[Teachldsseminary] TEACH: Leviticus 25

[LDMcEwen at aol.com]

Here ya go.. the name of the sender is on the  bottom
 
I have never responded to a post but here goes....many years ago my  daughter 
was shaken by a caregiver, he happened to be our Elder's quorum  president.  
I was working to support my husband through school and this  person watched 
our baby daughter during the day as well as his own child.   One day something 
happened and our daughter slipped into a coma.  Hours  later we were to find 
out that she had been shaken, her retinas looked like a  boxers, her brain was 
swollen and she had massive subdural hemorraging (I know  that is spelled 
wrong).  My perfect little first born has been left a  vegetable, 24 years later 
she does absolutely nothing for herself, has never  spoken a word, fed herself 
etc...

In the midst of the turmoil around us,  this priesthood holder told us that 
he had given her a blessing while he waited  for the ambulance.  I was 
horrified, shocked, appalled, every negative  emotion you can imagine.  (Did I mention 
bitter?)  Our daughter lived,  and she lived because of the power of the 
priesthood.  Not only THAT  blessing, given by someone  perhaps unworthy to give a 
blessing,but others  by faithful, yet imperfect priesthood holders.   A very, 
very, very  wise Stake President counseled us in the midst of our anger and 
despair that it  was not OUR place to judge anyone's worthiness.  Also, he very 
wisely said  that  although this man may not have been worthy (not ours to 
judge) to  GIVE a blessing, our sweet baby WAS certainly worthy to RECEIVE it.

Over  the years my husband and I have always worked with the youth.  NOT one 
of  them was perfect.  And you know what?  Neither am I, nor is my  husband.  
We have known problems with the youth including our own children,  but don't 
feel it necessary to tattle or judge.  Sins are between the Lord  and his 
children.  I know that there are many, many difficulties in our  ward right now, 
people are teaching lessons that some may think are unworthy to  be teaching, 
not my place to judge.  I need to get the beam out of my own  eye first.  Do we 
ever speed?  Keep too much change?  Let a swear  word out now and then?  Get 
angry for the wrong reason?  Are we  perfect?  No.  The Lord takes care of 
things.  If YM are blessing  the sacrament after partying the night before, YOU 
are still worthy to take the  sacrament.  The Lord will handle the consequences 
for that young man.   Judgement in the Lord's time all works out. 

Our caregiver left the state  48 hours later and we have not ever heard from 
him again.  But how thankful  I am that he chose to exercise the most powerful 
force in the heavens and the  earth for the benefit of my child!  How 
thankful I am for probably the most  humble prayer he had ever offered, given by 
someone who knew his sin and begged  his Father in heaven to not let Rachel suffer 
for his abuse of his free  agency.  How thankful I am for the healing power 
of forgiveness.  How  thankful I am for my sweet perfect celestial child.  When 
I know this, how  can I be angry, how can I judge?

Jeni  Groseclose
wrightplace4 at mindspring.com wrote: I have come to grips with this  through a 
post on this list several years ago but there is a sister in my ward  who is 
actually going to a different ward to take the sacrament because she  knows 
some of the boys blessing and passing the sacrament are unworthy.  I  can't 
remember exactly what was posted that helped me out, if someone knows  could you 
please point me in the right direction so I can help her out?   

Elaine




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