All Of Life's Problems Can Be Solved

In a recent training meeting we were taught by inspired Church leaders. The Spirit was strong. The theme of the meeting was: “All of life’s problems, including death, can be solved through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.” At first this statement seemed almost too good to be true. ‘All’ is such an absolute concept. No wiggle room. Nothing to debate. Nothing to question. Not ‘almost all’, but ‘all’! What a comforting thought for anyone with problems (Jn. 14:27) – which conveniently, happens to be ‘all’ of us.

This statement made me ask myself, “How often do I look to the Gospel and the Savior for answers as a ‘first resort’?” Many times I mistakenly believe that I’m somehow proving myself by solving problems exclusively through the ‘arm of the flesh’ (2 Ne. 4:34), and only turn to the Gospel and the Savior as a ‘last resort’, when I’ve exhausted all other resources. Whether it’s for the simple daily problems of finding something that’s lost or making the right choice, to the heavier problems of raising teenagers or being more consistent in my spirituality or loving my spouse unconditionally, I tend to lean much too heavily on the ‘natural man’ (Mos. 3:19) and not enough on the Savior and His Gospel. It’s almost like I either want to prove something (how great I am or how independent I can be), or I think that it will somehow take away from the Lord’s time and resources if He has to take time away from His real important work to help me – I just don’t want to be a burden to Him. Both perspectives are incorrect and do not align with the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The truth is, the Savior has an infinite amount of time and an infinite amount of resources for any one of us individually (D/C 20:17). He is available to anyone with any problem who will humble themselves and ask in faith (D/C 18:18). Further, He wants us to turn to Him (Ps. 55:22). He asks and encourages us to lean on His ample arm (Hymn 120). Everyone is eligible for His love and care and guidance (Isa. 45:22; D/C 76:42). Being a recipient of His goodness and His wisdom does not take away from His ability to help any other person in any way. God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). We all have equal access to the greatest mind and the source of all wisdom by seeking His perspective in our lives (James 1:5-6).

What problems are you facing that you could use the Lord’s help with? Access to His power and wisdom to solve our problems comes through prayer, the scriptures, the Sacrament, attending the temple, serving others, and consistent righteous living. Rather than being burdened with the yokes of trials and temptations, and the problems of life, we can take His yoke upon us, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matt. 11:30).

So, whatever the burden you’re facing, no matter how small or how big, all of the answers are available in His Gospel. Is there anything more comforting, or that offers more peace? We are not alone; we are not left to our own devices and abilities. We have the Master, the Great Physician, the Creator of All at our disposal – and He offers us unlimited and unrestricted access, twenty-four/seven (D/C 62:9). I testify of the truth of this doctrine: All of life’s problems, including death, can be solved through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Atonement. May we exercise more faith in relying more fully upon Him and His willingness and ability to solve life’s problems. I testify that our immediate as well as our ultimate happiness, is intrinsically connected to our willingness to turn to Him at all times (Zech. 1:3) – in times of tribulation and in times of peace (Deut. 4:29-31). And I do so in His Holy Name.       

Wm. Calvin Hughes 

March 22, 2012

The Parable of the Divers

The Parable of the Divers 

Many years ago, when I was somewhere between nine and eleven, I participated in a community summer recreation program in the town where I grew up. I remember in particular a diving competition for the different age groups held at the community swimming pool. Some of the wealthier kids in our area had their own pools with diving boards, and they were pretty good amateur divers. But there was one kid my age from the less affluent part of town who didn’t have his own pool. What he had was raw courage. While the rest of us did our crisp little swan dives, back dives, and jackknives, being every so careful to arch our backs and point our toes, this young man attempted back flips, one-and-a-half's, doubles, and so on. But, oh, he was sloppy. He seldom kept his feet together, he never pointed his toes, and he usually missed his vertical entry. 

The rest of us observed with smug satisfaction as the judges held up their scorecards that he consistently got lower marks than we did with our safe and simple dives, and we congratulated ourselves that we were actually the better divers. “He is all heart and no finesse,” we told ourselves. “After all, we keep our feet together and point our toes.” 

The announcement of the winners was a great shock to us, for the brave young lad with the flips had apparently beaten us all.  

However, I had kept rough track of the scores in my head, and I knew with the arrogance of limited information that the math didn't add up. I had consistently outscored the boy with the flips. And so, certain that an injustice was being perpetrated, I stormed the scorer’s table and demanded and explanation. “Degree of difficulty,” the scorer replied matter-of-factly as he looked me in the eye. “Sure, you had better form, but he did harder dives. When you factor in the degree of difficulty, he beat you hands down, kid.”  

Until that moment I hadn't known that some dives were awarded “extra credit” because of their greater difficulty. . . . .

Whenever I am tempted to feel superior to other Saints, the parable of the divers comes to my mind, and I repent. At least at a swim meet, we can usually tell which dives are the most difficult. But here in mortality, we cannot always tell who is carrying what burdens: limited intelligence, chemical depression, compulsive behaviors, learning disabilities, dysfunctional or abusive family background, poor health, physical or psychological handicaps—no one chooses these things. So I must not judge my brothers and sisters. I am thankful for my blessings but not smug about them, for I never want to hear the Scorer say to me, “Sure, you had better form, but she had a harder life. When you factor in degree of difficulty, she beat you hands down.” 

So, enduring to the end doesn't have much to do with suffering in silence, overcoming all life’s obstacles, or even achieving the LDS ideal (“pointing our toes” and “keeping our feet together”). It just means not giving up. It means keeping—to the best of our abilities—the commitments we made to Christ when we entered into the marriage of the gospel. It means not divorcing the Savior or cheating on him by letting some other love become more important in our lives. It means not rejecting the blessings of the atonement that he showered upon us when we entered his church and kingdom.

(Stephen E. Robinson, Following Christ: The Parable of the Divers and More Good News [Salt Lake city: Deseret Book, 1995], 34-38.)