The Grand Canyon

I will probably never understand the difficulty fully. In a recent circumstance, I realized that the man who spoke felt a tremendous emptiness inside him. I have heard this before, and never fully understood. (I still don’t fully understand.) As he spoke, I realized that it was as though an emptiness the size of the Grand Canyon had been stuffed inside of him. No matter how much he did, how hard he tried, how much he struggled, how much he tried to fill that emptiness, it was too big. Every effort seemed fruitless in comparison to the emptiness.

When faced with those kinds of odds, who would not be discouraged? Whether a bucket full or a dump truck full – it will be so small in comparison to the hole that it cannot be measured.

To those who might feel this way, I can offer only one consolation: the power of Christ can overcome all difficulties.

The Spirit has impressed me deeply to know that Jesus Christ bore all of our infirmities and weaknesses and sins, and that in him we can find rest. I know that through his grace, no problem is unsolvable, and no burden is too great. All of our problems require spiritual help. All the good books and counselors and support groups we can find are no substitute for the help that comes from our Heavenly Father. Often our prayers are answered through those means, but he is the source of the help. I know that the Savior lives and loves and cares for us. I know that our Heavenly Father lives and loves us and guides our path.

Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness...
(Old Testament Joel 2:12 - 13)

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

(Old Testament Psalms 103:8 - 18)

But behold, the Spirit hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people, saying: Repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth.
And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.
And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

(Book of Mormon Alma 7:9 - 12)

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren...

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

(New Testament Hebrews 2:9 - 18)

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

(New Testament Hebrews 4:14 - 16)

* * * * * * * *

I pondered this difficulty and realized that the ultimate help is spiritual help. I was troubled, though. Surely there must be another way of looking at this problem – the hole is so big.

There is another way to look at the same problem. The Grand Canyon consists of two parts: the large emptiness, and the canyon beneath. Looking upon the emptiness, one fails to see the canyon. But when we visit the Grand Canyon, we don’t go to see the empty space, but the see the canyon itself.

Every soul is just as spectacular as the Grand Canyon. There is infinite worth in each person. To study only what isn’t there is to miss the magnitude of what is there.

Because every soul has worth, He is not ashamed to call them his brethren.