Sunday, July 31, 2011

Judge Not

Today in church we had a lesson on Judging. I guess there had been some "talk" going on in the ward about gossiping, and talking down about others in the ward. I kind of seclude myself in my ward, and I try to avoid talking to people if I can. Not that I have anything against anyone, it is more of just a personal thing. Like I feel out of place. I think that stems from this being a ward that I was in when I was still married and there are a lot of people in the ward who know my Ex and I have trust issues with feeling like if anyone knows anything about me that they will go and talk about me to my Ex. I hate the feeling and I am not even sure if that would even happen, but I am paranoid about it and so I just keep to myself if I can. I do have some good friends in the ward though that I will talk to outside of church and hang out with them too. So I am not completely anti social.
ANYWAYS.....my whole point for this post is that in class today I was asked to read a quote, no big deal. But for me this quote said it all about not Judging. I wanted to share it with you all because I feel that this is something that everyone has a problem with. At one point or another we all will think or say something about another or even ourselves that is judgemental in some form. So just read it and do what you will with it, but as for me I think this is something that I will read on a regular basis.

Elder N. Eldon Tanner said that "The reason, therefore, that we cannot judge is obvious. We cannot see what is in the heart. We do not know motives, although we impute motives to every action we see. They may be pure while we think they are improper. It is not possible to judge another fairly unless you know his desires, his faith, and his goals. Because of a different environment, unequal opportunity, and many other things, people are not in the same position. One may start at the top and the other at the bottom, and they may meet as they are going in opposite directions. Someone has said that it is not where you are but the direction in which you are going that counts; not how close you are to failure or success but which way you are headed. How can we, with all our weaknesses and frailties, dare to arrogate to ourselves the position of a judge? At best, man can judge only what he sees; he cannot judge the heart or the intention, or begin to judge the potential of his neighbor."

3 comments:

  1. LOVE IT!

    I am anti-social in my ward too, but that's only because EVERYONE is our age...and a big group of girls, all in their 20's just is trouble! It's pretty sad that at an LDS church I feel judged and gossiped about. Makes me angry. I didn't make it to third hour this week, so I wonder if we talked about the same thing in our ward. I wish I could have been there if that is the case.

    When I first met John, I had JUST come back into the church after being LLOOONG gone for 15 years. I have quite the past....I have done a lot of really bad things and I felt so unworthy to hang out with someone like john (as stupid as that sounds) but he told me "it's not where you are but the direction in which you are going that counts" so that part always hits home to me.

    Whenever I am judging someone, I always try and remember that he/she is a child of God, and God has some sort of plan for that person...just because we aren't at the same place in our lives means nothing. I wouldn't want to hurt God's kids feelings or pass judgement on them! (although I do it all the time!...) so it's definitily something I need to work on!

    Whoa...did I just post a comment or a blog? That's ok...you love comments :)
    ahaha

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  2. In my lesson yesterday, it talked about how we can all overcome our differences because our goals are still the same and poeple are at different stages of that goal but that we all have a "divine pedigree" therefore we are the same and just need to realize who each one of us is, a child of God!

    Good quote, but I don't like that you feel out of place in your ward, I understand your feelings and I hope that you soon get to move to Utah so that you can be in a ward where you don't feel judged or worried about what will get back to someone else.

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  3. I like it when I come across something so profound, that it hits me upside the head,

    This is a great quote, with lots to take to heart. I know there have many things I have been working on this past 2 years and whenever I need extra help or feel like I can't progress Heavenly Father steps in with something for me to think about, or help with. :)

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