The Joyful
Burden of Discipleship
By
Elder Ronald A. Rasband
Of the Presidency of the
Seventy
To sustain our
leaders is a privilege; it comes coupled with a personal responsibility to
share their burden and to be disciples of the Lord.
Harriet: On May 20 of last year a massive tornado
pummeled the suburbs of Oklahoma City, in the heartland of America, carving a
trail more than a mile (1.6 km) wide and 17 miles (27 km) long. This storm, an
onslaught of devastating tornadoes, altered the landscape and the lives of the
people in its path.
Eli: Just a week after the massive storm struck, I was assigned
to visit the area where homes and belongings were strewn across the flattened,
ravaged neighborhoods.
Emeline: Before I left, I spoke with our beloved
prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, who relishes such errands for the
Lord. With respect borne not only of his office but also of his goodness, I
asked, “What do you want me to do? What do you want me to say?”
He
tenderly took my hand, as he would have done with each one of the victims and
each of those helping with the devastation had he been there, and said:
“First,
tell them I love them.
“Second,
tell them I am praying for them.
“Third,
please thank all those who are helping.”
Cowen: As a member of the Presidency of the Seventy, I could feel
the weight on my shoulders in the words the Lord spoke unto Moses:
“Gather
unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders
of the people, and officers over them; …
“And
I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which
is upon thee [Moses], and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden
of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.”1
These
are words from ancient times, yet the Lord’s ways have not changed.
Miriam: Currently in the Church, the Lord has
called 317 Seventies, serving in 8 quorums, to assist the Twelve Apostles in
carrying the burden placed on the First Presidency. I joyfully feel that
responsibility in the depths of my very soul, as do my fellow Brethren.
However, we are not the only ones assisting in this glorious work. As members
of the Church worldwide, we all have the wonderful opportunity of blessing the
lives of others.
Dad: Explain the structure and organization of the 1st
presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the Quorums of the
Seventies.
DAY TWO:
Harriet: I had learned from our dear prophet what
the storm-tossed people needed—love, prayers, and appreciation for helping
hands.
Eli: This afternoon each of us will raise our right arm to the
square and sustain the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as
prophets, seers, and revelators of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Emeline: This is not a mere formality, nor is it
reserved for those called to general service. To sustain our leaders is a
privilege; it comes coupled with a personal responsibility to share their
burden and to be disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Mom: What is a disciple?
How can we share our leaders’ burdens?
Cowen: President Monson has said:
“We
are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our
support, our comfort, our kindness—be they family members,
friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We are the Lord’s hands here upon the
earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon
each of us. …
Miriam: “‘… Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one
of the least of these … , ye have done it unto me’ [Matthew 25:40].”2
Will
we respond with love when an opportunity is before us to make a visit or a
phone call, write a note, or spend a day meeting the needs of someone else? Or
will we be like the young man who attested to following all of God’s
commandments:
“All
these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
“Jesus
said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to
the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”3
The
young man was being called to a greater service at the side of the Lord to do
the work of the kingdom of God on earth, yet he turned away, “for he had great
possessions.”4
Dad: What of our earthly possessions? We can see what a tornado
can do with them in just minutes. It is so important for each of us to strive
to lay up our spiritual treasures in heaven—using our time, talents, and agency
in service to God.
Mom: What are earthly possessions? What does a tornado do to earthly
possessions? What are spiritual
treasures? What does it mean to “lay up”
spiritual treasures?
Day Three:
Harriet: Jesus Christ continues to extend the call
“Come and follow me.”5
Eli: He walked His homeland with His followers in a selfless
manner. He continues to walk with us, stand by us, and lead us.
Emeline: To follow His perfect example is to
recognize and honor the Savior, who has borne all of our burdens through His
sacred and saving Atonement, the ultimate act of service. What He asks of each
one of us is to be able and willing to take up the joyful “burden” of
discipleship.
Cowen: While in Oklahoma, I had the opportunity to meet with a few
of the families devastated by the mighty twisters. As I visited with the Sorrels
family, I was particularly touched by the experience of their daughter, Tori,
then a fifth grader at Plaza Towers Elementary School. She and her mother are
here with us today.
Miriam: Tori and a handful of her friends huddled
in a restroom for shelter as the tornado roared through the school. Listen as I
read, in Tori’s own words, the account of that day:
“I
heard something hit the roof. I thought it was just hailing. The sound got
louder and louder. I said a prayer that Heavenly Father would protect us all
and keep us safe. All of a sudden we heard a loud vacuum sound, and the roof
disappeared right above our heads. There was lots of wind and debris flying
around and hitting every part of my body. It was darker outside and it looked
like the sky was black, but it wasn’t—it was the inside of the tornado. I just
closed my eyes, hoping and praying that it would be over soon.
“All
of a sudden it got quiet.
“When
I opened my eyes, I saw a stop sign right in front of my eyes! It was almost
touching my nose.”6
Dad: Tori, her mother, three of her siblings, and numerous
friends who were also in the school with her miraculously survived that
tornado; seven of their schoolmates did not.
That
weekend the priesthood brethren gave many blessings to members who had suffered
in the storm. I was humbled to give Tori a blessing. As I laid my hands on her
head, a favorite scripture came to mind: “I will go before your face. I will be
on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and
mine angels round about you, to bear you up.”7
I
counseled Tori to remember the day when a servant of the Lord laid his hands on
her head and pronounced that she had been protected by angels in the storm.
DAY FOUR:
Harriet: Reaching out to rescue one another, under
any condition, is an eternal measure of love. This is the service I witnessed
in Oklahoma that week.
Eli: Often we are given the opportunity to help others in their
time of need. As members of the Church, we each have the sacred responsibility
“to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light,” “to mourn with
those that mourn,” and to “lift up the hands which hang down,
and strengthen the feeble knees.”
Emeline: Brothers and sisters, how grateful the
Lord is for each and every one of you, for the countless hours and acts of
service, whether large or small, you so generously and graciously give each
day.
King
Benjamin taught in the Book of Mormon, “When ye are in the service
of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”
Cowen: Focusing on serving our brothers and sisters can guide us to
make divine decisions in our daily lives and prepares us to value and love what
the Lord loves. In so doing, we witness by our very lives that we are His
disciples. When we are engaged in His work, we feel His Spirit with us. We grow
in testimony, faith, trust, and love.
Dad: I know that my Redeemer lives, even Jesus Christ, and that
He speaks to and through His prophet, dear President Thomas S. Monson, in
this, our day.
May
we all find the joy that comes from the sacred service of bearing one another’s
burdens, even those simple and small, is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ,
amen.
Mom: Read part of my patriarchal blessing that talks about
compassionate service and the memory I wrote down called “Spaghetti and
Visiting Teachers” in the Book of Remembrance.
Dad: Read what Kenny wrote about Compassionate Service in the
Book of Remembrance. Then what Grandpa
Young wrote:
“Quite
often as I awaken in the morning a church hymn will be going through my
mind. One day it was, ‘Have I Done Any
Good in the World Today?’ The words continue, ‘Have I cheered up the sad or
made someone feel glad? If not, I have
failed indeed.’
These are not idle words. The message they portray is strong. With each new generation the message in this
song continues to be tested. What a
different world we would have if all its inhabitants abided by this
message. As to whether we have failed or
succeeded in life can pretty much be measured by comparing oneself to the words
of this song.”
Mom: How can we better serve those around us, especially the
people with whom we live?
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