To paraphrase, she claimed, 'I have a much deeper respect for those who have sinned and repented than for those who have never fallen away. They (who have sinned and returned), have been through a lot more than those who haven't made major mistakes in their life. And that is why I will always hold a deeper respect for them.'
I was much younger then and had kept myself very clean up until that point - so her saying that - upset me greatly. How dare she say such a thing?! She doesn't know what I've been through! The temptations I've faced! How hard it is for me to hold to my standards!
Now, looking back with more experienced eyes...I see that while the indignation that fueled my response has dissipated, the truth of it still stands. While everyone of course, is free to hold their own views as to what is admirable...I think it is dangerous to allow one's self to travel too far down this track in regards to measuring another's life. The risk of being judgmental is high.
In my own life, having faced the consequences of poor choices, I now possess an understanding of the Atonement and a compassion for the sinner that I might not have had otherwise. Do I think that I am a better person having fallen away and returned - than if I had never sinned at all?
No. If I could go back and change those choices, I don't know what I would do. I think because I made those choices, the Lord then granted me the opportunity to learn what I could from them. As painful as those lessons were, they have helped make me the person I am. I don't know if anyone would purposefully inflict that kind of suffering on themselves, but I am not displeased with the end result.
Deep down in my heart though, I wish I hadn't disappointed my Heavenly Father in that way. I wish that I had always stayed on the straight and narrow and not messed up.
Do I think that those who have never strayed are better than those who did?
No. I think they have a different point of view to share.
And I think together, these different perspectives help fill out our understanding of the gospel.
In Corinthians 12:4-7, we read,
"4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."
This scripture came to me when I was pondering on this whole subject. At first, it struck me as an odd passage to come to mind because I always considered gifts of the Spirit to pertain more specifically to talents or abilities given to a person. I never considered life experiences, lessons, trials, sufferings to be gifts of the Spirit as well. That each person's life would be a gift for their Spirit.
We know that we came to Earth to be tested and proved, that we might return to live with the Father. I can better see now, how each spirit in its uniqueness would need a specific range of gifts in varying intensities and operating in their own special ways to help the individual reach their own divine eternal potential.
But each life was "given to every man to profit withal." And that is why we gather together to share. We better learn the gospel through the diversity of gifts. It is one of the reasons we strive to share the gospel throughout the world. The more we share, the more we learn and grow in our understanding of the truth.
I can now forgive that sister for unintentionally hurting me. And lovingly say, that I still wholeheartedly disagree with her statement. And be thankful for all the wonderful gifts that surround me - not only in the talented people I know but in the awesome lives they live.
This scripture came to me when I was pondering on this whole subject. At first, it struck me as an odd passage to come to mind because I always considered gifts of the Spirit to pertain more specifically to talents or abilities given to a person. I never considered life experiences, lessons, trials, sufferings to be gifts of the Spirit as well. That each person's life would be a gift for their Spirit.
We know that we came to Earth to be tested and proved, that we might return to live with the Father. I can better see now, how each spirit in its uniqueness would need a specific range of gifts in varying intensities and operating in their own special ways to help the individual reach their own divine eternal potential.
But each life was "given to every man to profit withal." And that is why we gather together to share. We better learn the gospel through the diversity of gifts. It is one of the reasons we strive to share the gospel throughout the world. The more we share, the more we learn and grow in our understanding of the truth.
I can now forgive that sister for unintentionally hurting me. And lovingly say, that I still wholeheartedly disagree with her statement. And be thankful for all the wonderful gifts that surround me - not only in the talented people I know but in the awesome lives they live.
