Parley P. Pratt records a time when he was much troubled because of a severe censure from a Church leader that he felt was unjustified. He came to the Prophet and laid it on him. One of the Prophet’s gifts was that he was a powerful listener– and although that phrase might seem like a contradiction in terms, it is not. There are listeners who are as weak as water, not listening at all, not hearing nor interpreting from the center self. Joseph listen powerfully. And to Elder Pratt he now listened sympathetically. Then he blessed him, encouraged him, and added, “Walk such things under your feet.” Meaning, of course, “It’s trivial by comparison with the your calling. Don’t let it wear you down.” Elder Pratt recorded : “I was comforted, encouraged, filled with new life.” see [i] below
Joseph may have learned that principle from the inspiration of his re-translation of the Sermon on the Mount.[ii] There are verses there that clearly have to do with forgiving, with going the second mile– some of them specially directed to the Twelve. They were told not to appeal to law, not to exact their just due, even if in fact it was just. They were told to move on– they hadn’t time to take offense at each little thing that happens in a day. They were to get on with the work of the ministry. There are those of us who seem to think that our calling is to draw a line in the sand and then spend our lives seeing that no one steps over it. Not so. Not a disciple of Christ. ~ Truman G. Madsen, from ‘Joseph Smith the Prophet’ p.95
Personally, I have long ago lost track of the number of times when, unjustly treated or perceiving so, I have decided to express my position to ‘clear the air’… which often escalates (or creates) a bad situation. Simply letting go and choosing the ‘high road’, calling upon God for intervention that MY approach would be as He would want it, then doing as He suggests… difficult and often includes an apology. That approach sometimes has been met with total surprise as my ‘adversary’ expresses sincere shock at my concerns where no offence was intended. At other times I feel directed to read, study, pray for a sense of closure or what to do to make it so… then doing it! In the end, following the above counsel from the Prophet Joseph Smith is the happier solution because I take my feelings of unjust treatment to God. He uses my situation to teach me a better way, much as the Prophet Joseph Smith taught Elder Parley P. Pratt. kdm
[i] From the ‘Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, p. 118
[ii] Prophetic Enlightenment on the Sermon on the Mount
