I read the following story about strengthening bridges in my family book group’s book (The Second Coming of the Lord by Gerald Lund). I wondered if I would fortify spiritual bridges or just give up in the face of such obvious opposition. Could I rely on the Lord for strength and ideas of how to make a way?
Fortify Spiritual Bridges
Gerald Lund shared the following story:
“A Christian missionary couple was called to Africa to serve deep in the heart of the continent. When they got to the coast, they were told that they would be taking machinery to a missionary center at their outpost in Zaire. They had a whole truckload of heavy machinery. When they got the truck completely loaded, it weighed about eight tons.
That was a problem. The road that led to where they were going passed over many rivers and many streams, and over deep ravines. The bridges were crude, they were made of logs tied together with vines. Some of the bridges had 3T on the sign next to them meaning the limit was 3 tons. Some had 6T. None of them had 8T beside them. The truck was too heavy.
The missionary was deeply concerned, and his wife said, ‘What are we going to do about all that weight on those bridges? We will have to leave some stuff behind.’ The missionary said, ‘There isn’t anything I can do to lighten the load. I’ll just have to reinforce the bridges.’ So, that is what they did. They started out, and at each bridge they would stop and, with considerable work, sometimes dangerous work because the rivers were infested with crocodiles and poisonous snakes, they would cut down trees, strengthen the bridge, and rebuild it to the point where it could carry the eight tons. And thus they delivered the supplies. (Virginia Law Shell, The Bridge, Guideposts, January 1975, 10-11).”
As I questioned myself about my tenacity and wondered how God helps fortify spiritual bridges, a series of experiences from that very day came to mind.
On Saturday, I’d happily offered to pick up one of the sister missionaries’ friends for church. I arrived at her house at 8:50 am with time to pick her up and get to church before 9:00 am. She wasn’t quite ready and asked for a few more minutes. As the time clicked closer to church’s starting time, I thought, “well, as long as I can partake of the sacrament this week, it will all be fine.” Partaking of the sacrament has long been my main reason for attending church. The sacrament is a spiritual tether for me. I’d had a difficult week, and I wanted to immerse myself in its covenantal blessings.
My new friend got in my truck at 9:00. I didn’t feel bothered. I knew we could still make it.
She asked if I could run an errand for her mom that would impact little ones in their home. Of course that needed to be done. We ran the errand, ran back to her home, and then drove to church.
We arrived at church at 9:30 am. I knew we had missed the sacrament. I still felt like we’d been about the Lord’s business, so trusted that and enjoyed the rest of sacrament meeting.
Should I Stay or Should I Go
Fast forward a few hours after that moment. I’d arrived at home, eaten lunch, and really wanted a nap.
I knew I needed to go visit a lady in an assisted care facility. She’s had such a rough go of it and feels so lonely. I’d mentally planned to visit that afternoon. But I felt so tired and kind of drained from a physically and emotionally busy week. Did it really matter if I went or not? I felt the quiet prompting: Go.
I went, not because I felt like she really needed me, but because I felt the prompting that she just needed someone.
While we chatted, I had the thought that she really could use a priesthood blessing. I made a mental note to ask her ministering brothers if they could give her a blessing when they had a moment. We visited for an hour, and I started feeling the tug to leave.
Suddenly, a knock at the door revealed one of her ministering brothers and the ward mission leader! I expressed the prompting about her receiving a blessing and she said she would really love it. She hadn’t had one in a while. I stood up to leave so she could enjoy their visit.
As I crossed the room to leave, one of the brothers said that they’d come to give her the sacrament. I stopped dead in my tracks. The sacrament! Was it appropriate for me to ask for it too? I felt like I could.
I whirled around and said I hadn’t received the sacrament at church that morning and asked if I could partake, too. They’d only brought one tiny piece of bread and one cup for her to use. She quickly produced a cup she could use and said she would be happy to share the sacrament with me. They broke the little piece of bread into two.
I felt kind of overcome as I stood at the end of her hospital bed and watched each man, in turn, kneel on the hard linoleum floor and bless the sacred emblems of the Lord’s sacrament and then pass the bread and water to us.
O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and this to the souls of all those who partake of it; that they may eat in of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his to be with them. Amen.
Tethered, bound to Jesus Christ through that sacred covenant again.
What an absolutely unexpected miracle.
I’d kept a small commandment which He hath given me, and He blessed me with my heart’s Sabbath desire.
There isn’t anything I can do to lighten the load. I’ll just have to reinforce the bridges.
The missionary said, ‘There isn’t anything I can do to lighten the load. I’ll just have to reinforce the bridges.’ So, that is what they did. They started out, and at each bridge they would stop and, with considerable work, sometimes dangerous work because the rivers were infested with crocodiles and poisonous snakes, they would cut down trees, strengthen the bridge, and rebuild it to the point where it could carry the eight tons. And thus they delivered the supplies.
Of this amazing story, Gerald Lund wrote
That is a wonderful description of our dilemma. We have a long journey to make, and much of it is through wild and dangerous country. And some of the bridges are not very safe. Unfortunately, it is not going to be possible to lighten the load that is placed on us and our families. Therefore, our only option is to strengthen our spiritual bridges.
This is a powerful metaphor and one that seems to describe what is coming in our lies. However, while it tells us what we need to do, it doesn’t give us a lot of help on how to do it. For that, we shall turn to the Savior and learn from Him. (Gerald Lund, The Second Coming of the Lord, Deseret Book, 2020, p427).
How can I fortify spiritual bridges?
One followed prompting. One opportunity for covenant-making and renewal at a time. One visit when the load seemed heavier than the bridge could stand. The Lord strengthened the bridge as I tried to hearken to His will.
As we discussed the story and my experiences during book group, my brother-in-law Mark mentioned something Elder W. Mark Bassett said in his conference talk:
The Savior expects us to do all we can do, and He will do what only He can do.
As we strive to act righteously by making and keeping sacred covenants and applying the doctrine of Christ in our lives, our faith will not only be sufficient to carry us to the fourth day, but, with the Lord’s help, we will be capable of moving stones that are in our path, arising from despair, and loosening ourselves of all that binds us.
While the Lord expects us to “do all things that lie in our power,” remember that He will provide needed help in all things as we trust in Him.
Is any thing too for the Lord? (Genesis 18:14)
No!
Now when [Jeremiah] had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, [he] prayed unto the Lord, saying,
Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too for thee: …
Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, saying,
Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
As we come to bridges in our lives that cannot stand the weight of the materials needed or burdens that we carry, I know that in those small and gigantic things, there is nothing too hard for the Lord! He will strengthen and fortify our efforts, and our souls, through His all-encompassing and enabling atoning power!
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