We are ALL Children of the Most High

Growing up my dad loved to watch Nature on PBS. I learned to love it as well. I have always been enticed by the age old scenario of the herd animals like the gazelle or the zebras being picked off by their predators. In these many documentaries it explained how the lions, tigers, or jaguars will pick off the smallest, the slowest, and the weakest of the herd, the "easy" food. The predators will lie in wait until the moment is right and the animal has it's guard down. Then quickly and powerfully he will lunge for the animal who more often than not becomes dinner for the predator.

I marvelled that the predator was so clever and so powerful. I also wondered at why these animals so well trained to beware of danger would let their guard down to allow the predator the opportunity to devour the prey. In life there is a very real "lion" who is waiting to devour us. Just like the predator he waits for us to lower our guard and then he attacks. The very lucky escape unscathed, but others are not so lucky.

There are many lessons to be learned from focusing on the predator, but to illustrate my point I would like to focus on the prey as well as the herd. As I mentioned before the predators often focus on the smallest, the weakest, and the slowest, but why? Because those are the ones who are less likely to find protection from the group. They are the easy targets because they are alone. Is this not one of Satan's greatest tools? Creating within us a feeling of being alone so that we will not find the protection of the group. Not only does he create that feeling within ourselves, but he also convinces those within the group to single others out so that they are alone.

Imagine how difficult it would be for the lion to pick off it's prey if there were no animals outside the group, not one. Imagine how difficult it would be for Satan is all were safely gathered in to the fold. How difficult would it be for Satan if we all went after the one and brought them home to safety! My question is this, what are we doing to create that feeling of unity?

One of my favorite movies is "West Side Story." The other day as I was watching it I noticed something that had not occurred to me before. In the movie there are two groups, the Jet's and the Sharks, who fight against each other. Their hate for each other is strong and intense. As I watched the movie it occurred to me that when we hate and isolate each other that we stifle the ability not only for ourselves to live, but we stifle it for others also. With hate comes bondage and death, but with love come freedom and life. If this is the case then surely the Devil is the "Father of Contention." (3 Nephi 11:29)

That evening after I watched the movie I had the opportunity to go to the temple. It was a wonderful experience. As I learned more about what God asks of us I was reminded of the scripture in Genesis 2:18 that says, "it is not good for man to be alone." The use of this comment is directed toward Adam's helpmate, Eve. I believe, however, that God means this in general. It is not good that we should leave each other alone to be devoured by the lions of this world. We need to strengthen and support one another.

The experience left me feeling the importance of truly loving all of God's children and seeing the Godlike attributes in each and every person. There are so many good people in this world. Why don't we focus on what we have in common instead of our differences as President Hinckley once said. He also said, "He [the Lord] expects us to be good neighbors, Christians in every sense of the word, those who follow the Golden Rule—’whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them’ (Matt. 7:12; 3 Ne. 14:12). My brothers and sisters, we must be good neighbors. We must be a friendly people. We must recognize the good in all people. We don’t go about tearing down other churches. We preach and teach in a positive and affirmative way” (meeting, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, 5 Aug. 1998).

Christ said, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 13: 34-35 Finally we learn in 1 Jn. 4:12, "If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us." What a wonderful blessing it is to have love one for another. I recommit myself to learning to love as Christ did. My we all do our best to love one another.