I got to sleep late last night yet this morning I couldn't sleep. I felt like I needed to get this out. I've written down some thoughts on it but I'm still not sure it'll come out clearly so I'm asking for patience. 1/

Yesterday at #generalconference Elder Holland talked about how, after we've conquered COVID-19, we need to conquer other diseases that ravage communities, like poverty, hunger, prejudice, and fear. It was an inspiring quote to me, and yet. 2/

One day I'll learn not to get on social media after being uplifted since people who share the experience can interpret one thing so differently as to utterly confound me. Was it a political request? By its nature, it kind of has to be, because none of these 3/

can be cured by one individual, or even by a small group of individuals, but by communities working together. The problem is, as soon as politics comes into it, we suddenly face a vast chasm. The current political environment poisonous because of it. 4/

This thread isn't going to stand on one side or the other, because that's not the point. In fact, my point is we can't. Another quote from conference was that "The world lifts from the outside in, the Lord lifts from the inside out." 5/

I was astounded and saddened to see the two quotes pitted against each other as different sides seized on the one they liked better to back their point. While I listened to the latter quote, I had the thought, "Both of these have value." 6/

Both methods result in lifting. Lifting from the inside out will be more permanent in the end, but frequently people -cannot- lift themselves while they struggle physically/outside. Meanwhile, those of us asked to help argue about how, 7/

saying "We have to do this first, your side is wrong." While we argue, people are falling and dying. We cannot argue about something like this. The two must both happen, and must both happen together. Those who struggle need a solid footing before 8/

they can pull themselves upwards, and before they can in their turn help others. We need to be like God, whose "every action, by divine declaration, would be for the benefit of the world, for He loveth the world." (Elder Holland) 9/

We need to volunteer in our communities to better them, donate to worthy causes as much as we can, and at the same time, try to get to know the people who are in despair and try to help. We do not help by telling them to come to church and then leaving. 10/

That tells them "It's your own fault," not "I love you and I want to help." The first pushes them down farther, the second reaches out a hand. And the second is harder. It requires commitment, time, and most of all love. 11/

There are several scriptures from the Book of Mormon that came to my mind as I thought about this. The first is Mosiah 18: 8-9, asking us to be "willing to bear one another's burdens that they may be light, 12/

and are willing to mourn with those that mourn, yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort..."
The second stands in support, Jacob 2:19
"And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ, ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; 13/

and ye will seek them for the intent to do good- to clothe the naked, to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and afflicted."
Both are focused not on those who need to be lifted, but on us, the readers. 14/

We need to be willing to do -everything- we can to lift others. We need to physically lift them from troubling circumstances -and- we need to mourn with them and comfort them and teach and love. If we turn this into a point of contention, 15/

we fall into the trap in Jacob 2:20-21
"I have spoken unto you concerning pride and those of you who have afflicted your neighbor and persecuted him because you were proud in your hearts, of the things which God has given you... 16/

Do ye not suppose that such things are abominable unto him who created all flesh? And the one being is as precious in his sight as is the other."
If we turn the desire to help others, or the instruction to do so, into a fight, we condemn ourselves. 17/

The thing is, while this is about what we can do, it's not actually about us. It's about those we're trying to lift. We help where we can, we love, we teach (both education and answering any religious questions), and then we let them choose. 18/

We have at that point done what we can and what is expected of us and then we put it in the Lord's hands to do the rest. We -do not- leave it on the Lord to do it all; He will bless our efforts but He expects effort from us. 19/

This is the way that Christ taught when he was on the earth. He didn't tell the lepers "Well, only one of you is going to say thanks, so he's the only one I'll heal." He lifted people out of their physical difficulties and then let them come to Him 20/

if they then desired to. Can we do any less?
I'm not perfect. I'm going to do what I can but I know I'll fall short and not do everything I can or should. But I'm going to try, and I want to respect others' efforts no matter where they fall 21/

in respect to political, religious, or other considerations. I want a better world for my children and their children and I don't think we can get that if our first focus is "How does this benefit/support my politics?" 22/

I guess my point is we can't divide help along outer or inner lines, because we cannot divide our physical and spiritual selves. They're too interconnected. If we can't lift both together, the end result will be disjointed and unsuccessful. 23/

If you read, I appreciate your time and patience. I'm not expecting this to be widely read, but I felt I had to get it off my chest. Have a lovely day.