Love of Companion

I have a few friends, who are readers of these spiritual thoughts, who are preparing for their mission. What a wonderful investment of time and love for Heavenly Father!

My motivation for this spiritual thought is the hope that they will know how to make each day of their mission count, more than counting each day.

One of the most meaningful ways to make each day count is to make it meaningful for something - or, someone - that will be by their side almost 24/7. I speak of their companions.

I am more than aware of the difficulties that come with being with a companion all day and all night. The Atonement makes it easier, and not using the Atonement makes it harder.

I say "the Atonement", but from now on, I will say "the Lord's ways" since the Atonement does not fully apply without our obedience to His ways, and our sacrifice of whatever ways we might have, that do not harmonize with His.

We have all heard of the experience of other missionaries having a companion that did not want to work. Who did not desire to serve the Lord.

I think of the parable of the prodigal son – we love comparing ourselves to the son, in search of where it is in our lives we must "come to ourselves" as he did. Yet, what's not to say that the father saw his own past self in his son? What's not to say that the father had such love for his son, so as to keep his heart open because he himself had the same or similar experiences his son had, once upon a time?

Regarding opening our hearts, I think this it is one of the greatest challenges that we face in mortality: keeping our hearts open for those who have hurt us.

Listen to the words of God, who exemplifies this principle perfectly:

D&C 58:42
"Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more."

The Lord will keep opening His heart, and is always willing to keep His heart open, for as long as it takes us before it is too late, to return to Him.

The father of the prodigal son made no mention of the wealth spent. He didn't say, "so, will you work hard to earn all of that money back?" Neither did he enquire, "so what did you do with all that money?"

Instead, "the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:" (Luke 15:22-23.)

Instead of enquiring his motives, he gave him more! His best robe! A ring! Even slaying the fatted calf for a feast and a party!

This was after the son's return home. But what of during the son's rebellion?

The parable tells us the son said:

"I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

"And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

"And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him"

(Luke 15:18-20).

This is the type of father that believed his son would return home. I see him praying earnestly, deeply for his son. I see him, during his daily tasks, keeping his eye out for any approaching body in the horizon. During dinner, he is not at the family dinner table, for he is out in the yard eating his dinner, watching, waiting, listening for every sound. Any sound that would hint at the return of his son.

Then, upon seeing his son return, he throws his food on the ground, breaks the chair he was sitting on (if he was sitting at all), and runs to embrace his son, calling "servants, servants come quick! My son has returned!"

How do we view our companions in their rebellion?

I admit, I found it hard at times to forgive. Yet, listen to the voice of the father as he teaches us of eternal perspective:

"For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found."
(Luke 15:24.)

I propose that the truly Christlike will not even worry about what pains and worries their companion(s) brings them.

The Christ healed the ear of a man who was arresting Him on false accusation. Will we heal our companion, no matter what pain they may be bringing to us?

I have learned in my life that when we do what's right, God plants a deep, warm, inner peace within us. This is true in extremely large measure, regarding meeting our companions with kindness.

John A Widstoe taught:

“Love is a positive active force. It helps the loved one. If there is need, love tries to supply it. If there is weakness, love supplants it with strength. …Love that does not help is a faked or transient love."

Love of God and love of neighbour is what will rule the world (Elder Jeffrey R Holland).

We are to assume the good in our companions, and doubt the bad in all they do.

This does not mean, leave them to suffer in their consequences, but rather, take into account the difficulty of battling the natural man, the results of the fall of Adam and Eve, and the very nature of this earthly, mortal existence, which involves tests of our character that help us grow.

You may, and should, hear the teaching often: "Your loyalty is first to the Lord, and then to your companion." This phrase should clear up any questions we may have on what goals we should have, and what vision of the ideal we are to hold on to, no matter what.

Of course, these principles do not only apply to companions, but to our family, our friends, our leaders, those whom we are leaders to, strangers, how we speak about those in political power, how we view those whom we have no affiliation with, and even applies to how we treat ourselves. Basically, these principles apply to how we view, communicate with (and behind), and treat everyone.

I cannot adequately express my dreams and hopes of these principles in this spiritual thought today. Nor am I able to powerfully and sufficiently testify of these principles for this reason: there remaineth in me the guilt of not accepting these principles until it was too late.

And so, I share this spiritual thought as a testimony of one of the deepest yearnings of my heart: to be more Christlike.

I also share this spiritual thought in the hope that my dearest of friends (which is everyone - if not in reality, then in desire) preparing for their missions will not make the same mistake.

You will get to know a little bit more of what the Savior puts up with in us.

Allow me to list some of the blessings that come with the diligent commitment to follow the Savior's ways in loving companions:

• No matter who you encounter in life, you will know how to ask for revelation for how to love each individual.

• No matter what you encounter in life, you will have developed the characteristic of peace that surpasses all understanding.

• You will fulfill the promise given in D&C 121:41-46 – specifically, all dominion will flow unto you without your "compulsory means", meaning without your necessary effort. Your effort is in serving the Lord, not gaining dominion. Thus, dominion will naturally flow to you, and you will use this dominion to bless others.

• You come to know the Savior on a very, very personal level, having made the sacrifices in His similitude and His name, and the obedient decisions He desires of us.

Oh how sweet it becomes, when you come to know the Savior by experiencing your token experience of His Atonement.

I close with the lyrics of a sweet song sung at a recent CES Devotional Fireside I attended. It was sung by two dear friends of mine.

I'm learning of the Savior,

I feel His love for me.

I realize His sacrifice

in Gethsemane.

And when I felt He gave His all

I had desire to learn,

if there was anything that I

could offer in return,

and I learned

that all of my heart,

no more, no less

All of my heart

was His request.

He gave His all,

not merely a part.

So I will give all of my heart.

I have decided

to stand on His side.

And I must have a loyalty

I never will divide.

Although other voices

would call me away, 

I have made choices

and here I will stay,

always.

With all of my heart,

no more, no less.

All of my heart

is His request.

He gave His all,

not merely a part.

So I will give all of my heart.

He gave His all,

not merely a part.

So I will give all of my heart.