Fall on Haleakala

Sister Hardman with aging Silverswords on Haleakala

Nene on Haleakala

Evidence of those we pass on the beach (until the next wave or high tide)

Sister Hardman sweetening each week

Early yesterday morning I slowly woke up with this phrase repeating in my mind, “…beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning…” I felt it had something to do with several recent experiences. When I gained more consciousness I grabbed my phone and looked it up. Isaiah spoke in first-person for the Messiah, and gave many reasons for “good tidings.” 

“…[The Lord] hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;…to comfort all that mourn;…to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:1-3)

Over the last week, Sister Hardman and I observed and participated in small gatherings where the Lord was binding up someone brokenhearted and giving them joy, where the doctrine of Christ was proclaimed to provide liberty to someone captive to a compulsive behavior and comfort was kindly displacing their mourning. We observed where beauty or a state of wholeness was envisioned once again in the mind and heart of someone whose life or relations were in ashes, where persons under heavy burdens were being praised and reminded of the good they are and do, and where righteousness planted in their hearts by the Lord was once again imagined in their minds like trees planted by God that will grow into Joy and into the Glory of God.

Every Addiction Recovery Program support meeting starts with love, compassion, prayer, and readings from others who have experienced recovery. Words from church leaders are also studied, then participants are given the opportunity to share and strengthen each other. In one gathering, a meek person came to provide support to their loved-one who was in recovery for addiction. However, when given the opportunity to share, they acknowledged their own need for Healing through the Savior due to burden or prisons of their own. We saw, felt, and witnessed in their eyes the Lord binding up their oozing, wounded, broken hearts with a subtle and gentle mighty change of heart. 

In a different gathering specifically for Spouse and Family Support of those in addiction, the reading included a long list of emotions that are felt when a family member becomes addicted to harmful behaviors. Participants nod their heads as we read together about fear, weariness, confusion, loss, shame, hopelessness, anger, loneliness, isolation, hurt, or bitterness. Then the guidebook asks an inspired question that takes the focus from the mortal causes of their pain and re-focuses all of us on the source of divine love and power. “What evidences do you have that God knows you? How will this knowledge strengthen your faith and give you courage?” After a long moment of deep thought, we hear things like, “Oh, when so-and-so gave me an unexpected hug that day, perhaps…, yes, it was God sending them to me,” or “After my deepest state, when I turned my life over to God, he took the craving away that I had for years. Only God could do that.”

On another occasion, this time a social event with other senior missionaries and local members we met at a favorite coastline to view the sunset. Afterwards we went to our friends home and played games to relax and get to know each other better and share a little about our service mission. We had a nice time but obviously we were all tired that night and upon our departure I was insensitive to a question from our host. Sister Hardman confirmed that my response was uncomfortable. I agreed and we decided to return the next morning for me to apologize. They welcomed us and we sat to visit and I apologized and responded more understandingly to the discussion from the night before. They were kind and filled with love and grace. Oh, how wonderful it is to repent and make things better and let the Lord anoint us with, “the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”

And finally, one more example. This past Sunday we had the blessing to speak in two wards where, while giving the talks we gazed into the faces of beautiful people who love and seek the Lord, Jesus Christ but like all of us, have need of Healing for something in their lives. Between meetings we met a sister who is very faithful in the Gospel but has needed Healing through the Savior for a number of the emotions and fears mentioned above. We invited her to come and share her testimony with some of the people we work with, to facilitate and help their healing. In humility she expressed willingness and some lingering concerns but in doing so confirmed to us the power her experience would have for our friends. I felt prompted to say to her, “What you have just said may be just what others need to hear who are seeking healing.”

We bear testimony and witness from daily experience that the Lord has come and will come “to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;…to comfort all that mourn;…to give unto [us] beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that [we] might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.