From time to time as a member of the Church of Jesus Chris of Latter-day Saints certain aspects of the Gospel have held my interest more than others. For a time Family History held my interest, almost to the point of distraction. At other times my focus has narrowed even to a single line of scripture, such as Proverbs 14:4, “Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.” Perhaps my fixation was on the struggles of having four children within 7 years, the youngest with severe cerebral palsy.
Lately my mind has returned time and again to Mark 10:17-22.
And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to [the Savior], and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
We are all the children of our Heavenly Father, every man, woman and child who ever has in the past, does today, and will in the future walk the face of the earth. Everyone we’ve ever heard of, or not, seen or not, is a child of the same Heavenly Father as us. Very inclusive.
Just as we are all children of the same Heavenly Father, we are also all flawed in our own way. None of us can call ourselves in truth the Good Master. We are all in need of repentance; every man, woman and child who ever has in the past, does today, and will in the future walk the face of the earth. Again, very inclusive.
We can divide ourselves by the color of our skin, the way we talk, our taste in music, any number of dividing lines are available to us to choose from. We can also divide ourselves by who does or does not hold to the Word of Wisdom; who does or does not follow the Law of Chastity; who does or does not keep the Sabbath day holy; but these are not divisions that Heavenly Father would have us make. Heavenly Father would have us realize our own need for repentance, as opposed to have us divide ourselves from those “others” who are in need of repentance as well.
We are all flawed children of our Heavenly Father.