Faith

Bear Up Their Burdens With Ease

While reading Elder Bednar's recent address, "Bear Up Their Burdens With Ease" this part caught my attention.

Recall the Savior’s statement “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30) as we consider the next verse in the account of Alma and his people.

“And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs” (Mosiah 24:14).

Many of us may assume this scripture is suggesting that a burden suddenly and permanently will be taken away. The next verse, however, describes how the burden was eased.

“And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord” (Mosiah 24:15; emphasis added).

The challenges and difficulties were not immediately removed from the people. But Alma and his followers were strengthened, and their increased capacity made the burdens lighter. These good people were empowered through the Atonement to act as agents (see D&C 58:26–29) and impact their circumstances. And “in the strength of the Lord” (Words of Mormon 1:14; Mosiah 9:17; 10:10; Alma 20:4), Alma and his people were directed to safety in the land of Zarahemla.

I read these verses differently this time as I had been dealing with a particularly difficult episode of anxiety. The verse that says, “And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs.”  I recognized that this is what life would feel like for me with out anxiety.  I would still have my trials but I wouldn't have the pressure and weight of the anxiety about them pressing down on me. The burden (or life experience) isn't lifted or taken away, but instead it is still present without the crushing weight.

Some of anxiety is a genetic thing, pretty evident in my extended family for generations.  However, some of it is learned and through learning different healthy coping mechanisms there can be some healing.  In addition to eating healthy, getting regular cardio exercise, staying well rested, and for some adding medication to help.  There is one key element of treating anxiety that is overlooked-- the Power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

We will all experience burdens in our lives. The test is how well will we endure them? With Hope and Faith in Jesus Christ or will we allow them to hinder and halt our progression?  Dealing with anxiety seems to magnify the problem to be much larger than it really is.  With strong anxiety the stress and worrying can paralyze our decision making ability, tempt us to decide rashly out of sometimes unrealistic fears, and almost always make the situation worse than it was to begin with.  This is the part of the burden that I would like eased in my life.  I understand that the original problem is just part of life sometimes--bad things can, do, and will happen to good people.   But I desire to be strengthened so the crushing weight of the anxiety and it's companion, depression, is made lighter, so that I can bear up my burdens with ease, mentally, and submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord in my life.

The Power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is truly is amazing.   As Elder Bednar says, "We are not and never need be alone. We can press forward in our daily lives with heavenly help."  The hope of this life is Jesus Christ.  His Atonement can heal all things.