What is the value of a human soul?
THE WORTH OF A SOUL
THE WORTH OF A SOUL
2007 presentation to leadership in the Edmonton Region
Stephen D. ZoBell, PhD
To protect such diamond
would require the most stringent methods.
The Millennium Star would be safe guarded by the most intense means of
security.
Surpassing the value of
any diamond is the worth of the human soul.
The great Lord of the Universe has declared: The
worth of souls is great in the sight of God. (D&C 18:10). We are children of a Heavenly Father and our
value and worth to Him has no limit. His
intent is to provide us with earthly experiences and have us prove ourselves in
this life that we can and will return to Him.
Yet there is opposition. There
are forces in place designed to plunder the worth of a human soul and remove it
from the purposes of the original intent.
To protect such a treasure
as the human soul would require the most stringent methods. Our Father in Heaven has put means of
security in place to safeguard His sacred children. Some of these safe guards are invisible to
most, except for those who have trained spiritual sensitivities. The gift of the Holy Ghost, the covenants of the
temple, angelic support provided behind the scenes and most especially the
Atonement of the Savior, offer protection and safe guards for all who will
avail themselves of this type of security.
When I first started my
career as a psychologist for the church I was surprised that so many people who
appeared to live normal happy lives actually had some serious problems. Now, 30 years later, I would be surprised if
any of us who appear to live normal happy lives didn’t have some type of serious
challenges. We all carry burdens,
afflictions, pain, sadness, grief, loss, infirmities or rejection. These types of challenges are the common lot
of mankind. Conditions such as these can
stem from sin, either our own or the sins of someone else, or our challenges
may just be a part of living on this earth.
The Savior is the One, we learn from Alma
I would like to discuss
the resources that the church, and other organizations, have put in place to
help preserve us from having our souls plundered.
1. Mantle of Bishop: one of the most significant resources to ward
members is the mantle of the Bishop. To
me it seems that many of the clients who came to me, did not understand the
importance of or the purpose of the mantle.
I believe we would all do well to hold the mantle of Bishop in high
esteem, to encourage those who are having serious problems to put themselves
under the direction of the mantle.
Saying: “Go see your Bishop” is
not good enough. We must say “Go see
your Bishop because he holds sacred keys and has the mantle of authority to
assist you in keeping your soul secure”.
2. Proclamation: Hanging in most members homes you will find
a copy of The Family: A Proclamation to
the World. In my limited grasp of life, to
me personally, I believe this particular proclamation to be the second most
important one page document that has ever been written. One of my colleagues once mentioned to me
that most of us do not know, understand or follow the nine principles that it
outlines that will establish the foundation for happy marriages and families. Following those nine principles will
contribute to preserving our souls. Understanding
and applying the doctrine that underlines this proclamation will provide a
secure foundation to preserve and protect our souls.
3. Membership record: to me, the single most important one page
document is my own personal Church membership record. I hope you feel the same way about
yours. My membership record tells me
that my name is written on the records of the church, that I hold the
priesthood, that I am endowed, that I am sealed to my sweetheart, that I have 5
wonderful children born in the covenant.
What this document represents is that I have been given the power to
come closer to the Savior due to the covenants and ordinances that I have
received. I have, in fact, been given
the power to take major steps in preserving my soul from the plunder of the
world.
4. Internet support: Since we seem to live in an ‘e’ based society
it is not surprising that the church has set up powerful internet resources to help those who
struggle with various problems. On these
web sites you can find answers to such topics as abuse, anger management,
anxiety and fear, depression, divorce, eating disorders, grieving, self esteem,
substance abuse and a host of other.
Correct information can help us to keep our souls safe and secure.
5. Books, seminars, courses, counseling, DVD’s
can be found in the church, other organizations, in downtown libraries, in book
stores, at community colleges, through various networks. They may provide specific answers to the
specific concerns that any of us may have.
But remember, it is a buyer beware market. Community resources are found in our cities
in abundance: physicians, lawyers,
counselors, nurses, mental health workers, grief counselors and others are
available. Again, appropriate
information and uplifting experiences can go a long way to provide safety for
the soul.
There are a few things
that I would hope we could all keep in mind as we consider using resources for
mental health purposes.
1. From a gospel perspective ‘one size does not
fit all.’ We are all unique and should
carefully think through the resources that we use, and tailor them specifically
for the uniqueness of the individual. My
glasses will not work perfectly for you because they were tailored for me. And my counselor might not be the best
counselor for you either. Your treatment
plan probably won’t apply to one of your relatives. A seminar that helped me may be of no benefit
to my friend. We should be cautious
about promoting resources that assist us as though they could assist
others. The principles of self reliance,
personal responsibility and accountability should be heavily factored into the
resources being used. Resources that are given for nothing may have a value of
nothing. When you pay for something,
either in effort, time or money then you own it.
2. People often ask: how, where and when do we seek external
resources? Think about this in a
personal way to you. If you follow the
medical model of MILD, MODERATE AND SEVERE it is easier to know how to look for
help. For most mild problems we need to use our own resources. Read a book, take a course, think it through
yourself, get on the internet for helpful information, perhaps consult with
your Bishop or home or visiting teacher, pray specifically about the problem,
read the Book of Mormon looking for answers.
For moderate problems you
will definitely want to consult with your Bishop. Confess to him if necessary. With the keys he holds and the mantle that
rests on him, he will help you to avoid making things worse. Work with him and try to find the best
possible resource for you. For severe problems it is vital that you work
with your Bishop, to find ecclesiastical resources and to locate professionals
who can best assist. In all levels of
challenges, whether they are mild, moderate or severe, you can always ask for a
priesthood blessing.
I have a strong desire to
use my technical skills to assist.
Hopefully, I can use my technical skills to aid my clients in keeping
their covenants, possibly I could be an answer to a mother’s prayers, maybe I
could help someone to get closer to the Savior, perhaps I could make a righteous
difference in someone’s life. It is my
personal desire to interfere with evil forces that try to plunder the valuable
treasure of the human soul.
In closing I would like to
remind all of us of the greatness of the Savior. We are all trapped in some way. We all struggle with hurts, pains and broken
hearts. We are all prisoners of some
type of challenge. We are all
experiencing the human condition. We all
need to keep our souls from being plundered and free from entrapments of the
world.
May we all remember what
the prophet Isaiah declared by revelation that the Redeemer was anointed to
bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the
opening of the prison to them that were bound……. D&C 138:42
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