ONLY BELIEVE

I had a conversation with an old friend recently who has a close family member with a debilitating mental illness. Whereas I was of an opinion that we are given difficulties in life so that we would turn to God, she had forged an opinion that it was beyond some people to do so, especially those who do not know God. I greatly respect this friend and her opinions but I do not agree with this particular one. Even those who know nothing about God have a concept of His existence and have come to find him in their hour of desperation. As Abraham Lincoln once said: "I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go."

I am not speaking here out of idealism. Within my frame of reference lies experience regarding this subject. Not only have I had success myself in turning to God for relief of my difficulties, I too have someone close to me who suffers with a debilitating mental illness. It is heartbreaking to watch and equally frustrating knowing that they could be helped greatly if they would turn to the fountain of all healing and deliverance. So to me, what we live with on daily basis comes down to choice. We seem to all want a life free of pain, difficulties, stress and lack. We want a life full of love, money, success, power and ease.  And when we are afflicted with something and do come to God, we expect instant relief and permanent lifting of the problem. We do not want to 'take up our cross' as the Saviour has admonished us to do (Matt 10:38; Luke 9:23; 3 Nephi 12:30;  D&C 56:2, 112:14). We have forgotten that in our pre-mortal state it was this very cross that we fought for the privilege to carry. Consider what Elder Ballard said on this subject:

"I am convinced that no soul has ever been whipped into this mortal existence; that each one of us came willingly, cheerfully, and gladly; even though we might have known that we were to inherit a body that was crippled, maimed, and deformed, still we were glad to come.....We knew that it meant sorrow, pain, and ultimately, death, and yet we rejoiced in the prospect to come. We saw beyond the valley of the shadow of death, with all of its pain, with all of its suffering, the grand vistas of the eternities, providing for man's eternal and endless progress, on, up and up, until we should attain unto what God is. Yet we knew that we could never ascend until we had descended and had been given a mortal tabernacle, and the union of the spirit and the body had become an accomplished fact. So by the attraction of it all we came gladly and willingly, for our eyes were not so much centered upon the sorrows and troubles of life as upon the grandness of that which lies beyond." (Melvin J. Ballard, "Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin J. Ballard", p. 179)

For me, it is very simple. We either believe that Christ can do for us what He says He can do, and do it for all of us, or we don't. We either believe that He 'descended below all things (D&C 88:6, 122:8, Heb 2:18, D&C 62:1, Alma 7:12) in order to understand the pains of mortality and how to heal, rescue, deliver and make us whole, or we don't. His Atonement is the source of all power and it is universal. With Him, all things are possible (Mark 10:27) and they are possible for all. And if they are not possible, then the culprit is not Him, but us and our lack of faith. You will recall the story of a Jewish ruler by the name of Jairus who sought Jesus to heal his daughter who lay close to death. This father was stricken with grief as any parent would be. As Jesus traveled to administer the healing, someone came from the ruler's household to advise him that his daughter had died. The Saviour's compassion was stirred within Him as immediately he turned to this ruler with concern for his grief and said: "Be not afraid, only believe" (Mark 10:36). In other words, 'please believe that I can do all things, please believe, even if she is dead, I can yet heal her'. Obviously the ruler trusted Jesus because he led Him to his house and witnessed his daughter come back to life. The most interesting part of this story is what happened at the onset of this whole incident. As Jesus headed for the house of the ruler, a woman 'which had an issue of blood for 12 years' (Mark 10:25) also had pure, un-adulterated faith that the Saviour had so much power that even the hem of His garment would heal her. And of course, she was right.

I recently read the following story as recounted by Carole M. Stephens in October 2016 General Conference who used an example of a remarkable young woman to prove this point: "I have recently become acquainted with a remarkable young woman named Josie who suffers from bipolar disorder. Here is just a little of her journey toward healing as she shared it with me: The worst of the darkness occurs on what my family and I have deemed 'floor days'. It begins with sensory overload and acute sensitivity and resistance to any type of sound, touch, or light. It is the apex of mental anguish. There is one day in particular that I will never forget. it was early in the journey, making the experience especially frightening. I can remember sobbing, tears racing down my face as I gasped for air. But even such intense suffering paled in comparison to the pain that followed as I observed panic overwhelm my mother, so desperate to help me. With my broken mind came her broken heart. But little did we know that despite the deepening darkness, we were just moments away from experiencing a mighty miracle. As the long hour continued, my mom whispered over and over and over again, 'I would do anything to take this from you'. Meanwhile, the darkness intensified, and when I was convinced I could take no more, just then something marvelous occurred. A transcendent and wonderful power suddenly overtook my body. Then, with a 'strength beyond my own', I declared to my mom with great conviction seven life-changing words in response to her repeated desire to bear my pain. I said, 'You don't have to; Someone already has.' From the dark abyss of debilitating mental illness, Josie summoned the strength to testify of Jesus Christ and of His Atonement. She was not healed completely that day, but she received the light of hope in a time of intense darkness. And today, supported by a bedrock of understanding of the doctrine of Christ and refreshed daily by the Saviour's living water, Josie continues on her journey toward healing and exercises unshakable faith in the Master Healer." (Carole M. Stephens, "The Master Healer", in CR October 2016).

Some people who turn to God receive an immediate healing and for some it comes over time. Some never receive a total healing but are given strength to bear their mortal frailties. I don't know why. I do know that there is a certain plan for each of us that will afford us godhood at the end of the road and that we are given what we need to attain that end. Some need an instant miracle to convince them of Christ's power and love; some need to learn lessons that come through continuous suffering with increments of His sustaining power; and some need to learn to trust and believe and be proved by their patience. I also believe that nobody's acknowledgement of the Saviour's power will go unanswered and their faith not honoured, some time, somewhere. My heart goes out to those who are in the waiting room. I know something of that place. My belief is though that you will not be left there forever, just don't be afraid, but only believe.

WOMEN OF VALOUR

"About fifty years ago, Mr. F.M. Bareham wrote the following:

'A century ago men were following with bated breath the march of Napoleon and waiting with feverish impatience for news of the wars. And all the while in their homes babies were being born. But who could think about babies? Everybody was thinking about battles.
In one year between Trafalgar and Waterloo there stole into the world a host of heroes: Gladstone was born in Liverpool; Tennyson at the Somersby Rectory; and Oliver Wendell Holmes in Massachusetts. Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky, and music was enriched by the advent of Felix Mendelssohn in Hamburg.
But nobody thought of babies, everybody was thinking of battles. Yet which of the battles of 1809 mattered more than the babies of 1809? We fancy God can manage His world only with great battalions, when all the time he is doing it with beautiful babies.
When a wrong wants righting, or a truth wants preaching, or a continent wants discovering, God sends a baby into the world to do it'. (Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle: pp 84, 85)"

God prepares great mothers for great children. One such woman was one of the greatest examples of virtuous womanhood in the Old Testament. Her name was Ruth. Born of a heathen nation, Ruth made a life changing choice when a young woman. She married an Israelite.  By virtue of that marriage she got converted to the God of Israel and gained a mother-in-law who she loved and respected so much that she regarded her welfare above her own. Because of her selflessness this convert who accepted the truth was blessed to become a progenitor of Christ.

Ruth's story begins in Moab, her home land, where she married Mahlon, one of the sons of an Israelite couple called Elimelech and Naomi, who had fled from their hometown of Bethlehem because of famine and came to Moab, a gentile country east of the Dead Sea. Another Moabite woman by the name of Orpah married Chilon, the other son of that family. Neither of the women produced any children before the father and both sons died leaving the three women destitute. Ruth's story is a prime example of how you can go from nothing to everything if you are faithful. When the famine abated Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem and entreated her daughters-in-law to remain in Moab and return to their families. Both of the women wept at the suggestion wanting to follow her but Orpah consented after further encouragement from Naomi while Ruth refused to abandon her aging mother-in-law who faced a life of uncertainty without offspring and opportunity (Ruth 1:15-17). And here begins a life dedicated to caring. Ruth accompanies her mother-in-law to Bethlehem and there gains a reputation of a virtuous woman in Israel. The entire city of Bethlehem knew how good she was and told Naomi that Ruth was better to her than seven sons (Ruth 3:11, 4:15).

 
As the poor in Israel were accustomed to do, Ruth offers to go gleaning the barley fields being harvested. Gleaning was in effect gathering any stalks of barley that fell from the harvesters' hands and that were left on the field for the poor to gather to save them from starvation. Being new in the area, Ruth, unbeknown to her, chose a field that belonged to Boaz, a wealthy relative of Naomi's husband, but not just any relative. Naomi identifies him as the 'next kinsmen', the proper Hebrew name being "go'el", being a term from the realm of Israelite family law. It describes the near relatives to whom both law and custom gave certain duties towards the clan, one of them making it 'possible for a widow who had lost home and property to return to her former status and security and to have seed to perpetuate her family' (Old Testament Student Manual, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, p. 263). This is where it becomes really interesting. Naomi, a young woman does not seek a man closer to her own age and of her own liking to marry and get on with her life, she instead heeds the counsel of her mother-in-law and approaches Boaz to lay claim to a 'levirate marriage'. As the 'next kinsmen' it would be his duty to marry the widowed Ruth and provide her with offspring. This duty would have fallen to her husband's brother had he remained alive. What is even more interesting is that Naomi could have laid this claim herself but Naomi was too stricken in years to bear more children. By Ruth marrying and bearing a son, she provided a way for both women to be cared for in their old age. Lucky for Ruth, Boaz was a good man and was impressed that she was following the Israelite family law in seeking a rightful husband rather than going after her own selfish desires. He regarded her proposal as 'a proof of feminine virtue and modesty, that she had not gone after young men, but offered herself as a wife to an old man like him' (Old Testament Student Manual).  In his immortalized words:

"And he said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end that at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.
"And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman". (Ruth 3:10,11)

Imagine if Ruth's reputation had been any less than what it was. Would she have been able to save herself and Naomi from destitution? Would Boaz want to marry her? But Ruth was a virtuous woman, committed to the God of Israel and because of her commitment she came to Bethlehem empty but was filled in every way. She went from nothing to everything. Boaz married Ruth and they had a son, Obed who was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David who was a progenitor of Mary who was the mother of Christ (Ruth 4:17-22). By giving birth to Obed, Ruth brought honour again to her mother-in-law who was left childless: "And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom and became nurse unto it. And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed...." (Ruth 4:16,17). Thus by her life's choices Ruth became a symbol of selfless love to be emulated by all daughters of God.

Another remarkable woman of great spirit from the Old Testament is Hannah, mother of Samuel. Here is another lady who like Ruth could have believed that the Lord left her empty but who through her actions and faith, like Ruth,  received of His abundance. So many women who bore significant sons in early history were barren. It would seem that we learn greatest lessons from their experience. Not being able to bear children is a difficult cross to bear for any woman in any age but it was especially so for Hannah. She was barren in a time when 'it was a great reproach to a woman among the Jews to be barren; because, say some, every one hoped that the Messiah should spring from her line" (Clarke, Bible Commentary, 2:207, Old Testament Student Manual, p 267). Besides this hope, a woman brought great honour to her husband by giving him children, especially sons. At an age when women had little else to distinguish themselves by, child bearing was of utmost importance. Hannah's suffering from her condition was made even more difficult by the second wife of her husband, Peninnah, who tormented her and made her miserable by 'ostentatious exhibition of her children' (Old Testament Manual p 267). Hannah was greatly loved by her husband who favoured her which might explain Peninnah's merciless action.

As the family went up to Shiloh to the annual festivals to offer sacrifices at the tabernacle that was located there after the tribes settled in Canaan, Hannah took matters into her own hands. She knew there was only one place to go and only one god who could possibly know the state of her heart and who could alleviate her suffering. In her unwavering faith she made a covenant with the Lord that if He would give her a son she would bring him up as a Nazarite (1 Sam 1:11), dedicated to God all the days of his life through the Nazarite vow (Numbers 6). By this Hannah clearly showed that she was not interested in just fulfilling her heart's desire but that she wished to honour God as well so she made a deal that would not only benefit her but God too. This is an amazing act of selflessness. How many of us ask God constantly for what we want not giving any thought to what we can give in return? How many of us promise God in our prayers that we will do something for HIM? Usually we just keep asking and asking for more.

Hannah was a noble woman of the covenant, one who not only wanted to serve God but who wanted to secure real happiness for her son, the only true happiness that comes from knowing and serving God. When she explained to priest Eli the nature of her petition to God and Eli discharged her from the tabernacle saying 'Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him' (1 Sam 1:17), Hannah believed for 'her countenance was no more sad' (1 Sam 1:18). And herein lies another lesson, when you petition the Lord, walk away believing. Hannah did bear a son and she called his name Samuel, meaning in Hebrew 'heard of God' (Keil and Delitzch, Commentary, 2:2:25). This name served as a reminder to both Hannah and Samuel of the special circumstances and commitments relating to his birth (Old Testament Student Manual, p. 268).

When Samuel was weaned, Hannah honoured her promise to God and brought him to priest Eli to live and serve in the sanctuary for the remainder of his life. According to the custom of the day, Samuel was not weaned until he was three years old (Old Testament Student Manual, p 268). I have a three year old granddaughter, Addy. I cannot imagine how I would feel if she was suddenly no longer around. I know her mother would feel like her heart was ripped out of her chest. One cannot imagine how Hannah, who longed for a child, had the fortitude to hand him over to live with an old man and replace the carefree days of his childhood with service in the tabernacle, seeing him only once a year (1 Sam 2:20). But the God of Israel knew how Hannah would feel and He did not leave her heart empty. He filled it to the brim and rewarded her for keeping her word. Hannah went on to bear three more sons and two daughters.

".....and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it (Malachi 3:10)

If you have been left empty, you must believe, for the story is not over yet. The God of Israel desires to give you all that He has and to make of you all that He is. He has the power to restore what the locust have eaten (Joel 2:25). He has the power to make of you a fruitful field and to grant you eternal life. He is the bread of life and the living water. He is the God of Israel, the God of our fathers, the God of us all. He is the light, the truth and the way.

"For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes".  (Rev 7:17)