The Body - 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Even though the gifts of the Spirit are varied and diverse, Paul further illustrates the point that they all come from the same God by giving an analogy of the human body. His point is that the body has many different parts that aren't similar at all but works together to make a fully functioning, amazing human body, "for the body is not one member, but many." He notes, "if the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?" Is it true that because the foot is not the hand, it isn't part of the body? Of course not, and when we look at it in terms of the body, the answer is obvious, but when we look at it in terms of members, sometimes we falter on it.

In Paul's time it was a matter of "Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free," but in our time it can be more about our opinions, where we are from, sometimes, our race, how we speak, what music we listen to. If we ask ourselves, "do those who have different political opinions belong in the Church as much as I do?" the answer if of course. We can see that in Paul's analogy, but sometimes it's more difficult to relate that lesson in real life.

Accepting other people into the Church is not just an exercise in patience and tolerance for us. Paul asks "if the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?" Not everyone is meant to serve the same purpose, or minister in the same way, or serve like everybody else. One of the greatest lessons I learned was about how I viewed my visiting teaching sisters. Because I was the visitor and they were the visitee, I thought that I was the one who was supposed to serve them, and because all of them were inactive, I saw it as my duty to portray a strong, committed woman who embodied all the strengths of the gospel. Basically, I tried to imitate all the "Molly Mormon" women that I thought were the perfect saints. It wasn't until I let that go and was just myself that we were able to see that we were more alike than we were not alike. And it wasn't until I let go of the notion that I was only to serve them that we were finally able to become actual, deeply connected friends. 

People don't want to feel like a service project, they don't want to feel like they are being pitied. People want to feel like they are loved and accepted just the way that they are. Jesus did this during his ministry, he met people where they were and showed them love and kindness. He didn't go and do wrong things with them, but he was still kind and compassionate. When I finally started accepting service from the girls that I visit taught, that's when I created eternal friendships. My ministry didn't bring them back to the church, and honestly, it was never meant to, but it did give us the opportunity to be friends, and I've been blessed because of that everyday of my life since.

Not only does each part of the body have it's place in the function, but "the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: not again the head to the feet, I have no need of you... And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness." Human nature is to judge each other and I am definitely guilty of this, in a lot of different ways. But Paul's pointing out that even those "parts of the body" or interpreted can be "members of the Church" who are "less honourable" or "uncomely" not only are important to the function of the Church as a whole, but vital to it's success. This is just where we as people need to stop making other people's worthiness our business. The reward for our service in the church is the same for everyone and it is more generous than anything we are even remotely worthy of.

We need to be raising each other up, instead of tearing each other down. Paul agrees, "There should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it." The IM quotes President Gordon B. Hinckley as teaching, "your obligation is as serious in your sphere of responsibility as is my obligation in my sphere. No calling in this church is small or of little consequence. All of us in the pursuit of our duty touch the lives of others." The IM continues, quoting President Dieter F. Uchtdorf as teaching, "You may feel that there are others who are more capable or more experienced who could fulfill your callings and assignments better than you can, but the Lord gave you your responsibilities for a reason. There may be people and hearts only you can reach and touch. Perhaps no one else could do it in quite the same way."

We all have a place in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and our job is to not only learn and magnify our place, but to also help other people learn and magnify theirs and that can only happen in a place filled with love and compassion and humility. This is a tough lesson and an action that goes against our human nature sometimes, but we can learn it, and we when we do, it will be a far better existence than we would have ever imagined for ourselves.