This is a talk I prepared and delivered in sacrament meeting on May 29, 2016-- the topic of which is opposition. I desire to keep this post in speech format partly out of laziness, and mostly because I like using my imagination and think you might also enjoy doing so!
So, imagine, if you will, you are sitting on a cushioned wooden pew somewhere in a chapel with rows of pews behind and in front of you. Up ahead on the "stage" you see a wooden pulpit in the center with an attached microphone. Behind the pulpit, you see empty chairs facing the congregation where a choir might sit. To the right, you observe an organ with the organist and chorister sitting nearby in those choir chairs. In front of the organ, you notice a tall rectangular stand with contents placed on it in which are covered by a beautiful white lace cloth. To the left, you see three men, who appear to be of some importance, sitting in nice suits with white shirts and ties. To the left of the men, sit three persons holding their phones and papers, looking around and back down at their papers anxiously. You also recognize a wooden piano on the left behind the people. Up above, you examine long, beautiful organ pipes. One of the anxious persons stands and moves to the pulpit with her white papers. Her body seems slightly tense; she leans lightly against the pulpit, out of a desire for comfort and security. This person is me!
Something like this anyway.
Ok, now the setting is established in your mind. It is as if you were there ready to listen to my talk! Now, think of your best Angela speech giving voice and read on!
Introduction
Good morning Brothers and Sisters. I am Angela Beus. My husband, Porter, spoke with you a few weeks ago regarding maintaining joy during adversity and keeping an unquenchable faith. My topic is the main factor which opposes maintaining such a joy and faith; it is opposition. Common questions presented during periods of opposition are: “Why?”; “Why me?”; “Why now?”; and “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Many of these questions are answered by:
a) understanding the plan of salvation God has presented to all of us,
b) choosing to build and maintain faith in Heavenly Father’s individual plans for us, and
c) understanding and utilizing the atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives to heal, change, and progress forward during these opposing times.
Initially, I will spend a large portion of time referencing the April 2016 General Conference talk “Opposition in all Things” by Elder Dallin H. Oaks, one of the current 12 apostles of the church. He eloquently and accurately describes opposition in relation to Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation.
During the remaining portions of my talk, I will share with you some of the opposition I have recently encountered regarding my parents. It is a rather personal story, however, if I am to effectively bear my testimony of the necessity of opposition in Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation, I better use the greatest example of opposition I have encountered. I will also describe how the atonement of Jesus Christ actively changes my life and enables my own progression.
Plan of Salvation and Opposition
According to President Thomas S. Monson, the current prophet of our day, God’s purpose for his children in mortality is “to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life.” Speaking with the Prophet Moses from the Old Testament, Heavenly Father declares, “For Behold, this is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.“
In order to “progress toward perfection and “realize our divine destiny as heirs of eternal life”, We must be given the opportunity to live on this Earth to make choices with our given agency, learn, and progress. How could we learn if we didn’t make the occasional wrong choice? In some cases there is clearly a right and a wrong choice. In other instances, there are good, better, and best ways of doing things. Heavenly Father gave us commandments by which we could choose to obey and live our lives by. These are laws and guides which helps us progress on this Earth. Elder Dallin H. Oaks, in his talk referenced prior, states “we progress by making choices, by which we are tested to show that we will keep God’s commandments. To be tested, we must have the agency to choose between alternatives. To provide alternatives on which to exercise our agency, we must have opposition.”
In 2 Nephi 2:11, Lehi teaches us, “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so...righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness, nor misery, neither good nor bad...” In essence, if there was no opposition, we would not be able to be tested, nor “progress toward perfection and eternal life,” as said by President Monson. Because we are not perfect, we will make mistakes--we will sin. Sin separates us from our Father in Heaven. This sin halts our progression, keeping us from proceeding to our eternal destiny. “No unclean thing can dwell before God.” So, we must somehow make amends. Heavenly Father has provided for us a way to justly make right our wrongs. He provides for us a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who willingly gave his life to bear our griefs, sorrows, and sins. The death of the sinless, pure son of God can atone for all of our sins. Because He rose again three days later, he has defeated death--physical death and spiritual death, which is sin. Through the Recognition of our errors and repentance, or learning and changing our nature through conversion to Christ’s gospel, Christ’s atonement is what leads us to grow toward perfection and our eternal destiny.
Adam and Eve were met with opposition in the Garden of Eden when Lucifer, the serpent, beguiles them into eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil forbidden by Heavenly Father. Adam and Eve were also commanded to multiply and replenish the Earth. It was necessary for Adam and Eve to meet opposition and partake of the fruit to progress in the plan of salvation. For, had they not partaken, Lehi states, “They would have remained in a state of innocence,...doing no good, for they knew no sin.” The fall made it possible for Adam and Eve to have children and created the need for a savior, Jesus Christ, as was planned in the pre-existence. “Adam fell that man might be, and men are that they might have joy.” It is through our own cyclical processes of falling, repenting, exercising obedience to God’s laws, and making covenants with Heavenly Father, that will lead us to our eternal inheritances-- that is everlasting life and a fullness of joy.
Opposition Caused by our Weaknesses/Sins
So, this is the plan God presents to us. Some of us were taught this plan as a child, others as adults, and maybe there are a few of us here that are hearing about this plan for the first time as I speak. The plan makes sense. However, at times, remembering it and applying it during times of opposition--of extreme spiritual, emotional, or physical pain--proves to be difficult (I think) especially when we are at fault. Elder Kent F. Richards of the Seventy in his talk "The Atonement Covers All Pain" explains:
“Spiritual pain lies deep within our souls and can feel unquenchable, even as being racked with an 'inexpressible horror,' as Alma described. It comes from our sinful actions and lack of repentance. For this pain too there is a cure that is universal and absolute. It is from the Father, through the Son, and it is for each of us who is willing to do all that is necessary to repent. Christ said, 'Will ye not now return unto me … and be converted, that I may heal you?'”
I have a firm testimony of the healing power of repentance and of the blessings that come from obedience to our creator’s laws. I am a convert to the church; the end of this month will mark 2 years since I came forth out of the waters of the baptismal font. I come from a family who knows pain in all of its forms. My mother struggled with health problems all of her life. She suffered from kidney failure due to insulin-dependent diabetes. In 2007, she received her new kidney and pancreas. She labored through four to five severe rejections of the transplanted kidney which require agonizing treatments including low-dose chemotherapy and plasmapheresis. My father traveled for work to support the family. He struggled to cope with my mom’s failing health and proceeded to make many mistakes, which affected our family. Their marriage suffered, as there were other women involved. You can imagine the guilt he felt and the neglect and betrayal my mother felt. My father turned to alcoholism and more women in a self-destructive attempt to ease his sorrows. He returned to home less often, and when he did, you can imagine the lack of harmony in the home. Eventually, I left home for college and visited only on the weekends, which lessened my burden. My mother became more and more bitter, angry, sick, and depressed. My father become consumed with guilt, confusion, and his own anger. I also became distant, bitter and angry. I was reluctant to visit my mother, because I knew the topic of conversation would be my father. I built a large wall of defenses around my heart. I was angry with my father and hardly spoke kindly to him over the phone. My father became non-functioning due to his choice to drink, which meant there was no more income for my parents. The money quickly dwindled away and their social struggles began. My mother was in and out of the hospital due to her transplanted organ rejections-- Her emotional and physical state dwindling along with my Father’s. It was as if a pack of wolves entered our home and almost completely destroyed it.
This pain, this opposition, self-imposed and otherwise seemed unbearable. I wanted to be happy. We all do. I decided I would seek it and strive for it at whatever cost. What is life worth if there is no light and only darkness? There seems to only be darkness sometimes, especially, if you do not know the light the plan of salvation brings. I didn’t know this plan well. I started seeking light through intimate relationships, through different churches, through school, dance, and work. These were nice, but they weren’t enough. I became frustrated with the relationships and the different churches. They just weren’t fully what I needed. They weren’t complete. I wanted the brightest light, the greatest truth, for surely, that is where everlasting happiness would be. The greatest need that I have is the need to progress in this mortal life--in Heavenly Father’s plan. When that need is met, the foundation is set and from there, I can build upon that foundation, also finding joy in the simple pleasures of life within the bounds my creator has set. I would never feel that incompleteness again because that greatest need is met.
I found this light and met this need through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. During my lessons and being around these people who had this bright light, I knew I could not deny my soul conversion to this church’s presentation of the gospel of Christ. It felt right, complete. Out of love for my mother and boyfriend, I found myself giving in to their social pressures; I even tried to stop my conversion at one point, but it gave me such grief to do so. My mother and my boyfriend, at the time, thought I was blindly diving into a restrictive cult. They feared the changes within me that would come. I knew I had to change if I wanted this happiness. I knew this is where God wanted me. I never felt such a closeness with my savior until this point. I made many changes. I ended my intimate relationship, due to covenants I was making with my Heavenly Father. I knew we would no longer be compatible and his influence would make it more difficult for me become who I needed to become. I stopped working with a passion of mine, which was the science and art of coffee-making, latte art competitions and etc. I stopped going out for a beer with friends, so my social circle changed. I was isolated. My mother was disappointed with me. These changes came at a price and they hurt. I had to do it to change. I knew the power of the influence of my environment. All I wanted, was to learn more of this truth I discovered. I dove in. I fell many times, I got back up, I chose to obey His commandments and bear the name of Christ.
Everything around me was changing. My mother’s heart softened towards me, towards my decision to join the church, and towards her situation. I met Porter, who has aided me with every step of my conversion--from the end of my investigation of the church up to the present. He aided me through each burden I faced with my parents up until their passing and I get to continue to enjoy his company. I was blessed to be sealed to him in the Temple and gained a large, loving, supportive family. Before she died, My mother grew to love him. I began to serve others through church callings, and this gave me more purpose and joy than I had known before. I hungered for more--more general conference talks by prophets, more institute lessons, more ordinances. This was the key. It changed me. My pride lessened. Those walls of defense around my heart smashed to the ground. The wounds of my heart opened to the air, beginning to heal. I began talking to my dad weekly. I no longer told him what he SHOULD be doing. I just loved him. I was no longer reluctant to visit my mom. I just loved her and it was hard. I had to keep practicing and trying. Little, by little, the Spirit worked within me. Before my mother died, she seemed happier, at peace with her life as much as she could be. She told me she wouldn’t become mormon, but she was proud of me. She said the change improved our relationship--it made me a better person. A week after she died, I had a dream she came to me and said, “The LDS Faith is true.” That dream is a beautiful gift from Heavenly Father in which I will prize for all of my life. I kept loving my dad. He even got to walk me down the aisle at the rings ceremony portion of our wedding, something he longed to do one day. He also got to be inside the waiting area of the house of our Lord, the Temple. He received blessings from elders at his sickest moments and they read the book of mormon to him. He told me how much that touched him. He said, “No other church would do such a thing.” He even told me he wanted to come home and be baptised into the church a week before he passed beyond the veil. He died of alcoholism. The money, the women, the alcohol, the grief--he chose many poor coping mechanisms. He suffered greatly and his vices took his life. His grief took his life. However, I saw Christ’s love, like a sword, pierce through that darkness he surrounded himself with. The power of charity, the power of this gospel will bring light and always defeat darkness. Even though my dad was not at the point in which he would believe that there was any light left for him, my own light was enough to give him a glimpse of Christ’s atonement. I truly believe he will be ready for his ordinance work in August.This gospel, this plan powerfully changes people on this earth and changes those beyond the veil. I know this because of what I have experienced in the Temple with my family whom have passed on, including my mother and her mother.
Conclusion/Testimony
The gospel of Jesus Christ makes opposition bearable. It is necessary for growth. Yes, I hurt and endured some painful times (and my parents even worse), but I would never erase them from my history because of the knowledge, light, and beauty I now know. I am becoming the person God would have me be (maybe slowly, but surely). This is who I want to become. It makes me happy.
Some of you still might say, “But why do bad things happen to good people?” "Why do bad things happen to those who do not bring the worst upon themselves?" I say, thinking this way might indeed bring the worst upon us. For if we do not come against opposition and suffer some affliction, we will not grow. If we do not grow, we shrivel away to nothing. A plant that is not pruned or watered, shrivels away to nothing. A plant watered, but not pruned, does not grow properly. A plant properly watered and pruned grows to its full potential in ideal conditions. As will we all if we continue to repent, keep the commandments, and have faith in Heavenly Father’s plan for us. These are those ideal conditions. When we strive to achieve this, Heavenly Father takes notice and blesses us. This is how we find true joy.
It is also important to note that people have different strengths and weaknesses. Because of our individual differences, we cannot compare our afflictions. What might seem easy to you might be the most difficult trial for another. You may think others have it easier than you. If you were to ask them this, they might say the same thing about you. Therefore, it is of no use to compare trials in this way. However, we can empathise and aid others who go through similar trials we experience. Christ, familiar with the trials of every person, empathises with us and aides us in a way no other person in mortality can.
Heavenly Father and Christ understand our pain. Alma prophesied that “he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and … he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. …
“That his bowels may be filled with mercy, … that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.”
And if Christ chose to endure this pain to understand us and to enable our salvation, perhaps, we endure our own pains so that we may also understand him and progress like Him. He will not always take away our burdens, but he will help us bear it. Elder Dallin H. Oaks teaches:“Healing blessings come in many ways, each suited to our individual needs, as known to Him who loves us best. Sometimes a ‘healing’ cures our illness or lifts our burden. But sometimes we are ‘healed’ by being given strength or understanding or patience to bear the burdens placed upon us. All that will come may be 'clasped in the arms of Jesus.' All souls can be healed by His power. All pain can be soothed. In Him, we can 'find rest unto [our] souls.' Our mortal circumstances may not immediately change, but our pain, worry, suffering, and fear can be swallowed up in His peace and healing balm.”I know these things to be true from my own experiences. I am happier than I could have imagined. Sure, I still get sad and discouraged. We fall and we get back up. Christ can and will help lift us back up. This I testify in His name, Jesus Christ, Amen.
You notice me walk back to my seat near the leadership (bishopric) and take my seat.
Some Background Info
A little background on sacrament meeting: It is the first hour or period (of three) of church on Sunday. During sacrament meeting, the Aaronic priesthood (or boys usually between the ages of 12-17 who are blessed and given authority to perform certain duties like blessing the sacrament) bless the bread and water. They pass the bread and water to everyone. Everyone able and who is worthy partakes of the sacrament (a word similar to it in other churches is communion). This is a sacred ordinance in which Heavenly Father gives us the opportunity to renew our covenants in which we have made with him and remember the atonement of his son, Jesus Christ. It is a moment to commune with our creator and feel his love. It's a refreshing feeling. During the remainder of the meeting, 3-4 people deliver prepared talks on specific topics assigned. Every 1st Sunday of the month is fast and testimony meeting, in which members come fasting, if they choose, and are given the opportunity to bear their testimonies / life experiences / etc in stead of 3-4 people giving prepared speeches. The second hour is Sunday school with a few options of classes to choose from (Family History, Gospel Principles, Gospel Doctrine, Marriage Classes, etc). The third hour class is divided by gender into relief society and priesthood. Women go to relief society and men go to priesthood.
