Waleryan Wisniewski

During the month of July we are blessed to celebrate the many freedoms we are granted in this great nation. One of the key values in the Declaration of Independence is that God made all men equal and gave them the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. With the world that we live in today I am grateful for my freedoms. I am especially thankful for religious freedom to believe in God and then act upon those beliefs through attending and serving in church, praying vocally and speaking with others about my faith.

When moving to Powell 15 years ago, I would have never imagined how blessed I would be to raise my children in such a community where religious freedom for all denominations would thrive and enhance our own Christian values. We reside in one of the best communities where I have ever had the privilege to live. We have community members from all walks of life and from all religions coming together to pray for and help their fellow members, asking for God’s healing and comforting powers in order to lighten each other’s burdens.

In the Bible, we read in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 

At times I have found myself carrying a burden that weighs heavy on my soul. This can become very difficult and might cause doubt, despair, or even shame to settle in and weigh me down. 

This is far from what Jesus Christ teaches us in Matthew. Christ continues to call for us to come unto him. He knew that this life would have its ups and downs, but that it was important for all of us to grow and become the sons or daughters that he knows we can become. The only way we can do this is by yoking up with Christ and letting him carry our burdens through the power of his atonement.  

This summer I was blessed to attend a youth conference in the Bighorns. It was specifically planned and organized by the youth of our church with assistance from several adults. I was impressed by the activities they planned that centered around their individual relationships with our savior. One of the activities focused on the personal effects of the atonement of Jesus Christ. Hopefully you can see the symbolism in my explanation of the activity called the “Faith Walk.” My son explained it to me this way: “Each of the youth were given a burlap sack and asked to take a walk of faith up a hill. During the ascension, they came to three check points spaced out at various spots along the hillside. At each place the youth were given a heavy rock to place in the sack, which represented a burden. The first rock (burden) was based off an individual choice. The second was one caused by another person’s choice that impacted them personally. The third was the impact that the world might place on them during their time on earth. As he made his way up the hill, my son said that his sack continued to get heavier the closer he got to the top. However, when he arrived, he was greeted by a leader who gave him words of comfort, explaining to him that Christ knows our burdens and has suffered for them all. Then he was directed to go and unload his rocks (burdens) at the feet of the savior, which was represented by a picture of Christ reaching out to them. 

This simple activity continues to teach me so much about our savior’s unconditional love for all of us. I testify that as we ask for his mercy daily and place our burdens at his feet, he can and will help us through this life. I also know that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” Philippians 4:13. 

(Waleryan Wisniewski is the Powell 3rd Ward Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.)