Leaving the Burden: Finding Strength to Let Go and Trust the Lord

Brothers and sisters, if there’s one thing I’ve learned since returning from my mission—and even now, as I serve as an internet missionary—it’s that the weight we carry in our hearts can feel heavier than any physical burden. We are taught so much about sharing the gospel, about bearing testimony, about drawing the Savior’s grace into our lives. But what about the weight of the hurts? The bitterness? The unforgiveness we clutch onto?

It’s easy to focus solely on *preach my gospel* skills—how to answer the hard questions, how to testify with power, how to guide a friend through their own struggles. But sometimes, the most vital preparation for the field, or even for a simple missionary discussion at home, is learning how to empty ourselves of the things that bind us.

The message today, drawn from some powerful insights, is a profound reminder that true strength isn't found in holding onto the grievances of others, but in the radical act of letting go and trusting the Lord to do the refining work.

The Weight of Holding On

We all get hurt. It’s part of the mortal experience. We are susceptible to disappointment, betrayal, and misunderstanding. And when we are hurt, it is natural—very natural—to want to hold onto that pain. It feels like proof that what happened mattered. But the speaker today gently challenges that notion, suggesting that bitterness and resentment are burdens we are never meant to carry.

I was struck by the analogy of the two monks. One man carried the woman across the river, and while the second monk complained about the dirt on his clothes and the ache in his back, the first man simply walked on. Why? Because he had already set the burden down. He had done his part, and now he trusted the process.

"Dein Rücken tut dir weh, weil du die Frau immer noch trägst; ich hingegen habe sie schon vor acht Kilometern abgesetzt."

Friends, that is a powerful illustration for our discipleship. We are often carrying the "woman"—the hurt, the injustice, the slight—long after we have been set free to move forward. We are still physically carrying the weight of yesterday’s pain, when we should be walking forward in the Spirit.

A Lesson in Divine Justice and Grace

The scriptures are filled with promises of divine justice—that God will make all things right. And that is true! But our job isn't to be the judge, jury, and executioner of what is right or wrong in the world. Our job, as Latter-day Saints, is to be conduits of Christ’s grace. And Christ’s grace always requires us to forgive.

This isn't just a nice sentiment for a Sunday talk; it’s a vital component of *be christlike*. To forgive isn't saying what happened was okay; it's choosing to refuse to let what happened *define* your peace. It is choosing to trust the Savior's perfect timing and perfect plan, even when our natural inclination is to fight the injustice.

Applying This to Our Work

As we engage in the work—whether we are in the MTC, serving a mission, or even just having a family discussion about the gospel—we will encounter people who are resistant, who are difficult, or whose actions feel profoundly unfair. When that frustration bubbles up, I want you to remember the lesson of the monks. Where are you still carrying that burden? What have you "set down" in your heart today?

This is where the power of the Spirit comes in. It helps us shift our focus from what others *did* to what the Savior *can do*. It allows us to move from complaint to confidence.

If you are feeling the weight of past hurts, I encourage you to spend time in the social scripture study layer within LivingBook. Sometimes, reading scripture in context, or engaging in a Book Club discussion on forgiveness, can help us process these heavy emotions in a safe, sacred space.

If you want to practice turning those heavy feelings into divine trust, I highly recommend reviewing the principles of faith and trust found in the Psalms. Keep reading the Iron Rod authors; they are filled with guidance on this exact journey.

For those of us preparing for the field, or those of us who have recently returned, remember that every member can be an internet missionary. Our greatest tools aren't just our knowledge of doctrine; they are our capacity to model Christlike patience and grace.

If you need help wrestling with the difficult questions that arise when we try to live these principles, I invite you to check out Davee. He's ready to walk you through some tough investigator questions, helping you formulate answers rooted in the gospel.

If you’d like to deepen your study of these concepts with others, join a Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces this week. Let’s lift these burdens together.