“When you factor in degree of difficulty, she beat you hands down.”

As Alma gives his last words of fatherly advice to his child he pinpoints an overarching dilemma in our own society.  In chapter 37 of Alma, Alma says, “...do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way…”  I feel many times in our society, speaking of the Mormon culture, we find ourselves going through the motions over and over.  We can fall into a rut and create a sense of false security.  We stubble because of the simplicity of the path, getting too focused on the small details.  I feel that we have to overcome this natural man instinct and continue to try and become something better tomorrow than we are today.

This moment in the Book of Mormon reminds me of another scripture and doctrine taught in Doctrine and Covenants.  In section 82:3 it states, “For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation.” This is a basic yet overlooked doctrine that each of God's children is different, we have different lives, distinct roles and circumstances.  We are not judged nor taught the same, each individual is on their own journey here on earth.

This has made me ponder my situation in life lately; where I am at, my goals and aspirations, and what I am doing with the many blessings I have been given.  In a book that I love called, “Following Christ” by Stephene Robinson, the author illustrates a story from his personal life.  He talks about how as a child he competed in diving events, and at one event there was a young boy that attempted back flips, doubles and other more daring dives.  The author and his group of friends stuck to the basic jackknives, back dives, and focused on being ever so careful to arch their backs and point their toes.  While the other boy was sloppy and always made a big splash, the author and his friends were happy to see he consistently got lower scores.  At the end of the competition the announcement of the winner came as a surprise to the young competitors.  The boy with the flips won the event.  The author says, “certain that an injustice was being perpetrated, I stormed the scorers table and demanded an explanation.”  The response was “Degree of difficulty,” the scorer replied.

He goes on to explain that each of God’s children experience different trials in this life.  Enduring to the end is not about overcoming life's obstacles or even achieving the “LDS ideal” (pointing your toes and arching your back).  It just means not giving up, remaining faithful to the different covenants that each of have made with the Lord.

Let us not get caught up in the basic dives of life, worrying too much about the pointed toes or arched back.  But let us do things we have never done before, and not judge others in their circumstances along the way.  We have no idea what demons each individual is fighting and are in no place to pass judgement.  “For I never want to hear the Scorer (Christ) say to me, ‘sure, you had better form, but she had a harder life.  ...she beat you hands down.”