Taking Up Our Cross

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

These words of the Savior found in Luke 9:23, are a prophetic reference to the cross Jesus carried to Golgotha where He was crucified for our sins. His words make it clear that as followers we should expect to also carry unique burdens in life. Implied in the Savior’s words, but not directly stated, is the additional truth that MY "cross" is different from YOUR "cross".

Rather than seeing the differences in our burdens as something that divides, the prophet, Joseph, taught our Savior intends for us to seek “union of feeling”. Our unique trials and challenges can bring us all to common ground, for every single one of us needs the grace of Jesus Christ to return to our Father. (1 Peter 2:10) (Romans 3:23)

And, since we are on common ground, Alma helps us see that our covenant to follow the Savior means we will…

“...bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;...and [be] willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort…even until death, that [we] may be redeemed of God, …that [we] may have eternal life”

During His earthly ministry, the Savior summarized this covenant into the Two Great Commandments; to love God and to love our neighbor. (Matthew 22:37-40)

Thus, our mortal journey becomes less about judging and more about empathizing, while we strive to live the commandments.

Our obedience is our choice…our “sign” to God. It brings the blessings and joy…and peace of heaven into our lives regardless of the turmoil swirling around us in the world. The commandments provide clear markers for us on the covenant path.

They give us the height to which we should aspire.

Yet, they teach us compassion for one another as the Savior expressed in His ministry.

Each of us needs the encouragement, kindness, and respect of our church family while we navigate our mortality, carrying “our crosses”.

And ironically, my own mortal journey has helped me see, that often the things we may consider “burdens” or “crosses” at one point in life, look much more like “blessings” when viewed through the lens of time.

The unique burdens we each carry have the power to positively shape our lives in ways that we could not have imagined or foreseen. Remember the timeless wisdom of the Lord, taught by the prophet Isaiah,

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)

This Easter, and always, may we become more united as we show compassion and empathy for each sister and brother in our shared journies.

And may we each find the joy promised as we exert our faith in Jesus Christ unto repentance and obedience to the commandments of our Father.

I love you all,

President Gardner