I remember sitting in a Relief Society meeting right after “ministering” replaced the “visiting teaching” program.
Questions were flying everywhere!
“Well, does it count if I text them one month, as long as I see them in person the next month?”
“What if my person only wants to talk on the phone?”
“Ugh, I’m so confused on what ‘counts’ as a visit now!”
Isn’t life sometimes easier when someone tells you exactly what to do?
Although the strict rules that the Pharisees followed may seem like a burden…
These rules were likely comforting to them.
They just memorized the rules, checked all the boxes, and that was it!
They were officially good people because they checked all the boxes.
But Jesus was trying to teach them a higher and more sincere way of living the gospel.
He shared the same message that my sweet Relief Society president was trying to teach the women in our class that Sunday morning.
The Savior, speaking about the Sabbath day as an example, said:
“Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.” (Matthew 12:12)
My exasperated Relief Society president echoed the same message that morning: “Just do good things! Everything counts! Stop thinking so much about it!”
Just do good things!
Stop stressing about all the rules!
Whether it’s worrying about if an activity is appropriate for the Sabbath day,
Or if something “counts” as service,
Or if that was okay for scripture study for the day,
Turning to the Savior’s simple advice can help us stay focused on what matters most.
Just do good things!
Happy Studying!
-Cali Black
2 Responses
Just a quick edit– I think you meant “exasperated”.
From Webster: exacerbated; exacerbating
Synonyms of exacerbate
transitive verb
: to make more violent, bitter, or severe
The new law only exacerbates the problem
Oh, good catch! Thank you!