The Eternal Blessing

Part II

II.

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No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by the virtue of priesthood, only by persuasion, by long suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and love unfeigned;

Doctrine & Covenants 121:41

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Rev was the kind of person who stood for her ideals.

Unbecoming, unrelenting, and forward in all the things she so desires. She was taught about it the moment she was born, and her mission just strengthened those desires. It even raised her standards to new heights.

But all it takes is one person to change those views.

It was during sacrament meeting when her bishop was the concluding speaker that something inside her popped. Something sort of a character defining moment for her, and she was beside Mason when that happened.

She remembers that day as clear as glass.

It was hot and dry, and not even the sacrament hall's covered windows and air-conditioning could save the heat from entering the hall, and as the bishop was the final speaker, everyone was relieved when it would almost finish.

"So we're talking about standards, right?" Bishop Buick said. "There are things such as high standards, and impossible standards, and I would like very much to differentiate the two."

Bishop John Buick was a stout, balding but very kind bishop who would smile at members every single day like they were his brothers and sisters. His last name sounded like a car, so whenever he said something funny, the crowd would go "vroom, vroom", and he would just give a simple chuckle.

"If a member broke a major sin, say, one of the ten commandments, or maybe the word of wisdom or L.O.C., and they broke those things frequently, are they susceptible to God' wrath?" Bishop Buick asked, and the congregation agreed by nodding silently.

"Correct. Now let's say... that that same member of the church, repented of his sins, like, all of them? Is he still susceptible of God's wrath?" Bishop Buick asked again, and there were low whispers of "no" throughout the hall.

"Of course not. He repented, he showed God, and he showed us, that he loves Him, and that he's willing to answer for the things he's done, no matter how bad they are." Bishop Buick stated, and he adjusted his tie, and coughed. "Now let's talk about another fella. Let's say, a returned missionary."

"A returned missionary. He just got home, and is currently magnifying his calling, now let's say he committed a sin, say, a minor thing from the word of wisdom—let's say coffee." Bishop Buick's eyes shifted from playful to sincere. "This RM, he drank coffee sometimes. Sometimes. But he did not repent of it, and wasn't willing to repent of it, since to him.... it is not a major sin!"

"Now I ask you, from the brother who committed more than twenty really bad things, and repented, versus the brother who committed one minor sin, but is unable to repent. Which of them is more worthy of Heavenly Father?" Now Bishop Buick is sending out the armor-piercing question. The congregation silently discussed this with their seatmate.

"You don't need to answer it. The answer is obvious. 'No unclean thing can dwell in the kingdom of God'." Bishop Buick said, and that opened Rev's eyes.

"You don't have to be a stake leader, a ward leader, or a returned missionary to be worthy. Sometimes, loving and obeying God's commandments is the way to be worthy. We can all be worthy, and not even a status or a calling can give us a definite love of God." Bishop Buick said.