What I Learned from Ordain Women

Lately the LDS Church has been in the news a lot over a little thing called "Ordain Women".  It is a movement by a group of women who decided that they should hold the priesthood, and should protest against the church in order to change how things are handled in the church, and get it all changed.  Now, there are countless articles on both sides of the fence over if this is right, or not. And personally (although I would happily send my friends to countless articles on the subject showing my point of view, including http://www.ldsmag.com/article/12563 , and http://thestyleofbeing.blogspot.com/2014/06/mormonism-feminism-and-being-snarky.html)  I want to focus my blog on something a bit different. 

Awhile ago we changed how we did family scripture study (ok.. I am not the best at doing family scripture study, but we try!).  Instead of just reading the scriptures over and over, we started reading smaller chunks, sometimes not even a whole chapter, and then just asking the kids "Why is this part of the scriptures? Why was this story important enough to include in here? What are we suppose to learn from this?" It made a huge difference! My kids had insight I had never seen.  Each of us could learn a new and different part of God's plan because someone had something different going on in their lives, or some past experience that just let them see a different side, a different angle, a different perspective.  It was amazing to me how God could talk to any of us, even my young daughters, in such diverse ways, and guide us each in a way we personally needed to be guided.

Well, since I have never been one who believes in coincidences, I decided to put this practice to use in other parts of my life.  Instead of just going through life, and hoping I learned something along the way of God and his plan for me, I started activity looking.  I was trying to turn my perspective into more of a learning experience whenever I could.  And that is when all of this hit the news.

Personally, I have never had a problem with men having the keys of the priesthood. Never bothered me one little bit.  I am sure part of that is due to the fact that I have always felt more than respected and valued by those who I have had the chance to serve with.  But obviously, others felt this so strongly, they were willing to let it tear them apart, and lose the testimony they had.  This isn't the first time I have watched this happen.  I have watched those I love turn away for many reasons.  Guilt, confusion, even sadly even inconvenience.  So often I am stunned as people, whom always appeared to have such a strong testimony have something that bothers them, and somehow lose their testimony, sometimes quickly sometimes slowly.  It seems to be a pattern I see time and time again, and it truly saddens me.

So, what can I learn from this? What does God want me to learn? 

I have no doubt that everyone I have watched follow this path have not woken up one morning and thought, "I think I want to turn away from God today!  I think I am going to leave."  That just doesn't make sense.  I think what happens is they find one little thing they don't understand, or one little thing that someone does which offends them.  Satan loves those kinds of small things.  He tends to help us dwell on it, constantly reminding us to be upset.  He tries to get us completely focused on that one item, and tries to make us see it as more powerful, or more overwhelming than everything else we have.  We slowly lose sight of what really matters, and with it, we can lose our testimony.

So what can I learn? How can I grow from this? I think the most important thing is for me to remember to be strong, and daily work on what I need to help my testimony to grow. Never do we hit a point where we are strong enough that Satan will give up on turning us away. In fact, as we grow stronger, chances are he will work harder against us.  Even when we think we are strong enough, we aren't, and we need to keep working. 

The second thing is to remember, God knows more than me.  Yep, I know, hard to believe, eh? When you have faith in something, you believe it, even when there is a part you don't understand.  Does that mean you just have to take that and cram it down your own throat? Nope! You have an option, and option to discuss it with God and ask for personal insight.  It doesn't mean he will change anything to fit your "opinions". He doesn't work that way. But he has the ability to help you discover why things are how they are, he can open your eyes to see the big picture, and realize why he made things how he does.  If we remember to let the little things be little, and take them up with God without hardening our hearts, we are able to use those little pesky things, that could end up driving us out of the church, to instead bring us closer to god.

Hopefully I can follow my own advice, and continue to progress closer to God as he teaches me, so that I can always be strong enough to stand tall for my god and my church.

Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Matthew 25:40

 

 

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

 

Recently I had an amazing awesome experience.  First let me give you a bit of background, just in case you aren't Mormon.  We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth. (Article of Faith 6).Yep.. we do. It is pretty awesome, amazing, cool.  I know, to some people that might seem weird, but honestly when you get a chance, which I have only on limited occasions, to even just be around these people, you feel it. You can't deny it.  It is like that feeling when you go out on a sun shiny day and just feel the power of the sun.  It warms you to your core, and just makes everything seem so perfect, and right, and good with the world.  Yep. That is how it makes me feel.  So, to start my story one of these wonderful leaders came to speak with us.

 

 

Now forget anything you might think about great church leaders. This guy was the kind of guy, that although you could get into a very deep religious conversation with, he was also just a nice guy! A smiley guy! He opened the meeting, and discussed how he wanted everyone to participate because each of us had something to contribute. Now, realize this meeting probably had a few hundred people in it, ya, most of us didn't get to talk.  One subject lead to another, and then he read this scripture. Matthew 25:40.  Verily, I say unto you, Insomuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.   Ok.. a bit more of "lesson" time for those who don't know what we believe in.  We believe in personal revelation through the Holy Ghost. After all, our entire church is formed because a young boy followed the direction given in James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  We believe any of us can get direction.  We can personally talk with God, and have the Holy Ghost lead and direct us.  The awesome thing is I don't only believe that, I know that with every breath inside me.  It is amazing, and great, and opens so many doors for you in life to always be able to ask, and be guided by a loving father who knows everything.  Anyway, I babble... So I sit in this meeting, discussing scriptures, and this scripture is shared, and suddenly I feel so strongly of what I am suppose to say. Now, this isn't like a huge intellectual light comes on, and I want to share with the world how brilliant I am. Sorry, but the thought wasn't really mine to claim. It came as a huge, heart pounding, I better say this before I die of a heart attack because I feel it so strong, prompting of the Holy Ghost. I don't know how else to describe it, but I also don't want to forget it. So here it is, for all the world, and hopefully it will help me in years to come remember what I learned on that night.

 

It is a simple thing.  Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.  Hopefully here, I can put it more concise, more eloquent, and more correct that I could form into words that night. (To any who might have been there, sorry. I love the spot light, but not when I am discussing scriptures with others hundreds of times more "brainiac" than I am. I just come off as a bumbling fool then.  Maybe I will here too, but then I guess you can stop reading, or laugh at me  and smile, either is perfectly acceptable to me).  Anyway, so God gave me the opportunity to stand next to such an amazing, loving man, and share my thoughts, that hopefully someone could understand, and hopefully leads to more love in the world, even if it is just by me.  

 

Least.. Hmm.. who are the least in our world?   I think the world could give us a long list.  There are those least in money, homeless and struggling.  There are those least in spirit, who feel they have no one to turn to, and no idea of how much god loves them.  There are those least in morals, where they might lie, steal, or hurt others.  There are so many who the world would label as least.  There are those on drugs, those who have made grievous decisions, leading to a life of crime. There are those whom we can't even tell are least in any manner.  There are a LOT of leasts in the world, and I think at one point or another, all of us fall into the "least" category somehow.

 

I have heard this scripture quoted over and over and over and over. Every time I have taken the meaning to be if you serve others, you serve me.  And, ok. I don't want to argue here to not serve everyone.  We can never see inner pains, or struggles, honestly we can never know that someone is NOT part of a "least" category.  But sometime we can see that someone is. Sometimes it is so obvious, to deny it would be as ridiculous as arguing that a perfectly blue sky was really red, or orange, or cabbage. Sometimes it is that obvious.  

 

The world seems to deal with these people in a very non-Christian way.  We believe that they brought it upon themselves.  If they would work harder, if they just had some self control, if they didn't choose evil, if they.. if they.. if they.   They are seen as they got what they deserved.   Now, for some of the other leasts, we give them our sympathy. We reach out to them whole heartedly.  I don't think you will ever find someone saying that a child who has cancer made bad choices, but an old smoker who has cancer?   See what I mean? We judge, we worry.  How many times have we heard, "Don't give a panhandler money! They will only buy alcohol or drugs!". Honestly, they might. I don't know.  I never followed one to see. Or have you heard panhandling is just a ploy, and they are probably richer than me, so don't give to them.  Now, this isn't a lecture on panhandlers. Please make your own choice.  But let me offer a different way to look at this.  Did Christ ever say "Only give to the least of these if they don't have any addictions, because those other ones are just a bit too least for my love."  Did he ever say "Don't give to people who might scam you, because they are just beyond saving in my book."  What if we looked at a panhandler who used the money for drugs, and realized he was so depressed, so sad, stressed beyond belief , that he gave into his addiction, and maybe even he had issue with that.  Hasn't the world beat him down enough, that we don't need to?  What about someone trying to scam you? Personally, to me, that doesn't sound much above the "least".  

 

The amazing thing to me was realizing Christ said the least. He didn't reference anyone else in this case.  We also believe in a loving Heavenly Father who loves us so much, regardless of how we have goofed up in the past. Isn't that amazing? But with that belief, we have to believe that every other person on this world, regardless of the "least" circumstances  they find themselves in are loved just as much as we are.   However, as most of us go along in our happy little lives, full of love, family, houses, food, and usually enough money to at least scrape by; where most of us can go to the store and no one gives us a second glance as far as judgment goes; others are beaten down constantly.  They are judged whenever anyone looks at them.   They probably feel very unworthy of God's love, why, because we the world tell them they aren't worthy. 

 

Why did Christ say least, instead of  "if you have served any of your fellow men". He said least. 

 

We have become a society where everyone feels they need to judge.  They need to judge your actions, your clothes, your everything.  I recently saw an article asking if people were dressing down too much. I read through a few of the comments, and was simply amazed. People were saying how there was never a need to run to the store in your pj's, how yoga pants were worn too often, how you could tell how lazy a person was based on their clothes.  It shocked me.  We have become a society where we are so concerned about what other people wear to the grocery store?  Why do we care?   

 

What if this happened instead.  What if when we went to the store, we were more observant? What if we saw someone, and at the checkout they were removing items as they watched the total, trying to decide what not to buy? What if we judged people plainly on the whole scale of "what can I do to serve?" How would that change the world? Ya, wishful thinking that everyone in the world will do that tomorrow, not that I would complain, or that I think it is beyond anyone. 

 

So maybe I should say this instead, how would it change me? What if every situation I was placed in, I entered with a "why does God have me here? Who can I serve? Who is the least? Who needs me the most".   Will I change the world by becoming that person? Probably not.  Will I change me by becoming that person? Definitely!  Yep, it is a long road ahead of me.  Yep, no doubt Satan will be there every step of the way trying to get me to judge. He will try to have me judge the person who cuts me off on the freeway. He will try to have me judge the person who breaks my daughters heart.  He will try to have me judge those who have hurt me.  Will I make it to being non judgmental? Who knows, but I am willing to try. 

What I do know, is God gave me that chance, that opportunity not for the others of hundreds of people there listening to me babble, but for me to take a good hard look at me, and to figure out how I can help the least, and to remind me I don't always know who the least is, so better serve them all.  Heck, I can't see anything bad coming from this, so here we go! And maybe someone else will read this, and decide to join me on this journey. Maybe God had you stumble upon this for just that reason, after all I don't believe in coincidences.    I hope when I meet Christ again, I can be placed on his right hand, and my offering will be satisfactory to him.

 

 

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.