The Worth of Each Person

[Moksha]

This is taken from the Community of Christ website:

The Worth of Each Person

Christ's death is for all people. This means that every person is loved by God, no exceptions! The church is called to affirm the worth of people, to be an inclusive fellowship, and to work for human wellbeing in every setting.

So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

—Matthew 10:31

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

—John 3:16-17

Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

—Romans 15:7

What are your thoughts?

Can we also embrace this?

*[skalenfehl, feel free to move this if it seems inappropriate :)]

[Guest Xzain]

Of course we can embrace such a general, true statement! The LDS church embraces all truth and the Community of Christ is still a Christian church. Therefore, we agree on many points of doctrine- the worth of souls is one of those doctrines.

Doctrine and Covenants 18:10-

Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God

[VisionOfLehi]

Christ's death is for all people.

Exactly. We believe this. It's not just for those who acknowledge Him, nor those who live by His laws. It's for everyone. We all get Resurrected, and we all have that chance.

God loves everyone. No exceptions is right.

[Guest Username-Removed]

I am reminded of a talk given at general conference ...

The Healing Power of Forgiveness

President James E. Faust

Second Counselor in the First Presidency

177th Annual General Conference, April 2007

"A 32-year-old milk truck driver lived with his family in their Nickel Mines community. He was not Amish, but his pickup route took him to many Amish dairy farms, where he became known as the quiet milkman. Last October he suddenly lost all reason and control. In his tormented mind he blamed God for the death of his first child and some unsubstantiated memories. He stormed into the Amish school without any provocation, released the boys and adults, and tied up the 10 girls. He shot the girls, killing five and wounding five. Then he took his own life.

This shocking violence caused great anguish among the Amish but no anger. There was hurt but no hate. Their forgiveness was immediate. Collectively they began to reach out to the milkman's suffering family. As the milkman's family gathered in his home the day after the shootings, an Amish neighbor came over, wrapped his arms around the father of the dead gunman, and said, "We will forgive you." Amish leaders visited the milkman's wife and children to extend their sympathy, their forgiveness, their help, and their love. About half of the mourners at the milkman's funeral were Amish. In turn, the Amish invited the milkman's family to attend the funeral services of the girls who had been killed. A remarkable peace settled on the Amish as their faith sustained them during this crisis.

One local resident very eloquently summed up the aftermath of this tragedy when he said, "We were all speaking the same language, and not just English, but a language of caring, a language of community, [and] a language of service. And, yes, a language of forgiveness." It was an amazing outpouring of their complete faith in the Lord's teachings in the Sermon on the Mount: "Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you." "

President Faust did a remarkable thing... He praised the Amish in our own General Conferance. We have much more in common with other Christians than perhaps many truely believe.

[pam]

It is true that Christ has great love for all of us. He may be disappointed in some of the decisions we make but his love is unfailing...never wavering.

[pam]

I am reminded of a talk given at general conference ...

The Healing Power of Forgiveness

President James E. Faust

Second Counselor in the First Presidency

177th Annual General Conference, April 2007

"A 32-year-old milk truck driver lived with his family in their Nickel Mines community. He was not Amish, but his pickup route took him to many Amish dairy farms, where he became known as the quiet milkman. Last October he suddenly lost all reason and control. In his tormented mind he blamed God for the death of his first child and some unsubstantiated memories. He stormed into the Amish school without any provocation, released the boys and adults, and tied up the 10 girls. He shot the girls, killing five and wounding five. Then he took his own life.

This shocking violence caused great anguish among the Amish but no anger. There was hurt but no hate. Their forgiveness was immediate. Collectively they began to reach out to the milkman's suffering family. As the milkman's family gathered in his home the day after the shootings, an Amish neighbor came over, wrapped his arms around the father of the dead gunman, and said, "We will forgive you." Amish leaders visited the milkman's wife and children to extend their sympathy, their forgiveness, their help, and their love. About half of the mourners at the milkman's funeral were Amish. In turn, the Amish invited the milkman's family to attend the funeral services of the girls who had been killed. A remarkable peace settled on the Amish as their faith sustained them during this crisis.

One local resident very eloquently summed up the aftermath of this tragedy when he said, "We were all speaking the same language, and not just English, but a language of caring, a language of community, [and] a language of service. And, yes, a language of forgiveness." It was an amazing outpouring of their complete faith in the Lord's teachings in the Sermon on the Mount: "Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you." "

President Faust did a remarkable thing... He praised the Amish in our own General Conferance. We have much more in common with other Christians than perhaps many truely believe.

I remember him giving that talk. It was the most moving talk I have heard in ages. I cried when Pres. Faust related that story. The Amish are amazing people and in many ways we should strive to be as forgiving as they are.

[Guest Username-Removed]

I remember him giving that talk. It was the most moving talk I have heard in ages. I cried when Pres. Faust related that story. The Amish are amazing people and in many ways we should strive to be as forgiving as they are.

Pam,

It was a very memorable talk. I too was moved. I found his talk not only encouraging, but also prophetic. Because we've had mulitple tragedies of similar scale since. And yes, we (and I) often need to be reminded that we need to be forgiving as well. Living in the world but not being of the world is a tough thing.

[skalenfehl]

The worth of every soul is great in the sight of the Lord. Joseph Smith received a revelation concerning this. I believe it.

D&C 18: 10

10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

I believe this is also why we are told that without charity we are nothing. If we cannot love each other as we love God and as we love ourselves, then what does it profit us to be saved? Will you love your neighbor in heaven? What if it's someone you hate right now in mortality? We must learn charity, the pure love of Christ.

Matt. 5: 44

44 But I say unto you, 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;

The best way to kill your enemy is to make him your beloved friend.

[Truegrits]

skalenfehl:

The best way to kill your enemy is to make him your beloved friend.

True...

I have found that one of the best, and most humbling, ways to make your enemy your friend is by serving him. For when you serve someone, you truly learn who they are. I have seen it change people; I have been changed by it.

[Traveler]

This is taken from the Community of Christ website:

What are your thoughts?

Can we also embrace this?

*[skalenfehl, feel free to move this if it seems inappropriate :)]

I believe that if we could see a person and understand their eternal destiny that in our present state we would fall down and worship them. To not forgive someone or not accept their efforts to repent - regardless of their past is to not accept Christ and to deny the very Christ.

The Traveler

[Snow]

This is taken from the Community of Christ website:

The Worth of Each Person

Christ's death is for all people. This means that every person is loved by God, no exceptions! The church is called to affirm the worth of people, to be an inclusive fellowship, and to work for human wellbeing in every setting.

So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

—Matthew 10:31

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

—John 3:16-17

Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

—Romans 15:7

(bold added)

I guess that depends. Not everyone things that God's love comes without exception.

"Divine Love Is Also Conditional. While divine love can be called perfect, infinite, enduring, and universal, it cannot correctly be characterized as unconditional. The word does not appear in the scriptures. On the other hand, many verses affirm that the higher levels of love the Father and the Son feel for each of us-and certain divine blessings stemming from that love-are conditional."

"Understanding that divine love and blessings are not truly 'unconditional' can defend us against common fallacies such as these: 'Since God's love is unconditional, He will love me regardless …'; or 'Since 'God is love,' He will love me unconditionally, regardless …' These arguments are used by anti-Christs to woo people with deception."

"The full flower of divine love and our greatest blessings from that love are conditional-predicated upon our obedience to eternal law. I pray that we may qualify for those blessings and rejoice forever."

- Russell M. Nelson, "Divine Love," Ensign, Feb. 2003, page 20

[Moksha]

From President Thomas Monson:

I would encourage members of the Church wherever they may be to show kindness and respect for all people everywhere. The world in which we live is filled with diversity. We can and should demonstrate respect toward those whose beliefs differ from ours. Thus, Latter-day Saints accept all sincere believers as equals in the pursuit of faith and in the great work of serving humanity.

[Misshalfway]

It is amazing to me how many different ways Satan tries to tear down the worth of souls. He changes the definition of what makes a person "good" into a million different lies and mutations. He shames all of us and pushes us towards self loathing and if we loath ourselves, that leads us to treat others in similar fashion.

[bytor2112]

I love my two sons more than words can express. I can think of nothing that could change that. How much more, incomprehensibly more, does our Heavenly Father love and value and miss each of us? I feel very comforted when I think about that and realize the our Heavenly Father is perfect and loves us with a perfect love,even greater than I love my sons.:) Edited June 25, 2008 by bytor2112
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