They are already Perfect!

Does the world seek answers for why some are born different? Why some are born with visible physical differences, some are mentally inferior and others with emotional ailments. In the olden days, doctors recommended that they be locked away from the world in institutions. Some lived their entire lives in little cages simply because the elite medical and scientific minds of this world could not figure out or find the answers for why they are born. They still don’t. “These valiant spirits are put on this earth to perfect the way that we think, act, love and live our lives. If the story of the Good Samaritan makes any sense, our compassion and service to these special spirits will perfect our minds, our hearts, our beings and our eternal spirits.” Someone recently asked me: "You have the priesthood, but your faith is not enough. Why couldn't you lay your hands on Ariana and Isaiah and make them normal?" The answer is very simple as my wife stated in our FHE "The priesthood is the power to act on God’s behalf, not the power to change his will."

The ultimate answer though is; they are protected from the world, they are God's most valiant spirit, they have their eternal estate made sure, why would I want to take that celestial gift away from them; to be normal? No, they are already perfect whilst we, the supposedly normal, need to work our behinds off, make good choices, withstand the buffeting and temptations of the devil, fight through the daily ups and downs to get there. No, I will not use the priesthood to unprotect them just because of my and others selfish purposes. As we sat down one night for scripture reading, my wife said to the kids: "Isaiah and Ariana have their eternal estate made sure, but we don't. We need to work hard and stay worthy so that we can be with them as an eternal family. Please, I don't want anyone missing!" God's plan is perfect; it answers what the world cannot answer for these absolutely beautiful and amazing angels that are living within our midst. 

Sometimes we look at faces, limbs and other features of those around us and with our natural senses begin to judge. We may even be like his disciples when they saw a blind man since birth asked: “Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” The Lord answered: “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” Then he made this startling statement: “I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” His constant invitation is to “Come Follow Me” or in other words he told his disciples: “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” “Whatever ye see me do, do thou likewise.” Is the Lord telling us that his work is to perfect the imperfect? To the Pharisees question: “Are we blind also?” he stated: “If ye were blind, ye should have no sin; but…ye see; therefore your sin remaineth.”

The Lord always sought, first, the downtrodden, the lame, the sick, the blind, the leper, the hungry, the lame and the disabled. After teaching the people of America, his first thoughts were:

“My bowels are filled with compassion towards you. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, of that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither...”

"Would it be that when Christ saw these faces that he remembered those great and noble souls that stood by his side in the pre-existence, completely unafraid and undeterred by the forces of evil that were about to overthrow his father’s kingdom? These are they, who stood at the frontline with the saviour as he banished them. Their gift was to be sent to the earth, clothed in a body, protected from Satan and his buffetings and receive all that Heavenly Father hath." 

Always remember and never forget; “They are God’s most valiant of spirits, perfect in every way, put on earth to perfect our hearts, minds, beings and spirits.”

 

Elder Holland taught: “Not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with, here, now, every day. Some reside in our own neighbourhoods.” The Lord said; “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.” In last October’s General Conference Elder Holland said: “In any case we’ve all taken courage from those who in the words of the prophet Joseph “Searched and contemplated the darkest abyss and persevered through it, not the least of which were Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill and Elder George Albert Smith who battled recurring depressions for several years before later becoming the universally beloved 8th President and Prophet of the Church.”  

We cannot idly sit by and just watch the faces or hear the cries of those whom are afflicted with blindness, Down syndrome, bipolar, MDD, autism, ADD and deaf and do nothing…we need to “do something more”. Of such services are dignity, solemnity, compassion, understanding, clarity and strength born; of such is the kingdom of God. Elder Holland finished his talk with: “We must remember that these (broken) vessels are in the hands of the divine potter. Broken minds can be healed just the way broken bones and broken hearts are healed, while God is at work making those repairs, the rest of us can help by being merciful, non-judgmental and kind. I testify of the holy resurrection…I testify that with Paul that which is sewn in corruption will one day be raised in incorruption and that which was sewn in weakness will ultimately be raised in power. I bear witness of that day when loved ones whom we knew to have disabilities in mortality will stand before us glorified and grand, breathtakingly perfect in body and mind. Until that hour of Christ gift is evident to us all, may we live by faith, hold fast to hope and show compassion one of another I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”  

Love, love, love,

Fale Mahe

Scriptural References: Mathew 19:14, John 5:19, Chapter 9, I Corinthians 15: 41-44, Romans 8:21, Colossians 3:4, Jacob 2:17-19, Mosiah 4:26, 16: 10, Alma 11:45, 3 Nephi 12:42, 17:5-9, D&C 84:88, 88:27, 112, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland GC Talks October 2008 “Ministry of Angels” and October 2013 “Like a Broken Vessel”, Children Songbook Page 12 “A Child’s Prayer.”