Bearing One Another's Burdens

A friend recently commented that I hadn't posted on my blog recently. The reason was that last weekend the one word that stuck in my head that I would have titled the post would have been "Wallowing". And I prefer to be more positive in my blog posts.

But I have to admit there are times where it is perfectly acceptable to allow yourself to wallow. Along with my wallowing there were occasional bright spots and signs of better things to come.

This wallowing came from a variety of things that piled up on top of me. And most of the time it's not really about me, but about feeling the pain and suffering of those around me. So this week I thought more about how we bear one another's burdens.

Rather you think you do this or not I believe that we all do this, or I would like to think that we all do this at times. I wondered if those that are suffering and in pain (not just physical) understand our journey with them. I know they don't want to impose their suffering onto us and they don't do it with intent, but it is there for us to receive and to help them bear it.

We do this by listening, by providing any physical assistance we can and by providing emotional assistance, encouraging words along their path.

Here is an excerpt from the Liahona Magazine, Nov 2006 that captures this much better than I can.

By Elder Dallin H. Oaks

He Heals the HeavyLaden

Healing blessings come in many ways, each suited to our individual needs, as known to Him who loves us best. Sometimes a “healing” cures our illness or lifts our burden. But sometimes we are “healed” by being given strength or understanding or patience to bear the burdens placed upon us.

The people who followed Alma were in bondage to wicked oppressors. When they prayed for relief, the Lord told them He would deliver them eventually, but in the meantime He would ease their burdens “that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses … that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions” (Mosiah 24:14). In that case the people did not have their burdens removed, but the Lord strengthened them so that “they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord” (v. 15).

This same promise and effect applies to you mothers who are widowed or divorced, to you singles who are lonely, to you caregivers who are burdened, to you persons who are addicted, and to all of us whatever our burden. “Come unto Christ,” the prophet says, “and be perfected in him” (Moroni 10:32).

At times we may despair that our burdens are too great. When it seems that a tempest is raging in our lives, we may feel abandoned and cry out like the disciples in the storm, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 4:38). At such times we should remember His reply: “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” (v. 40).

The healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ—whether it removes our burdens or strengthens us to endure and live with them like the Apostle Paul—is available for every affliction in mortality.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,” the Savior said, “and I will give you rest … unto your souls” (Matthew 11:28–29).

As we struggle with the challenges of mortality, I pray for each of us, as the prophet Mormon prayed for his son, Moroni: “May Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, … and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever” (Moroni 9:25).