Read Part I by clicking HERE.
Read Part II by clicking
HERE.
I will focus on one gift that comes with finding and following the voice of the Lord - and I will do it by recounting something I recently read about the LDS handcart pioneers.
The Bunker Company was the third company to leave Iowa City, and because most of the members did not keep a record, not much is known about their experience. However, 21 year-old Priscilla Evans does give us a little glimpse. At one point, she describes the condition of those with whom she shared a tent each night:
"There were in our tent a man with one leg (my husband), two blind, Thomas Giles being one of them, one man with one arm, and a widow with five children."
This is the account from ONE tent (there were about 10-11 tents in the company with about 20 people in each tent) - and this is not to mention the overall sickness and weakness that seemed so prevalent with the immigrants.
And, here you have Edward Bunker, their leader, staring at the challenge and responsibility of taking these Saints 1300 miles on foot while pulling handcarts.
Now, I want you to picture me - but, picture me with your spiritual eyes. You will see a soul that is not much different than the physical condition of those Saints in the Bunker Company - battered, bruised, scarred. In fact, when we look at each other with our spiritual eyes, this will be the case. This is the natural consequence of our involvement in the fight against evil and sin. Remember, ALL of Helaman's 2000 were wounded, yet none were fatally wounded.
So, here's my question:
Will you be my Edward Bunker? Will you help carry my battered soul to Zion? I have covenanted to do that for you.
That is the gift that I wish to emphasize - CHARITY. The ability to look at others with our spiritual eyes, assess how we can help them, then do as we have covenanted to do.
Parley Pratt was able to do this for Thomas Giles, one of the blind men in Priscilla's tent. He was traveling with his wife, two sons, and a baby daughter. His daughter died early on. And, near Fort Bridger, he finally collapsed with illness. The party waited two days in hope that he would recover, but they had to move on. With 2 men left behind to bury Thomas when he died, Parly Pratt came upon the men on his way out east. Parly knew Giles from his time in Wales. He gave him a priesthood blessing:
"that he should instantly be healed and made well, that he should rejoin his company and arrive safely in the Salt Lake Valley; that he should there rear a family, and that because of his faithfulness he would be permitted to live as long as he wanted."
All the promises were fulfilled.
In closing, I would like to share a poem that certainly applies to the church as a whole. But, it also applies to each of our souls:
Line upon line
The stone was cut.
Angelic voices from on high
Confirm the truth, "The Lord is nigh!"
Precept upon precept
Without hands.
The gathering words are assured,
As Zion's beauty and people endured.
Here a little, there a little
Until the stone rolled forth.
Sending the wicked asunder
Leaving all to witness the marvelous work and wonder.
In our lives, if we faithfully follow the divine process of earning light to our souls, the coming of the Lord will occur - it will occur in our hearts and in our daily lives. Then, WE will be a marvelous work and wonder of the Lord.
I love the Holy Ghost and all He does for me.
