That Your Burdens May Be Light

My thoughts on Elder Clayton's talk "That Your Burdens May Be Light"

Tears, tears and more tears run down my cheeks every time I hear or read this talk. I know what it feels like to be burdened down with cares. I don't know what it feels like when sin is the burden but I do know what it feels like to have other burdens.

"No matter the burdens we face in life as a consequence of natural conditions, the misconduct of others, or our own mistakes and shortcomings, we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father, who sent us to earth as part of His eternal plan for our growth and progress. Our unique individual experiences can help us prepare to return to Him. The adversity and afflictions that are ours, however difficult to bear, last, from heaven’s perspective, for “but a small moment; and then, if [we] endure it well, God shall exalt [us] on high.” We must do everything we can to bear our burdens “well” for however long our “small moment” carrying them lasts.

I always wonder what I'm to learn from the burdens I'm carrying (or have carried). I'm sure there is always a lesson I'm suppose to learn, but never sure if I did learn the right one.

"Burdens provide opportunities to practice virtues that contribute to eventual perfection."

If I take advantage of all the "opportunities" I should be perfect ~smile~

"Further, bearing up under our own burdens can help us develop a reservoir of empathy for the problems others face."

AMEN!

As Mother Teresa said, "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much."

Now that I have finished discussing his talk I want to add this little insight and let you think about it.

This talk is titled "That Your Burdens May Be LIGHT" (emphasis added). If you want to do a little scripture chase go the the Topical Guide and look up the word "light". It might give a new meaning to why we have burdens. May I pose this thought: If we are to become God then maybe we have burdens to help us become Gods.

Some that I like:
"Whatsoever is truth is light" D&C 84:45
"Christ is the light of truth." D&C 88:6
and my favorites
"I am the law, and the light" 3 Nephi 15:9
"I am the light" 3 Nephi 18:16

What about the opposite of light--darkness. Our burdens can bring us to either darkness or light. We decide where our burdens lead us.