Love Thy Neighbor
Written by Christina Judd
When the angel woke King Benjamin in the middle of the night, he told king Benjamin to teach his people about Jesus Christ—His life, ministry, and mission. The effect that learning about Jesus Christ had on his people was astonishing. “And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had made an end of speaking the word which had been delivered unto him by the angel … that he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and behold they had fallen to earth, for … they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified” (Mosiah 4:2, emphasis added)
King Benjamin’s people did not cry with one voice—they did not become one—because their neighbor changed. The people became one because they viewed themselves in their own carnal state—saw their own weakness and sin—and cried out to God to change them.
In the movie, Encanto, the Abuela (the grandmother) wants the house to be perfect, and everyone in it to be as good and perfect as possible. But the house begins to crack and crumble. Mirabel wants to get to the bottom of it, but Abuela doesn’t want to acknowledge (let alone, accept) the problems–Her problems. She wants everything to look and seem and be perfect.
In one song Mirabel sings,
“Um, Bruno…
Yea, about that Bruno…
I really need to know about Bruno..
Gimme the truth and the whole truth Bruno…”
This is how we should come to Christ, “Yea, about that Jesus. I really need to know about Jesus. Gimme the truth and the whole truth, Jesus!” He already knows what is wrong in life and family; He needs us to see it and then cry out for Him to heal it.
Abuela’s fear of losing what she loves most is exactly what prevents her from seeing her problems. Only when she opens her eyes to the frailty and failings and imperfections in herself and in the house does her family finally, truly become one, and rebuild their home—on a new foundation!
We have a perfect foundation in Christ! When we are disappointed or uncomfortable with how we didn’t love our neighbor, or with how they didn’t love us, we do not numb and bury and hide and cover our emotions by calling a friend and gossiping, or by racing to our phones to numb our feelings away, or by trying to prove how right we are. We look at Jesus Christ and cry out honestly—we repent (Alma 34).
In 2020 my friend, Brenda Bird, a designer, made a sign that she put in her front yard. It read, “Love your neighbor” and then, with arrows pointing both directions, continued, “the one on the left and the one on the right.”
This year will likely be a special one. When we catch ourselves judging and blaming someone else for the fallen world in which we live, let us “see ourselves in our worthless and fallen state” (Mosiah 3-4) and cry out for the Savior to heal and perfect our hearts (3 Nephi 8-9:13).
Then we will be filled with power. Then we will be healed, changed, and made a little more perfect. Then we will part the veil between heaven and earth. Then we will be prepared to kneel in love and gratitude and adoration at the Savior’s feet when He comes again (3 Nephi 11).
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