How Much Better?

Jacob 3:6-8
Therefore, how much better are you than they, in the sight of your great Creator?

I don't know about you, but I have a real struggle with self-righteousness and judging others.  When I see people who are really messing up their lives, especially people I don't know, I wonder why they don't shape up and do what's right.

But Jacob is telling us here that the Lamanites are judged as righteous for those things that they do worthily.  He tells us that the husbands love their wives and the wives love their husbands and they both love their children and the Lord blesses them for that.  And their evil acts are the result of traditions handed down by their fathers.

It gives me great peace to know that my children who aren't doing everything I would like them to be doing are being blessed for those things they do as good people.  They love their children and they lead honest, hard-working lives.  Those are important things, and the Lord is blessing them for that.

Just as the Lord gives the Lamanites some slack because they were raised with inherited false traditions, it's important for me to cease being judgmental about people who weren't raised with the many blessings and advantages I've had.  Elder Uchtdorf gave his masterful talk in April of this year in which he said:
"We simply have to stop judging others and replace judgmental thoughts and feelings with a heart full of love for God and His children. God is our Father. We are His children. We are all brothers and sisters."  This was the talk where he told us to "Stop it!"

When I think about the many advantages and blessings I've had in my life, of the generations of righteous ancestors, of my faithful and worthy parents who set such a good example for me, of my education and the many spiritual experiences I've had, of a righteous and supportive and hard-work husband, of dear friends who taught me and set good examples for me, I'm so humbled!  Spiritually, I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, and have been raised in a spiritual penthouse!  How cruel of me to look down on those without my advantages and judge them.  President Uchtdorf's words really apply to me.  Stop it!

He says: 

When our hearts are filled with the love of God, something good and pure happens to us. We “keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world.”

The more we allow the love of God to govern our minds and emotions—the more we allow our love for our Heavenly Father to swell within our hearts—the easier it is to love others with the pure love of Christ. As we open our hearts to the glowing dawn of the love of God, the darkness and cold of animosity and envy will eventually fade.

That is what I want for myself.  That is what I pray for.