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Step Eight: Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make restitution to all of them (even those we had harmed in what we might have considered righteous anger), desiring instead to be peacemakers and to do all that we could to come unto God by being first reconciled to others. (3 Nephi 12:9; 3 Nephi 12:24; 3 Nephi 12:44-45)

Principle Eight: The mighty change of heart brings a willingness to make amends for all past wrongs, to seek a spirit of peace and oneness with everyone, including those I have hurt or been hurt by.

A PARABLE

One day I dreamed a dream and saw myself in a scene that was almost like something out of Gone with the Wind. I was walking up a long, tree-lined lane, and though I was ragged and wounded and still using a crutch to steady myself, I was full of excitement. I had just entered into the last stretch in what had been a long and perilous journey home. Just over the next rise was “the green, green grass of home” and my family waiting to greet me. Even there along the lane, every tree was filled with yellow ribbons. And when the breeze carried just right, and I had my good ear turned, I could hear the music and smell the feast at the great party they were having.

Suddenly I noticed that another figure was hobbling along just ahead of me. Whoever this poor soul was, I could tell that he was in at least as bad a shape as I was. But even with all his wounds, he had made it this far too. My heart went out to him in fellowship, and quickening my pace, I hurried to overtake him, calling out to him, “Brother, wait! Wait for me!”

He stopped and turned. My heart went chill as all feelings drained from it. I recognized his face. He had been my enemy, the very one who had inflicted the deepest wounds-wounds that had made my journey so slow and painful-wounds that I still bore unhealed. Not him! How could he be here too?

I halted my steps, unable to approach him any further, unwilling to say anything. As he called out “Who’s there? I can’t see you,” I realized that he was blind. Rather than answer his plaintive cry, I held my breath. Soon he turned, dejected, and shuffled on his way.

I didn’t have far to follow him, for just ahead of us was a shining, glorious gate. The boundary that it marked was as definite as if it were guarding night from day. Even though the beauty of the country through which the lane passed was exquisite, what lay beyond the gate was beyond description, but not recognition. It was Home. Upon my seeing it, childhood memories seemed to flood my mind. Every path and byway was familiar to me. The longing to be there once more became an overwhelming ache within me. It caused me to totally forget my reluctance to approach my enemy, who was even now standing at the gatehouse, speaking to the gatekeeper.

The gatekeeper had his back to me. Still I recognized Him immediately as my Lord and Good Shepherd, He who had carried me throughout much of my journey, ministering to my stubborn wounds. Just as He had promised, He employed no servant here. Still I could see only my enemy’s face. There was light shining either from it or on it. I could not tell which. Suddenly I realized that his eyes were bright and clear, focused upon the face of the Gatekeeper. I realized he was not blind anymore! Then I noted how straight he stood. Eagerly I threw down my crutch and rushed forward. Maybe I too could be made whole!

Before I could take more than a step or two, I was suddenly aware of the Gatekeeper’s words to my lifelong enemy. “There is only one last thing before you are ready to enter in, one last question I must ask.”

My enemy! This person who had been responsible for my deepest wounds? He was about to enter in?

The Gatekeeper continued, breaking through my shock, “Are you a friend to every man?”

Taking his gaze from the Gatekeeper’s face, the man looked steadily into my eyes, and I knew that he was seeing me, really seeing me, for the first time. Somewhere inside I trembled. I had known all along that I would have to face the Lord to enter in, but my enemy?

His words pierced my soul. “I am willing to be,” he said quietly. Healed and no longer blind, he loved me. Could I, still maimed and crippled as I was, say the same? Could I answer this one last question with an honest yes?

The Gatekeeper seemed to disappear from between us, though I knew He was near. Nothing stood between my enemy and me. He waited for my response with longing meekness in his eyes, unable to enter in without my approbation. And just as surely, I knew I could not enter in without him. My long-harbored resentment and bitterness, or all that lay beyond this last barrier-which would it be? Which would I choose? Why had I waited so long? How had I thought I could avoid this moment?

My first step toward him was still halting, as if crippled, but with each step my strength grew greater and greater. I could feel my wounds healing as I reached for his hands and then his embrace.

And as the dream ended, I saw us wrapped in more than each other’s acceptance and forgiveness. The Gatekeeper and still another figure stood with us. With shining countenance the Gatekeeper turned to the other; and speaking my name in unison with that of my former adversary, He said, “Father, these are my friends.” As I awoke from the dream, the last impression I had was hearing the voice of the Father, so long awaited, “Well done. You may all enter in.”

Speaking of those who would gain only a portion of glory and not a fullness, the Lord said:

Nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place [the one they choose], to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received. (D&C 88:32)

CONCLUSION: ONLY COMPLETE SURRENDER BRINGS COMPLETE PEACE

And this they did, it being in their view a testimony to God, and also to men, that they never would use weapons again for the shedding of man’s blood; and this they did, vouching and covenanting with God, that rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives; and rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him.

And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they.buried their weapons of war, for peace. (Alma 24:18-19; emphasis added)

We too must be willing to bury our weapons permanently-our weapons of pride (self-will, competition, and enmity), fear (self-pity), and self-righteous­ness. We must not allow ourselves to use them ever again, even in the guise of helping another person: “I’m just doing this for his own good.”

We must come to a day when we are willing to practice Christ’s complete trust in God’s will, in order to have His complete peace. Even as our Lord and exemplar did, we must also see through the seeming victory of evil in our lives and the lives of others, to the glorious and inevitable triumph of good and God.

Therefore, they would suffer death in the most aggravating and distressing manner which could be inflicted by their brethren, before they would take the sword or cimeter to smite them. (Alma 27:29)

It was their perspective that gave these people the power to let go absolutely and to trust God’s will in all things.

One last word, and that a word of warning. These people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi were fanatics by normal standards. They were different. They were a peculiar people who had to find their comfort in the esteem and goodwill of God rather than the esteem and goodwill of men. No matter how crazy their choices seemed to others, they cared only for the love of God. There was definitely no codependency among them, no caring more what people thought of them than what God thought. They were willing to come down into depths of humility that few of us ever know.

We’ll talk more in our next discussion about what keeps us from putting this willingness into action.

ASSIGNMENT FOR THIS WEEK:

Read “Beware of Pride,” by President Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, May 1989, p. 4. Underline and capture some quotes from it.

Preparation for discussion of principle nine: “BLESSED ARE ALL THE PEACEMAKERS” (3 Nephi 12:9)

Step 9:    Made restitution directly to those we had harmed, confessing our own wrongdoing in each instance except when to do so would further injure them or others. (Mosiah 27:35; 3 Nephi 12:25; Mosiah 26:30)

Day 1:_ Mosiah 3:19-What do the phrases “becometh as a child” and “willing to submit to all things” mean? How old is the child you visualize? Are there any exceptions to the “all” to which you are willing to submit?

Day 2:_ Mosiah 27:35-Alma and the sons of Mosiah went about “zealously striving to repair all the injuries which they had done.” If you were “zealous” about making amends, who would you go to? Make a list.

Day 3:_ Alma 24:21-In the course of making our amends we will sometimes meet people who do not react favorably to our efforts, who choose to retain their negative feelings toward us. What does this verse teach us about our resolve to be “defenseless” even in the face of such hostility?

Day 4:_ Helaman 10:4–“thou.hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will.” To make amends requires us to lose our fear of other people and declare what we know we must to them, no matter what the results. How does being willing to make amends equate with not seeking our own life? With being willing to lose our own life?

Day 5:_ 3 Nephi 12:25-26–“Agree with your adversary quickly while you are in the way with him lest he cast you into prison.” Into what prison are we immediately cast if we have adversarial feelings toward someone else? What are the character weaknesses that keep us in bondage?

Day 6:_ 3 Nephi 14:2-4-Describe your understanding of the “mote/beam” disease. Why is it that your eye is always the one with the beam when you see any fault in another?

Day 7:_ 3 Nephi 14:12-There is a secret or mystery of human behavior in this injunction of the Savior’s. It is that we always do unto others as we believe we deserve to have done unto us. What is revealed about a person’s feelings of self-acceptance if that person cannot forgive and accept another’s imperfections and weaknesses?

He Did Deliver Me from Bondage can be found at most LDS bookstores or purchased online at www.rosehavenpublishing.com