Jesus Speaks To Women

The General Relief Society Meeting is gentler than the General Priesthood Session, and for good reason. Men and women respond to different styles of repentance invitations.

I can't speak for my gender, but I know myself. I respond to kindness and empathy. I rise according to the excellency of my role model. I don't need to be told that I'm doing poorly. Tell me that I'm doing a job well, and I'll do it better. Sharpness only makes me pitiable and helpless.

Satan knows this.

His words to me are biting. He tells me that I'm falling short of expectations. He tells me that I'm unlovable. He points out everything that I do wrong, until my wrongs overwhelm all of my rights.

The Savior knows better.

When he spoke to women, He appealed to their goodness. He taught them to simplify, and to focus on priorities (Luke 10:38-42). He protected them from judgmental crowds (John 8:1-11). He appreciated their gifts, and He often lodged in their homes and ate food that they prepared.

When his disciples criticized Mary Magdalene's sincere offering, He stepped in as her protector. His words have been ringing in my head all week:

"Let her alone; why trouble ye her? She hath wrought a good work on me...She hath done what she could." (Mark 14:3-8)

When I notice myself feeling overwhelmed and inadequate, the Savior steps in to deflect the lies. Satan says, "You're not a good Sister Training Leader. You're not prepared for this lesson. You didn't meet your goals. You don't know how to bless these people."

Jesus says, "Let her alone! Why trouble ye her? She hath done what she could."

My best, no matter how poor by comparison, is always pleasing to the Lord.

Great Expectations

My Expectations:
Looking good, sounding good, saying the right thing, being on time. Being gracious, patient, forgiving. Loving my companion. Finding investigators easily. Teaching powerfully. Loving and being loved by members. Improving daily. Pristine apartment. Safe driving. Taking care of other missionaries. Ministering to others. Planning powerful lessons. Following the Spirit.

Mission President's Expectations:
Go on eight exchanges in a five-week transfer. Maintain a model area. Train a new missionary. Obey all of the rules. Score high numbers.

God's Expectation:
Love


Expectations eat me up. Perfection is what I read in Matthew 7, and perfection is the thing that ever escapes my grasp.

But focusing on Jesus Christ clears things up. When I am calm and forget the perceived judgments of others. I feel the Spirit whisper that I am doing a good job. That I can do better still. And that God is pleased.

Saved

The sweet, dirty smell of weed rushed out at us when the man opened the door. He looked a little gruff but his approach was not unkind, and so we told him honestly why we were there.

"We are representatives of Jesus Christ, and we felt that we should stop and offer to pray with you." It was true. We were lost, and we passed by the street three times before we finally heeded the prompting to get out and knock on a few doors.

"No thanks, I already prayed today. I'm a Christian, and I'm saved by the blood."

And with that he closed the door.

The irony filled me with questions-saved from what? From weed? Maybe Christ would like to save you from those drugs. Or from a bad marriage. Or from unkind words and bad habits and cheap living. There is a better salvation!

That is what I want to say. If I had the voice of an angel, I would tell Oklahoma that salvation requires us to emulate the Man whose blood saves us.

"Saved" is the word on Oklahoman lips. It's so common, it's almost cheap. It becomes an excuse. They don't need to go to church because they're saved. Don't worry about praying with them: they're saved. So they're living out of wedlock and mistreating their children-what's it to you? They're saved!

But God is saving us for greater purposes. For lasting relationships, for beautiful surroundings, for gracious words, for inspiriting service and uplifting occupations and mighty knowledge. He's saving us from low-living, degrading behaviors, and debilitating thoughts.

Emulation. That is the essence of salvation. The moment we begin to emulate the Savior Jesus Christ, we experience a sanctifying, ennobling change within ourselves. And as our hearts change, our lives change. And then it's infectious. My goodness rubs off on you; yours rubs onto your family; your family blesses your community; and before we know it, the world is a better place.

Salvation is only in and through the Savior Jesus Christ. And the way to enjoy this sacred gift is to become like Him! Read His words, and do His works. Obedience, self-discipline, sacrifice. This is the way.

This is the salvation of Jesus Christ.

Liberal

I thought Mormons were generally conservative. Missionaries, more than anyone, should be conservative. Then why is my heart so liberal?

KJ told us that he couldn't pray with us because he was Elohist. He started to shut the door, and I said, "Wait. Who are you? What did you say you believe?"

And he told us. For one hour we stood in the rain and asked him questions. We exchanged beliefs and compared doctrine, but mostly we just listened.

Jehovah as Korean man in the early 1900s? Well, I claim a 14 year-old American boy in the 1800s as prophet. Mother God? Hmm, I have no problem with that. Intense religious fervor? Again, I relate too well. But we both believe in Jesus Christ, in families, in divine inheritances.

His millennial beliefs differ. The timing, order, and characters are unusual. But still, the only thing I can feel to bear testimony of is that God loves all of His children, and that He adores our quest for truth.

And so our conversation ended thus: "KJ, thank you for being a disciple of Jesus Christ! You reflect the spirit of Peter. When thousands left from following Jesus, the Savior asked his disciples if they would also leave him. Peter said, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe, and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. (John 6:67-69) We are also sure that Jesus is the Christ. We bear testimony of Him, as do you."

And with words of mutual admiration, we left our newly-made friend and went our way.

Loving others. Respecting their beliefs. Listening. Asking. Admiring. Learning. These are the days of a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Exclamation Point, Smiley Face

I fear that my writing is becoming stagnant. There are really only so many ways to say "God must really love me; let me tell you how." So once again, I attempt to convey the humorous affection of our Heavenly Father.

I went on exchanges with my beloved MTC companion this week. Sister Cooper and I have been out for eleven months now, and we agree that text messages from missionaries should end with an exclamation point and a smiley face. Elders have contested against this uber-happy use of the phone, but after nearly a year as a missionary, I find nothing so happy and worth exclaiming as is God's love.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, our lives (as our text messages) should always convey a spirit of "exclamation point, smiley-face!"

When I tell people that we believe in the Book of Mormon, in a living prophet, and in the restoration of ancient truths, I say it with a metaphorical "exclamation point, smiley-face." It shows in my face, in my tone of voice, and in the choices I make. It's not just a bunch of doctrinal dogma, it's life-changing, highly motivating truth. We believe that God cares about us as individuals. We believe that we are innately good, and that we can be better. We believe the radically generous truths taught by Jesus Christ-that we are here on earth for the express purpose of blessing others and learning joy.

So let us live what we preach. Let us pour over the scriptures, sink into prayer, and jump to serve our neighbors!