Elder S. Mark Palmer talks about things he learned while serving as a mission president. He speaks about learning from the stories of the Savior about how to see his missionaries and how to see others in the way the Savior did. He uses the word "beholding" to talk about the affection and love that he had for those that he served with.
He speaks about 4 things that he learned about working with others that has helped him serve in the Savior's way.
These 4 points give us something to consider when we review how we interact with others. When I look at others, I try to see them as the Savior sees them and I try to make sure that our interactions are uplifting. The Lord expects much from us and we need to step up to meet the expectations upon us.
He speaks about 4 things that he learned about working with others that has helped him serve in the Savior's way.
- As we learn to see others as the Lord sees them rather than with our own eyes, our love for them will grow and so will our desire to help them. We will see potential within others they likely do not see in themselves. With Christlike love we will not be afraid to speak with boldness, for “perfect love casteth out fear.” And we will never give up, remembering that those who are hardest to love need love the most.
- No true teaching or learning will ever occur when done in frustration or anger, and hearts will not change where love is not present. Whether we act in our roles as parents, teachers, or leaders, true teaching will happen only in an atmosphere of trust rather than condemnation. Our homes should always be safe havens for our children—not hostile environments.
- Love should never be withdrawn when a child, friend, or family member fails to live up to our expectations. We don’t know what happened to the rich young man after he went away sorrowful, but I am confident Jesus still loved him perfectly even if he chose the easier path. Perhaps later in life, as he found his great possessions hollow, he remembered and acted on the singular experience of His Lord beholding him, loving him, and inviting him to follow Him.
- Because He loves us, the Lord expects much of us. If we are humble, we will welcome the Lord’s invitations to repent, to sacrifice, and to serve as evidence of His perfect love for us. After all, an invitation to repent is also an invitation to receive the wonderful gift of forgiveness and peace. Therefore, “despise not … the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.”
These 4 points give us something to consider when we review how we interact with others. When I look at others, I try to see them as the Savior sees them and I try to make sure that our interactions are uplifting. The Lord expects much from us and we need to step up to meet the expectations upon us.
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