anyways,
today I spoke in church and I wanted to post my talk here for all who were not there to read. I mean it wont be the same because I added thoughts with the spirit but this is what I wrote. I hope you like it:)
"a sinner cannot the sinner punish"
When our hearts are filled with the love of God, we become "kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving" We have all been in situations where we have been negatively affected by something someone said or did. where we have been hurt by a friend, or family member, or even stranger.
Are we to forgive someone that hurts us? absolutely!
Have you ever been affected by the destructive spirit of contention? of resentment? of revenge? I would imagine we all have at one time or another in our lives. whether it be within ourselves or someone we have come into contact with.
When we are feeling that way it is all too easy to judge others, often telling ourselves that their motives were something other than good so that we can justify our own feelings of resentment.
Is it wrong to do this? YES!
We all depend on our savior Jesus Christ and his atonement to make it through this life. we all sin, we have all offended someone in our lives whether it be on purpose or not. we need to forgive others of their trespasses.
Elder Uchdorpf stated "this topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following : STOP IT!"
It really is that simple, we need to stop judging others and replaces those judgemental thoughts with Love. we are all brothers and sisters we must be as these 3 examples. we must be especially like JESUS CHRIST. we must fill our hearts with love, because when we fill our hearts with love there is no room for contention, resentment, revenge. there is no room for judging, because we will be too busy loving.
There are several examples of forgiveness in the scriptures.
I would like to talk about 3 examples from the scriptures of forgiveness and mercy unto others.
1. Nephi- Nephi was a perfect example of forgiving others as Christ forgives us. for example, his brothers tried to hurt him and even kill him on several occasions. in Nephi Chapter 7 he exhorts his brothers to have faith. and they just were not having it, they bound him in the wilderness to leave him to be eaten by wild beasts. yet he was freed according to his faith, and they're hearts were softened and they asked for forgiveness.
In verses20-21 we read
20 And it came to pass that they were sorrowful, because of their wickedness, insomuch that they did bow down before me, and did plead with me that I would forgive them of the thing that they had done against me.
21 And it came to pass that I did frankly forgive them all that they had done, and I did exhort them that they would pray unto the Lord their God for forgiveness. And it came to pass that they did so.
It seems like it must have been difficult for Nephi to forgive his brothers for the sin that they had committed unto him. but I don't think it was, I think his heart was filled with the pure love of Christ therefore he was able to forgive his brothers time and time again, as the continued to try to hurt him and leave him for dead.
2. the woman that was taken in adultery- in John chapter 8 we read of this woman that was brought before Christ and when the pharisees and the scribes brought her before him they said "Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?"
And Christ replied with the simples words "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."
All of those men that brought her before the lord walked away, one by one. knowing that none of them were without sin. and they walked away because they knew that they were not without sin. they were touched by the words that came out of Christ's mouth. and when they were gone Christ asked the woman, "where are thine accusers? hath no man accused thee?" and she said "no, ma lord" Christ then said "neither do i condemn thee, Go, and sin no more"
Our 3rd and greatest example of forgiveness and mercy is JESUS CHRIST himself. he was mocked, scourged, beaten, and Eventually killed. He was never filled with resentment, or contention, or revenge, toward those his accusers. in fact, he bled from every pore for them, he atones for the very sins that they were committing against him. and some of the last words out of his mouth before he died were "father forgive them for they know not what they do" how great of an example do we have in our savior JESUS CHRIST. he is the great exemplar of pure Love for all and mercy toward all men, not just those. he is merciful to all men, because he loves us, all of us. Jesus said it is easy to love those who love us, even the wicked can do that, but he taught a higher law one that we all must obey. he said " Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you." just as Christ forgave those that hated, cursed and despitefully used and persecuted him, so must we. for he said "I the Lord will forgive who I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men"
Elder Uchdorpf gave us a self-test with a few questions:
Do you harbor a grudge against someone else?
Do you gossip, even when what you say may be true?
Do you exclude, push away, or punish others because of something they have done?
Do you secretly envy another?
Do you wish to cause harm to someone?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, he said you may want to apply that two-word sermon "stop it!"
My grandfather wrote a poem called Rsentment it reads:
If you wish to measure men's ascent
To God, examine the things they resent.
Resentment is a good barometer
Of how well measure in gods micrometer.
Each day on life's highway resnters scorn
Tolerance. announcing with a horn
Their deficiency in spiritual progress.
Unaware that with each blast they regress.
Many call themselves Christians whose pursuit
Of resentment is carried to law suit.
Some will self righteously holler and shout
At every offense while others will just pout.
At what expense do we collect a debt?
If god forgets ours we too best forget.
Remember the rule and quickly repent,
"God will not forgive us while debts we resent."
Perhaps we resent another man's wealth,
His job, his talent, his luck, or his health.
It matters not what form or shape it takes,
Resentment applies our spiritual brakes.
The air is much purer above rancor.
Those who cast loose this demeaning anchor
Don't squander a future with god to be spent
By justifying the things men resent.
However valid or just your claim,
If you allow others to defame and shame
You placing your pride on the alter
As a sacrifice then with a halter
Of love subdue any vengeful wish,
Saying, "a sinner cannot a sinner punish."
God will accept your life's testament,
If you will forego the mind to resent.
In a world of accusations and judgement, before we start casting stones, let us remember those words Christ spake to the pharisees and scribes "he that is without sin, let him first cast a stone"
I know that as we put down the stones and remember to fill our hearts with love one to another, we will forgive others of their trespasses towards us, and we wont judge others for we are all sinners. we are all imperfect. we are all working towards the same goal. i hope that we can all remember that "a sinner cannot a sinner punish" may we all love others as he loves us.
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