Bearing One Another's Burdens

 When Jane and I were both single, we decided to attend a 2-day backpacking trip into the Uintah mountains with our Stake Young Adult group back in 1975. Jane recently found this picture of us on that day and it tells quite a story.

As you can see, I am tasked with carrying a very heavy load on my back. I can't remember how long we hiked like that, but from my face, I was not having very much fun. Jane, on the other hand, is pictured behind me with a smile on her face looking cool and collected. I think she has a very small backpack and she's carrying a foam sleeping pad - not a heavy load at all. Fortunately for her, she was dating Ken, who later became her husband. He was in our Stake YSA group and he volunteered to carry most of her load for her since he wasn't planning to spend the night and didn't have much to carry.

I don't remember Jane ever asking if my load was too heavy or volunteering to carry some of my load. Even if she had asked, it is possible that my pride would have set in and I would have told her that I'm fine and that I can do it on my own.

Jane shared this picture and these circumstances in a 5th Sunday presentation in her ward last week and spoke about bearing one another's burdens and quoted Mosiah 18:8.

This scripture is a reminder that we are commissioned by Jesus Christ as part of His fold to bear one another's burdens. I am not the best at sharing my burdens nor bearing the loads of others. I try to be compassionate and caring, but I'm sure that I often fall short of what God wants me to be.

Regarding the picture of the two of us, Jane asked her ward members to determine which sister better represents them. She asked "are you the one carrying a light load oblivious to people right around you that are heavy burdened? Are you the one who is carrying a heavy burden but doesn't want to burden others with your trials or ask for help? Is it a combination depending on your own situation? Are you always looking for others to serve?"

These are valid questions. I know that, personally, I often feel as though I can carry my own burdens and don't need to bother others with them. However, after my knee surgery, I was in so much pain that I often asked the Lord to lighten my load and carry it for me. The pain was at unprecedented levels and I didn't know how long I could carry that load by myself. The pain meds helped, but I don't like pain meds because of how they make me feel. God didn't take away my pain, but I believe it was lightened and somehow I was able to tolerate it and begin the healing process. I kept thinking "the Lord knows my pain. He suffered that pain and all the other pains and ailments possible for mankind to experience while he was in the Garden of Gethsemane." I so appreciate Him for that. I can't even imagine the pain and agony he had to endure, and he did it willingly. So amazing! By yoking ourselves to the Savior, he can make our burdens light.

Elder David. A. Bednar said "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." He also said "We are not and never need be alone. We CAN press forward in our daily lives with heavenly help. And "the Son of God perfectly knows and understands how we feel, for He has felt and borne our individual burdens."

Growing up as a twin, I felt like people were always comparing us. Who walked first or said the first word, who is prettier, who got better grades, who is better at sports, etc. The funny thing is that I also compare myself to Jane and I'm pretty hard on myself. I always seem to fall short when I compare myself to her. I mentioned that to her in a text today and she said "comparison is the thief of joy." That's true. I don't want to rob myself of joy. I need to accept myself for who I am and not dwell on how much better I think another person might be than me. I am me and there is no other me! I can't be compared to anyone else nor should anyone else be compared to me.