Equals (11/3/2009)

A friend recently told me how they had interviewed for another job in their organization. This individual was afraid that they would not get the job, however, because the area that was hiring did not view the department this person works for in a favorable light. So in spite this individual's "can do" attitude and work ethic, because one group of people feels as though they are better than another, my friend may get passed over for the better job.

All this got me to thinking about how King Benjamin reminded us that we are all equal. He counseled his people "For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?" (Mosiah 4:19)

How much better would our homes, our wards, our places of business be if everyone could view each other as equals? How much more effective would we be if instead of viewing others as being inferior - or superior, as the case may be - to ourselves if we could look at each other as children of God instead of "that guy in the biker jacket who smokes" or "that neighbor who is snotty to me every time I try to talk to them?"

Yes, I realize that we are all individuals, and that as such, there will be parts of our character that do not blend well with others in our life. I hope, however, we can work to get to the point where we will view others in the same way that our Father in Heaven does, as His children.