us immensely.

“Look unto [Christ] in every thought; doubt not, fear not.” (Doc. & Cov. 6: 36)

Being a "man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief," (Isaiah 53: 3) by coming to know pains, afflictions and temptations of every kind was the story of His whole life, in addition to the infinite Atonement He worked out during His last few days among us on Earth. He had passed through a veil that removed from Him the memory of His premortal identity, exalted standing, and creative history. He was born as we were, needing everything to be provided for Him. He grew up as others do. He learned to follow God and to fulfill His unique mission by study, by faith, by prayer, and by righteous teachers who helped Him become who He needed to be. We are the same.

I believe that the voice heard from the heavens at His baptism was the first direct, explicit revelation He received from His Father about who He truly was.

Of course He had earlier inklings, impressions, and other whisperings informing the path He took in life, for by the age of twelve He had surpassed Mary and Joseph in knowing that He must be about His Father's business. (Luke 2: 42-52)

But note the timing and the severity of Satan's temptations in the desert, and in Jerusalem after the baptism. They were all designed by the devil to drive Him to doubt the truth He had heard at the river, standing with John who had likewise received a sure witness of Jesus's divinity.

Christ's temptations transcended above all, and also descended below all.

Being higher than the rest of us, the distance He could have fallen is greater. By tempting Him to sin, Satan saw more to gain, since Jesus had more to lose.

Make no mistake, Jesus was fully capable of sinning. His afflictions and temptations were those common to all of us. Lust, envy, pride, laziness — if you can name it, Jesus suffered it. In addition, He suffered unimaginable horrors, which you cannot name or even think possible.

To answer the earlier question—where the idea originates which says that being a disciple of Jesus should give us an expectation of ease—in plainness, it comes from Satan, in an effort to sow distrust and destroy faith.

What does Satan tell us?

If you were a true follower of Jesus, your life should be free from struggle. Otherwise, God doesn’t really care about you…

If God were real, He wouldn’t allow evil or suffering to exist. If He loved us, He would stop it…

If the Gospel were true, you should have nothing but bliss throughout your life…

Lies, lies, lies!

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Many in the world today seem to suppose that clear teachings, persuasively delivered, impose upon or even remove moral agency, or an individual's ability to choose.

Speaking clear truth persuasively does not take away another's freedom to choose. Rather, it enhances it. All things which are expedient unto man must be given before someone is properly enticed by good or evil and makes an accountable choice one way or the other. (2 Nephi 2: 16, 27)

Withholding apt information out of fear of offending another is not loving, it's not kind. To be empowered to make good decisions, we must have good information, even if it's uncomfortable or challenging to consider. If we happen to be the one in possession of that good information, we must share it, regardless of the price to pay in pennies of popularity, coins of comfort, lucre of likability, or even whole accounts of appearances, approval or admiration.

Stop insisting on having peace "as the world giveth." Stop looking for peace in the sensual and the carnal. Stop looking for peace in the approval of the worldly.

Why seek the approval of others who despise you? Why buy things you don't need, with money you don't have, to impress people you don't like? (See Isaiah 55: 1-3)

Brethren, give up your search for peace in pornography. It is not there.

Sisters, give up your search for peace in social media comparing yourself with those who have so little to offer you. It is not there.

The world hated Jesus, why should we expect it to love us, His faithful followers? (See John 7: 5-7)

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Consider the following, from an ancient American prophet:

"But behold, the Spirit 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.

And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.

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.

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.

Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me."

Alma 7: 9-13, emphasis added

That's Alma's testimony, and I share in it. Jesus could have learned by revelation how we feel when we sin and cut ourselves off from our Father's sustaining presence. He could have learned from the Holy Ghost what all our pains, sicknesses, and every other imaginable infirmity feels like. Nevertheless, He willingly experienced each of them, "according to the flesh." More than merely knowing, He really understands.

Unlike the rest of us, even those who have experienced similar events, and say they know how you feel, He is the only other person ever to live who really knows what it is like to truly experience what you endure. He knows exactly what it is like. He is able to offer a unique kind of empathetic help, since He has already descended below all things and has overcome the world. He really can help you. Pray to the Father and ask for Jesus to share with you how He overcame your specific challenge. He did. He will help you understand how you can do likewise. He has actually walked your path before. He will kindly share insights with you as you draw closer to Him by learning of Him and emulating His example.

Two moments from His final sufferings are illuminating and encouraging to me.

On entering the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus said His soul was “exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.” (Matthew 26: 36-38; also Mark 14: 32-34)

Later, He asked His Father to lift His affliction by removing the burden of the Atonement. Jesus asked that the Father figure out some way to be delivered from paying the great debt for our sins. (Mark 14: 36, also Matthew 26: 39)

(If Jesus was omniscient during His mortal life, He wouldn't have asked His Father to work out some other way to Atonement. He would have known that His personal suffering was the only way it could be done.

He knew He was to be the Savior of mankind, but He didn't know all the details of how it would be accomplished.)

So often, we think of Him as the good soldier, who unflinchingly charged headlong into every challenge without hesitating. This was not always so. He struggled with fulfilling His mission.

Do you still not believe He understands us all, to every possible depth of despair?

Remember the phrase, "sorrowful unto death.” To me, this indicates depression to the point of being suicidal.

Truly, He understands.

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One of the moments I've felt closest to God is when I was most sorely afflicted. I have been lifted by Him.

(See The Year of the Heart — Video Recap, containing links to The Year of the Heart, Parts One and Two)

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The Apostles were once traveling by boat across the Sea of Galilee in a storm. Jesus came to them, walking on the water. They saw Him, and were frightened, thinking He was some dark spirit. When He approached, Peter saw it was the Lord. He wanted to go out and walk with Him on the water. Jesus didn't say, "Peter, I don't think that's a good idea. You're not ready."

Rather, He simply said, "Come."

Peter went out, walking on the water towards Jesus! Then he got distracted, he started looking at the storm, and he began to fear. Then, he began to sink.

The Savior lifted him.

A favorite passage of mine from Elder James E. Talmage is this:

“Into every adult human life come experiences like unto the battling of the storm-tossed voyagers with contrary winds and threatening seas; ofttimes the night of struggle and danger is far advanced before succor appears; and then, too frequently the saving aid is mistaken for a greater terror. As came unto Peter and his terrified companions in the midst of the turbulent waters, so comes to all who toil in faith, the voice of the Deliverer—'It is I; be not afraid.'” (Jesus the Christ, page 337)

When we sin, we fear. We feel afraid to approach the Lord. At times, we may falter.

Jesus is always there to lift. Accept His able hand. His hands are soft, and strong.

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You are loved more than you know. You are loved by the creator of worlds, the mighty multiplier of majesties. He is thoroughly invested in you. He is interested in your success. Your happiness is His mission. Always remember this. He is not looking for reasons to count you out. (Elder Kearon)

He loves you!

Now, let's take a moment simply to bask in this love. Spend this time in thinking and feeling the perfect love the Savior has for you. We'll take ten seconds to quietly sit and think of His love.

I'll watch the time. (10 seconds of silence)

If you didn't feel anything, you'll have another chance very soon.

If you did feel this love from your Savior, please use these next moments to consider what you might do to lift someone else by sharing that love.

I'll watch the time. (15 seconds of silence)

The Savior was lifted up upon a cruel cross.

The Savior has lifted you. Now go, and Lift.

Not all are called to die for their fellows, as many have. Most are called to live for them instead, sacrificing their lives not by a premature ending thereof, but by a consistent effort to give their time, talents, and treasures to the genuine benefit of others throughout a long, intentional span of useful productivity.

If the Savior were standing right here, right now, I believe He would say this:

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Matthew 11: 28-30

"And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you."

John 16: 22

He will lift us up out of our afflictions.

He shall give us rest.

Come, follow Him.

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