Be Though an Example of the Believers

What does it mean to be an example of the believers?
This topic could go to so many different directions. I'm not sure where exactly I am going with this yet, but after hearing a numerous amount of people have their feelings hurt because of ungodly judgement, I'd like to address this topic of being an example of the believers.
Quoting from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "But when it comes to our own prejudices and grievances, we too often justify our anger as righteous and our judgment as reliable and only appropriate. Though we cannot look into another’s heart, we assume that we know a bad motive or even a bad person when we see one. We make exceptions when it comes to our own bitterness because we feel that, in our case, we have all the information we need to hold someone else in contempt.

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, said that those who pass judgment on others are “inexcusable.” The moment we judge someone else, he explained, we condemn ourselves, for none is without sin...

This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following:

Stop it!

It’s that simple. We simply have to stop judging others and replace judgmental thoughts and feelings with a heart full of love for God and His children. God is our Father. We are His children. We are all brothers and sisters. I don’t know exactly how to articulate this point of not judging others with sufficient eloquence, passion, and persuasion to make it stick. I can quote scripture, I can try to expound doctrine, and I will even quote a bumper sticker I recently saw. It was attached to the back of a car whose driver appeared to be a little rough around the edges, but the words on the sticker taught an insightful lesson. It read, “Don’t judge me because I sin differently than you.”

Two summers ago I worked at Brighton LDS girls camp and the camp theme that year was, "Love One Another." So simple and so powerful. One of Christ's greatest attributes was love. When we love with Christlike Love we truly see all people as children of God, not just the Mormons, not just the Baptists, not just the Catholics, etc., but ALL people.

I'd be a liar if I said I've never passed judgement, but as I've learned and prayed to have Christlike Love, and I catch myself and I immediatly call myself to repentance and remind myself that that beautiful person is a child of God, regardless of what he or she says, is wearing, or doing, etc. I remind myself that God loves that person as much as He loves me and wants happiness for them as much as He does for any other person! He LOVES US! We just need to love each other!!!

"The more we allow the love of God to govern our minds and emotions—the more we allow our love for our Heavenly Father to swell within our hearts—the easier it is to love others with the pure love of Christ. As we open our hearts to the glowing dawn of the love of God, the darkness and cold of animosity and envy will eventually fade.
 

As always, Christ is our exemplar. In His teachings as in His life, He showed us the way. He forgave the wicked, the vulgar, and those who sought to hurt and to do Him harm.

Jesus said it is easy to love those who love us; even the wicked can do that. But Jesus Christ taught a higher law. His words echo through the centuries and are meant for us today. They are meant for all who desire to be His disciples. They are meant for you and me: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”¹⁰
 

When our hearts are filled with the love of God, we become “kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving [each other], even as God for Christ’s sake [forgave us].”¹¹

The pure love of Christ can remove the scales of resentment and wrath from our eyes, allowing us to see others the way our Heavenly Father sees us: as flawed and imperfect mortals who have potential and worth far beyond our capacity to imagine. Because God loves us so much, we too must love and forgive each other.

In a world of accusations and unfriendliness, it is easy to gather and cast stones. But before we do so, let us remember the words of the One who is our Master and model: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone."  -Pres. Uchtdorf

I hope that each of us can make a conscious decision each day to Be Thou an Example of the believers and to put an end to judging others- I say this to the person with religion judging those without and to the person without religion judging those of religion. This judgment goes both ways and it's time to "Stop it!"


I know without a shadow of a doubt that we are each children of God and He loves each of us perfectly. He wants the very best for us and has provided a way to obtain the very best. If we would just follow the teachings and example of Jesus Christ, this world would be in such better shape. I know that I'm imperfect and I'm grateful for the gift of repentance and forgiveness.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

To learn more about Christ's teaching on love, judgment, repentance, and forgiveness visit:
mormon.org or lds.org or you can ask a missionary, aka me! :) For a fun video to explain it watch this video

*Sorry I quoted a lot in this blog, but honestly President Uchtdorf couldn't have said it any better.