As the Gentle Rain From Heaven

You know that project I'm working on? Well, I had to put it on hold for a few days so I could write a talk. I think it went well, and, as such things often go, my topic was one that I benefited from reviewing. Today will be spent making up for lost time. That means Phoebe will probably get to watch movies while I knock out the bulk of my work.

Want to read my talk? I was only given eight minutes, which required lots of edits and judicious quote placement. Here it is:

Mercy

A few weeks ago we had a Laundry Folding Party at our house. I know, it sounds fun, doesn’t it? And really, it’s about as fun as laundry gets. Each person is responsible for folding their own clothes while we watch a movie together as a family. On this particular day we were introducing our kids to The Sound of Music.

The plan was to fold the laundry, then do something fun. The kids needed to finish with their clothes before they could move on to the next activity. The deadline was the end of the movie.

Eight-year-old Peter and four-year-old Phoebe raced through their laundry so they could be done. But six-year-old Cooper doesn’t rush. Ever. He has inherited the pesky practice of procrastination. So while the other two were enjoying the movie, unburdened by a basket of clothes, Cooper was stuck, complaining and dawdling, but not making much of a dent in his pile.

We kept encouraging him. “Come on, Cooper, keep folding.” “Cooper, you really want to finish.” “Cooper, the movie doesn’t have much time left.” I finished folding my laundry, baby Sophie’s laundry, and all the towels and blankets. We were almost to the part of the movie when the Von Trapp family has to sing at the festival. His time was coming to an end, and still he had only worked through half the items in front of him.

I started to get antsy. I sat, watching Cooper slooowly fold his clothes, wondering what else I could possibly do to get him to move faster.

A thought jumped into my head, “Help him fold the clothes.”

No, I reasoned, I can’t. He knew what he had to do and he decided not to do it. The other kids didn’t have help and they finished. It wouldn’t be fair for me to help Cooper. It wouldn’t be just.

Justice is a funny thing. My children often clamor for it for their siblings. They want my treatment of everyone to “fair,” especially when they have been hurt or offended. But when they are the ones that have done the wrong, justice is not what they ask for. Instead, they want mercy. I admit, when I’m in their position, I don’t want justice either, I want mercy.

According to lds.org, “Mercy is the compassionate treatment of a person greater than what is deserved, and it is made possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Our Heavenly Father knows our weaknesses and sins. He shows mercy when He forgives us of our sins and helps us return to dwell in His presence.”

In the April 1990 General Conference, President Gordon B. Hinckley, then the first counselor in the First Presidency, spoke about mercy. He said, “How godlike a quality is mercy. It cannot be legislated. It must come from the heart. It must be stirred up from within. It is part of the endowment each of us receives as a son or daughter of God and partaker of a divine birthright.”

Did you catch that last line? I’ll read it again, “It is part of the endowment each of us receives as a son or daughter of God and partaker of a divine birthright.” Mercy is a gift that we receive from Heavenly Father. And it must be stirred up from within. Think about that. Inside each one of us, the tendency to be merciful is lying dormant, waiting to be awakened, waiting to be used.

During his lifetime, Christ taught us to be merciful. Matthew 5:7 says, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Then again in Luke 6:36, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” The Savior exemplified the principle that he taught. He showed love and mercy and compassion for all, even those that appeared to be undeserving. He made mercy possible by suffering for our sins. His personal sacrifice fulfilled the law of justice and gave us the opportunity to repent and return to live with our Heavenly Father. He gave us the gift of mercy.

Stephen E. Robinson wrote in his book Believing Christ, “It really isn’t fair that one person should suffer for the sins of others. It isn’t fair that some people can commit horrible crimes and then be completely forgiven and cleansed without having to suffer for them. It isn’t fair that those who labor for only an hour will get the same reward as those who labor all day. (See Matt. 20:16.) No, the gospel sometimes isn’t fair, but that is actually part of the good news. It isn’t fair—it’s merciful, and thank God it is so, for no human being can stand acquitted before the demands of absolute justice.”

Back to my laundry dilemma: should I follow that urge to help Cooper. Or should I allow the natural consequences to follow his choices? I stayed on the couch, hesitating. Again the prompting came, “Help him fold the clothes.”

In the same talk I quoted earlier, President Hinckley spoke directly to parents, saying, “Every child, with few possible exceptions, is the product of a home, be it good, bad, or indifferent. As children grow through the years, their lives, in large measure, become an extension and a reflection of family teaching. If there is harshness, abuse, uncontrolled anger, disloyalty, the fruits will be certain and discernible, and in all likelihood they will be repeated in the generation that follows. If, on the other hand, there is forbearance, forgiveness, respect, consideration, kindness, mercy, and compassion, the fruits again will be discernible, and they will be eternally rewarding. They will be positive and sweet and wonderful. And as mercy is given and taught by parents, it will be repeated in the lives and actions of the next generation…

“I plead for an effort among all of us to give greater expression and wider latitude to this instinct which lies within us. I am convinced that there comes a time, possibly many times, within our lives when we might cry out for mercy on the part of others. How can we expect it unless we have been merciful ourselves?”

I slipped off the couch and sat by Cooper. I had folded half a dozen items before he realized what I was doing. With surprise in his voice he asked, “Are you helping me?”

I nodded. I had been afraid he would stop folding altogether, but he didn’t. He folded faster. As the Von Trapps walked through the Alps on our TV, Cooper and I finished his pile of clothes. He qualified for the treat afterward. Justice and mercy had both won.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ both want to give us the gift of mercy. It is available to all. As you think about the birth of the Savior this week, remember that beautiful gift. Share it. Exemplify it. You will be blessed as you bless those around you. I testify that these things are true, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.