Give What You Have Been Given 

Once, years ago, a dear friend of ours whom we’ll call Janice was struggling financially. She had been hurt in a car accident and was unable to work and unable to pay rent.

To help her out, we bought her a condo where she could live. She promised to pay us rent if she could, but we told her what we tell everyone we help, “You don’t have to repay us, but if you do, it will allow us to help more people.” She rarely paid anything and we were fine with that. 

She lived there for several years before she was approached by her niece whom we’ll call Clara. Clara wanted to attend school nearby and wanted to rent a room from her aunt Janice. Janice agreed and rented out a room in the condo to Clara. 

My husband and I knew that the rent was helping Janice and felt very pleased that our friend had offered to help someone else. Even though we were not being paid rent, it gave us the feeling that we were able to help multiple people. We were happy to help our friend even more because we felt that our generosity was being extended.

Clara was frugal but was not able to earn money as fast as she was spending it while attending school. She was paying rent and even assisting Janice with groceries. When Clara missed a rent payment, Janice got very upset with Clara and threatened to evict her. It became a big deal and Clara had to beg for money to cover her rent so she wouldn’t be thrown out.

This bothered my husband and I greatly. We had given to Janice freely requiring nothing in return. She had broken the Golden rule by doing unto others what she would not want done to her. It would have been very easy for my husband and I to begin to treat her the way she had been treating others, but we don’t want to live in a world where people do that, so we forgave her and understood that she did not yet know this important lesson. She did not yet understand that, “if you give what you have been given, you will receive more abundantly, but if you withhold that which you have received, you may lose that which was already given.”

We are All Beggars 

One of the main points King Benjamin taught his people is that God forgave them even when they were unworthy of that forgiveness. He pointed out that if we realized and always remember how good God is to us even when we are not deserving of that goodness and mercy, we will naturally begin to do the same. 

“For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?

20 And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.

21 And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another.” – Mosiah 4:12-21

Do unto Others as You Would Have
Them Do unto You

Christ has given us mercy and forgiven us of our sins. When we do not forgive others, we are like Janice who was not willing to give what she wanted to receive.

For the plan of salvation to work, we must turn judgement over to Christ and trust in him, letting go of our desire for justice. If we do not, then we frustrate the plan and risk losing our own claim on forgiveness.

There is an eternal law called “The Law of Universal Application”. This law encompases the Golden rule except that it tells us that what we do to others WILL be done to us. 

This is the principle on which each of the Kingdoms of God are based. For example, the reason that liars and thieves go to the Telestial world with all the other liars and thieves is to fulfill the Law of Universal Application by placing them in a world of their own creation which follows the rules and moral codes they themselves follow.

On the other hand, D&C 76 tells us that the first resurrection is for the Celestial which it calls “the Just”. It tells us that all who are “just and true” are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise and are promised exaltation. The Law of Universal Application is applied to them and they are placed in a world of their own making just like the Telestial people. But unlike the Telestial, the world created by Celestial people is a heavenly paradise because the people all love their enemies and treat each other with justice and equity even when they disagree. They receive that which they give others. (For more detail on this, go back to “The Law of Universal Application” under the chapter “The Victims of Sin”.

In a very direct way, we create the world we live in by what we do to others.

When we apply the Law of Universal Application, and realize that we will receive what we give, we realize that if we judge others we will be judged and if we forgive others, we will be forgiven. Christ understood this law and instructed us saying,

“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:” – Luke 6:36-37

“Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” – Matt. 7:1-2

Because this is an eternal law, we can accept the promise given in these scriptures that if we “judge not, we will not be judged” and that if we “forgive, we will be forgiven”. This perhaps is one of the greatest promises we can leverage in our effort to obtain exaltation or eternal life in the Celestial Kingdom.

Christ’s suffering the sins of men becomes an example of how we too should suffer the sins of others, willingly and patiently extending forgiveness to them, returning peace and kindness for their war and aggression.

“Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward (difficult to deal with).

19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” – 1 Peter 2:18-24

If we realize that our greatest advocate and supporter suffered because of our sins against those we harm, and that by harming others, we are harming him, the atonement will bring about in us the bowels of mercy such that we will love our enemy when they are unworthy just as Christ loved us when we were unworthy.

“And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal.

15 And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.

16 And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.” – Alma 34:14-16

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” – Col. 3:12-13

The Wise Jew

Once, as a teenager, I was watching the news one Saturday. A story came on that I have never forgotten. There was an anti-semitic march happening. The protesters held signs and repeated their anti Jew chants as the newscaster spoke to onlookers. What was interesting is that this anti-semitic march was happening in a predominantly Jewish community. It was appalling! 

Imagine if people walked through your community with signs and chants telling you how much they hated you and that they wanted you to leave the country. How would you react?

The cameraman scanned the neighborhood and there were a surprising number of residents sitting in lawn chairs watching the march sitting comfortably, some holding a glass of wine or water. The reporter began to interview one of these residents who acknowledged that he and his neighbors were Jews. She asked how he felt about the anti-Jew march happening in front of his house. He responded, “I love it. I think it’s great!” 

She and the rest of us were surprised by his response, then he explained, “It just shows us how free we are in this wonderful country. They have the right to voice their thoughts and opinions openly and if I wanted to, I could march through their neighborhood voicing my thoughts and options. I feel blessed to live in a country where I have such freedom as we are witnessing right now.”

He was right about so many things. Particularly, the Jews in that neighborhood knew that by taking away the freedom of speech and the freedom to protest of those in the march, they would be limiting their own freedom of speech and protest. You cannot limit the freedoms of your enemy without limiting your own freedom.

Step 1 – Equality for Your Enemy

Loving your enemy does not mean that you have to agree with them. It does mean that you must protect them and their freedom. This is the first step to loving your enemy because you don’t have to love them to protect them and their rights. You only have to let go of your hate for them. If you hate your enemy, then you are willing to act immorally toward them by denying them the same rights, freedoms and liberties that you claim for yourself. 

Hate causes us to do the most terrible and immoral things. Hate encourages us to be unfair and to justify mistreatment toward one person which we would excuse in another.

The first step to loving our enemy is to let go of our hate for them enough to extend to them equality. By ensuring that our enemy has equal rights with us, we are also protecting our own rights and freedoms.

The more you enforce your views, beliefs, and ideals on others, you pave the way for them to force their views, beliefs and ideals on you. When you side with the majority, you are happy to be able to impose your views on others. But when you fall among the minority and you are being forced to live contrary to your own will and desires you will realize the trap you’ve created for yourself.

The first key of loving your enemy is to always seek to make them equal with you in freedoms, rights and privileges. 

This principle is not only for our personal growth toward perfection, but it is a “Principle of Peace”. Peace cannot be maintained in any society that does not secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience.

“We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.

…

4 We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.”  – D&C 134:2-4

When we enact laws, we must consider the Law of Universal Application and enact laws which offer the same freedom of choice for others to live as they wish that we seek for ourselves. We must not support or enact laws that take away the free exercise of conscience.

We can use the Law of Universal Application to help us by reversing the scenario we are considering so that we are the minority and the majority are enacting the opposing law.

For example, let’s say that your personal view was that smoking was bad and you wanted to create a law that outlawed smoking. To apply the law of Universal Application, you would pretend that the majority of the world were smokers and that they were going to create a law that forced you to smoke. Under that circumstance, you would hope that it would be illegal for them to force their will on you even though they are the majority. The law you were considering would be immoral even though it was in your opinion the right or healthy choice to make.

Instead of taking away the rights of others to choose to smoke, you would allow smoking as long as it didn’t interfere with the rights of others to not smoke. Securing the freedoms of both sides to choose to smoke or not smoke as they pleased.  

This is one of the principles of righteousness on which the powers of heaven are handled and controlled. If we have the powers of heaven, and cause a famine, then we and all the righteous must equally suffer the famine with the wicked so that we do not become respecters of persons.

We see this throughout the scriptures. Even Elijah whose word stopped the rain was subject to the results of that decision.

“And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.” – 1 Kings 17:1-7

Elijah caused the rain to stop, but loved his enemy as himself by subjecting himself to the same drought that his enemy was subject to. Equality is the essential foundation of loving our enemy.

Step 2 – Generosity for Your Enemy 

It is one thing to protect your enemies’ rights and another to be generous to them. You can protect their rights without really loving them. Being generous to your enemy not only requires you to tear away your negative and hateful emotions but to replace them with kindness and love. 

Being kind to your enemy can be very difficult. It is much easier to help out a loved one or even a stranger who has no history with you. But to extend your generosity to someone who has declared themselves to be your enemy in word or action is a real test.

Remember the story of the good Samaritan. When he came across someone who was beset by thieves, he did not first check to see if the person was a friend or foe, Jew or Samaritan. Be willing to extend your generosity to all who are in need equally, including those who are against you, your ideals, beliefs and goals

Loving your enemy means that if you own a bakery and you would sell a cake to your friend, you would also sell a cake to your enemy with the same kindness and support. 

Just as God causes the sun to shine on the good and the evil equally, and sends the rain on both the good and the evil so too should we treat both our friends and our enemies the same.

Loving your enemy also means to be generous to them as you would be to those you love. There are so many scriptures that show a direct connection between Charity and helping the poor. The connection is so strong that we often call helping the poor, “giving Charity”. This has been a teaching of Christ throughout all of scripture.

“Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” – Matt. 25:42

“And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.

17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—

18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.” – Mosiah 4:16-18

This holds true for both your friends and your enemies. Learn to give charity to your enemies as you would to your friends.

Step 3 – Become the Example

We live in a world that doesn’t know what love is or how to love others. Just as God has shown us what love is by loving us first, so too we need to show the world what love is by loving them first. We need to be an example of love to the world so that they too can learn love by example.

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” – Matt. 5:14-16

By doing this, we show that we are disciples of Jesus Christ.

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” – John 13:34-35

When we love others, we show the world by example what love is and how to apply it. Every act of love makes the world more loving. The greatest acts of love happen when we are being hurt by others and respond with love.

“Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:” – 1 Peter 2:18-23

When we suffer with love and patience acts of wickedness against us, like Christ did, we stop the cycle and put an end to the hate rather than allowing it to circulate through us back toward our enemy. In this way, we become like Christ who was innocent and suffered the sins of the world. We, like Christ, become the victim of sin and not its source.