A Worthwhile Load.

Elder Bednar shares the story of a young husband and his new truck getting stuck in the snowy mountains on a trip to collect firewood.

Only after filling the bed full of cut rounds did the truck have the needed traction to get unstuck.

He shares:

“Sometimes we mistakenly may believe that happiness is the absence of a load. But bearing a load is a necessary and essential part of the plan of happiness.”

Loads are necessary and difficulties are essential. But what he shared next resonated.

“Because our individual load needs to generate spiritual traction, we should be careful to not haul around in our lives so many nice but unnecessary things that we are distracted and diverted from the things that truly matter most.”

A worthwhile load.

---

Other stories paint it clearly.

When Limhi’s people were in bondage to the Lamanites and all their goods heavily taxed, they used wine - even the portion they were forced to pay tribute - as means to make the guards drunk and escape. (Mosiah 22, Book of Mormon)

Tributary wine served its great purpose. Their bondage set them free.

A liberating bondage.

God’s Plan of Salvation is fueled by opposition.

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

(Isaiah 53:5, Old Testament)

Healing stripes, redeeming wounds.

Advantageous suffering.

His suffering always was and ours has the potential to be through Him.

Membership in Christ’s church and true discipleship share a great cost.

Only a Father in Heaven could make the cost our greatest blessing.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

A Better Burden.

---

I consider the load I carry now. By nature, all loads can be heavy, but not all are worthwhile.

But taking upon me the Lord’s yoke is an invitation to realize my potential, to walk with and like Him. Carrying far more with Him than I could without.

The world will limit the possibility of men and women by dismissing their real responsibility.

The falsely “freeing” convenient path now is the most restricting path one could take.

Rejecting the purposeful inconvenient or uncomfortable forfeits some of God’s greatest blessings prepared for those changed through Christ.

Our Prophet instructs:

“Dear brothers and sisters, I grieve for those who leave the Church because they feel membership requires too much of them. They have not yet discovered that making and keeping covenants actually makes life easier! Each person who makes covenants in baptismal fonts and in temples—and keeps them—has increased access to the power of Jesus Christ. Please ponder that stunning truth!

The reward for keeping covenants with God is heavenly power—power that strengthens us to withstand our trials, temptations, and heartaches better. This power eases our way. Those who live the higher laws of Jesus Christ have access to His higher power. Thus, covenant keepers are entitled to a special kind of rest that comes to them through their covenantal relationship with God.”

Not power to avoid heartaches. Power to withstand them better.

---

Because of Jesus Christ and His Better Burdens, I'm different today than I was yesterday.

I pray tomorrow and every day following bring careful consideration of what I choose to carry

gratitude for opportunity

and a Christian likeness, for carrying worthwhile loads.