Conference SPOTLIGHT- Mercy

The conference spotlights is a series of talks from the LDS General Conference.  I picked one each week to study and record my thoughts about it.
 4/29/12

The Merciful Obtain Mercy, by Dieter F. Uchtdorf (there are links to watch, listen, and download, on the right hand side, as well as the text)                        

"The doctrine is clear. We all depend on the Savior; none of us can be saved without Him. Christ’s Atonement is infinite and eternal. Forgiveness for our sins comes with conditions. We must repent, and we must be willing to forgive others. Jesus taught: “Forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not … [stands] condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin″ and “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.â€⁴

Of course, these words seem perfectly reasonable—when applied to someone else. We can so clearly and easily see the harmful results that come when others judge and hold grudges. And we certainly don’t like it when people judge us.

But when it comes to our own prejudices and grievances, we too often justify our anger as righteous and our judgment as reliable and only appropriate. Though we cannot look into another’s heart, we assume that we know a bad motive or even a bad person when we see one. We make exceptions when it comes to our own bitterness because we feel that, in our case, we have all the information we need to hold someone else in contempt."

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"We must recognize that we are all imperfect—that we are beggars before God. Haven’t we all, at one time or another, meekly approached the mercy seat and pleaded for grace? Haven’t we wished with all the energy of our souls for mercy—to be forgiven for the mistakes we have made and the sins we have committed?

Because we all depend on the mercy of God, how can we deny to others any measure of the grace we so desperately desire for ourselves? My beloved brothers and sisters, should we not forgive as we wish to be forgiven?"

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"Remember, heaven is filled with those who have this in common: They are forgiven. And they forgive.

Lay your burden at the Savior’s feet. Let go of judgment. Allow Christ’s Atonement to change and heal your heart. Love one another. Forgive one another.

The merciful will obtain mercy."

I think the first quote stuck out to me the most when I first heard it. It's so true. It so easy for us to identify when OTHERS are being judgmental, but not ourselves. Or find a reason why our judgement is warranted. Later he asks questions to consider...it's worth going through them to see what we can focus on improving.

I saw this theme demonstrated in the scriptures as I was reading this morning before Church.  I'm at the end of Alma and Moroni and the armies are struggling from lack of reinforcements and lack of supplies, and Moroni writes the head of the government, Pahoran, and REALLY chastizes him.  I mean, now that I really read it, he jumps to a lot of assumptions and really rips into him.  Here's a few examples:

*Calls him neglectful 5 times

*Calls him thoughtless, wicked, and a traitor to his country

*Says several times that he's going to be destroyed, specifically, "the ^asword of justice doth hang over you; yea, and it shall fall upon you and visit you even to your utter destruction."

So...pretty bold!  If anyone had "justification" to get mad at someone or feel like not forgiving him, I'd say he had some pretty solid reasons!  Pahoran replies back and explains that it's not his fault, and follows with:

"And now, in your epistle you have ^acensured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart."

He chose to see the good in Moroni.  He chose not to make assumptions.  And he chose to forgive an offense where most would feel justified in holding a grudge.  He realied that it just didn't matter.  Instead, he focused on making a plan with Moroni to preserve their people.  And in the end, isn't THAT what matters?  Getting through life?  Making it home to Heavenly Father?  Witholding forgiveness only keeps us from that end goal. 

I love how the gospel principles are so harmonious between all of our leader's talks and the standard works as well.