Continuing from yesterday, the writings of Elder Neal A. Maxwell, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (deceased), he wrote:
. . . .”We have only to examine the revelations given earlier in this dispensation which contain truths for all but which were, initially, aimed at individuals about whom the Lord said some very candid things. Yet He loved them with a perfect love. Although those individuals are long since departed from mortality, the fact that their frailties are preserved in the records of latter-day revelation (and this from a perfectly sensitive Lord) should remind us that counsel and correction are thought to be of sufficient importance by Him that—even so—He is willing to have certain deficiencies publicly spoken of and noticed.
Nor should we neglect the power of gentle reproof. Sometimes we need not declaim the actions of others so much as remind them of who they are and what they should be.
Corrective communication, when inspired, can help us to face the facts about ourselves. This, in turn, can help us to face God by asking for His help in the changing of ourselves. In business, auditors often report to a board of directors—and not to management, lest unpleasant truths be muffled. In life, however, the outside auditors who give us corrective counsel can cause us, when we err, to turn ourselves in—to God. Then we realize what we are and what we could be, we will understand that which God has known all along, and we will find that He is waiting for us to converse with Him.
Not all the necessary correction is administered by comment. Sometimes it comes to us by circumstances, as noted in Chapter 3. Indeed, the latter is perhaps the workhorse way of learning for most of us, because it is tied so directly to our daily experience. For instance, if one is impatient and patience is a requirement for sainthood, the Lord appears willing to have tribulation visited upon such so that he may learn patience—because it is a virtue that seems to be acquired only in one way. (See Mosiah 3:19; James 5:11; Romans 5:3, Mosiah 23:21, Doctrine and Covenants 66:9, 31:9). Correcting circumstances, therefore, can be a form of divine communication to us.
Paul, who suffered much, observed that “our light affliction . . . is but for a moment” (2 Corinthians 4:7.) The Prophet Joseph was told that his afflictions would be “but a small moment.”(Doctrine and Covenants 121:7) Learning by correcting circumstances is apparently a process not to be hurried.
Let us in our ministry be nondiscriminatory in the giving of commendation. True, he who is downspirited needs to be lifted up. True, those who are fledglings in the faith may need extra encouragement and deserved, specific praise. But meanwhile, let us not forget the often unnoticed, faithful veterans, lest, like the son who stayed loyally at home and saw the banquet and benefactions given to the prodigal son, the faithful wonder if they are truly appreciated. Let us not assume that another has no need of commendation. Let us give it even if the other does not seem to need it, for we need to give commendation in any event.
The giving of commendation keeps us alert and noticing of good deeds and qualities of others. It permits us to be more concerned with them and less with ourselves. As long as we avoid artificiality and generality, commending is one of the great dimensions of brotherhood and sisterhood. Let us never unwittingly turn others in the direction of the praise of the world merely because they are so starved for the praise of the righteous!
Finally, the counsel and correction so necessary for our growth will not all come from circumstances, family and neighbors—some will come from the Lord in our prayers. It too will be hard to bear and hard to follow. Indeed so much of our growing depends upon our following counsel, including paying heed to the correcting counsel of the loving God. But not all of His commending words of “well done” will be uttered at judgment day; some will come to us in special moments of listening as we pray to Him! ~ Neal A. Maxwell, All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1979), 88-90
