Not far from the beautiful Lake Gennesaret is a natural elevated area with a wondrous view.   To this soon-to-become sacred space, on a day never to be forgotten, many individuals climbed up the slope to gather because they were invited by someone to hear from a most remarkable rabbi whom they had either seen or at least heard about.  His name was Jesus of Nazareth.  There were reports circulating that this rabbi not only taught with authority but that He also performed healings and other miracles.  

Anxious to hear what He might teach, surely those who would gather came with at least curiosity–if not some hope–seeking for some helpful words that could change their lives for the better.  Perhaps some even wondered if the one true God who once raised up a Moses to deliver their ancestors from bondage in Egypt and who later raised up a Joshua to bring them into this land of their inheritance would provide for them now in this Individual a new mighty help and prophesied delivery from their troubles and trials.  Certainly, each individual would have carried in their minds and their hearts personal burdens that would very much affect how they would hear the message this Jesus would share with them. 

“And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying”

“Blessed are the poor in spirit:  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (1) 

In another time giving a similar message, He is recorded as having said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me:  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (2)  

The Kingdom of Heaven.  

With this start then follows the Sermon on the Mount which would provide core truths of how to receive the power of God in your life by living the higher law, the law of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  By first hearing then committing to follow this law, disciples of Christ would be healed, helped, and see other delightful miracles in their lives.  It would cause them to drop old burdens and take up their own crosses and follow Him.  It would cause them to see and feel everything differently.

All of the process begins with the very first of the “beatitudes” or the “way-to-be attitudes.”  To be blessed, you and I need to become poor in spirit and recognize our need for assistance and choose to come unto Him for that assistance.  This first attitude–which is also a principle of self-reliance– is an invitation with two parts, both of which require exercising faith in Christ.  When these two requirements are met, the result is that we are blessed to receive the abundance, joy, and peace of “the kingdom of heaven.”

Exercise Faith in Christ to Recognize You Are Poor in Spirit 

We don’t know the full stories of those who went up to hear Christ deliver this life-changing sermon.  We do know after He finishes speaking, “great multitudes followed Him.” (3)  Right after relating the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew further describes three individuals: a leper who wants to be made clean, a Roman army leader of 100 soldiers who desires his servant to be healed of a movement disorder, and Peter’s mother-in-law who is sick with a fever.  All three recognized they needed help beyond their own abilities. (4)

King Benjamin in The Book of Mormon:  Another Testament of Jesus Christ described what I believe it means to be poor in spirit.  I love his words and they have changed my focus in life more than once.  To be poor in spirit means you and I develop a “sense of [our] nothingness” coupled with a growing knowledge of “the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life.” (5)  It means we must be humble before God and prepare ourselves to listen, learn, and practice what Christ would teach us. 

Exercise Faith in Christ to Choose to Come unto Him

It took physical exercise for individuals to climb up the mountainside to come to Christ’s presence and hear His words.  This was a form of faith in Christ.  It took further spiritual exercise for them to commit to and practice what he taught them to do.  This also was a form of faith in Christ.  President Russell M. Nelson said, “The Lord loves effort. The Lord loves consistency.  The Lord loves steadfastness.”(6) 

Because the leper summoned up the courage to speak to Christ to be made clean, he was healed by Him.  Because the Roman army leader expressed confidence in Christ’s ability to heal his servant even without being in his physical presence, his servant overcame palsy that had limited him.  Likewise, Peter’s mother-in-law was healed as Peter and his wife undoubtedly chose to turn their lives over to Christ and brought Him into their home.  Notably, the leper became more self-reliant by coming unto Christ by seeking to take care of himself.  The second and third became more self-reliant by coming unto Christ as they sought to better serve and caring for others.

Struggles with finances, uncertainty of testimony, emotional or mental challenges–these are just a few areas that try our souls here on earth.  How well do you know your strengths and weaknesses in becoming self-reliant?  This is a life-long effort.  How might you better exercise faith in Christ?  Within the Appleton Wisconsin Stake of Zion, we offer Self-Reliance Courses that can strengthen us.  I invite you to review what they are about by visiting the website Practical Courses, Spiritual Benefits.  Would you prayerfully consider if there is a step you should take toward enrolling yourself or those who you love in one of these courses?  As needed, please seek for further guidance from your Elders Quorum and Relief Society presidencies.

I testify that what Christ taught in the Sermon on the Mount is true: our Father in Heaven knows what things we stand in need of. He will continue to provide for us now and even more as we exercise faith in Christ by becoming poor in spirit and coming unto Him. The Lord has said, “And it is my purpose to provide for my saints…but it must needs be done in mine own way.” (7)  

May we seek to understand what His way is for us to participate in this work of providing for His children, I pray.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Nathan D. Munson
Stake President

References:

1. Matthew 5:2-3

2. 3 Nephi 12:3

3. Matthew 8:1

4. See Matthew 8:1-15 for the stories about the leper, the centurion, and Peter’s mother-in-law exercising faith in Christ.

5. Mosiah 3:5, 6

6. https://www.thechurchnews.com/2022/1/1/23265689/president-russell-m-nelson-suggests-3-resolutions-in-his-first-message-of-2022

7. Doctrine and Covenants 104:15, 16