HOW TO BE SPIRITUALLY HEALED

This is from a talk given by Boyd K. Packer entitled, Strengthening the Less Active on 19 Feb 1969 and then reprinted in the Feb 2011 Ensign. Only a very small part of that talk is included here.

“Activity – the opportunity to serve and bear testimony is like a medicine. It will heal the spiritually sick. It will strengthen the spiritually weak. It is a most necessary ingredient in the redemption of the lost sheep. Yet there is a tendency, almost a programmed tendency, to give opportunities for growth to those who are already over-surfeited (over burdened) with activity…

(At a stake conference of the Church, where Elder Packer presided) an elderly woman sat on the front row, holding hands with a weathered-looking man. She looked a bit out of place in the fashionably dressed congregation – rather homespun by comparison. She looked as if she ought to talk in conference and given the privilege, she reported her mission. Fifty-two years before, she had returned from the mission field and since then she had never been invited to speak in church. It was a touching and moving witness that she bore.

Others were called upon to speak and near the close of the meeting, the (stake) president suggested that I take the remainder of the time. ‘Have you had any inspiration?’ I asked. He said that he kept thinking of the mayor. (The voters in that large city had elected a member of the Church to be mayor and he was in attendance.)

When I told him we could have a greeting from the mayor, he whispered that the man was not active in the Church.
When I suggested that he call upon him anyway, he resisted, saying flatly that he was not worthy to speak in that meeting. At my insistence, however, he called the man to the stand…

(The mayor) came to the pulpit and spoke, to my surprise, with bitterness and with hostility. His talk began something like this: ‘I don’t know why you called on me. I don’t know why I am in church today. I don’t belong in church. I have never fit in. I don’t agree with the way the Church does things.’

I confess that I began to worry, but he then paused and lowered his eyes to the pulpit. From then until his talk was over, he did not look up. After hesitating, he continued: ‘I guess I just as well tell you. I quit smoking six weeks ago.’ Then, shaking his fist in a gesture over his head towards the congregation, he said, ‘If any of you think that’s easy, you have never suffered the hell I have suffered in the last few weeks.’

Then he just melted. ‘I know the gospel is true,’ he said. ‘I’ve always known it was true. I learned that from my mother as a boy. I know the Church isn’t out of order, he confessed. It’s me that’s out of order and I’ve always known that too.’

Then he spoke perhaps for all of the lost sheep when he pleaded: ‘I know it’s me that is wrong and I want to come back. I have been trying to come back, but you won’t let me!’

Of course we would let him come back, but somehow we hadn’t let him know that. After the meeting the congregation flooded up – not to us but to him to say, ‘Welcome home!’…

When a toddler is playing near the road, we steer carefully around him. Few will stop and see him to safety and, if necessary, discipline him. That is, unless it is our own child or grandchild. If we love them enough, we will do it.

To withhold discipline when it would contribute to spiritual growth is evidence of lack of love and concern. Spiritual discipline framed in love and confirmed with testimony will help redeem souls.”