“Is It I?”

Why is it easier to see faults in other people than in ourselves?

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus caricatured this human tendency with an image of a person trying to remove a tiny fleck of dust from a friend’s eye while a huge plank of wood is sticking out of his own eye. (See Matthew 7:3-5, Luke 6:41-42, 3 Nephi 14:3-5.) Aren’t we all sometimes like that guy, completely oblivious to the shortcomings which are painfully obvious to the people around us?

So it’s impressive that the apostles overcame that tendency as they sat with the Savior at the Last Supper. When He told them, “One of you shall betray me,” their immediate response was, “Lord, is it I?” (Matthew 26:21-22, Mark 14:18-19).

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf observed:

None of us likes to admit when we are drifting off the right course. Often we try to avoid looking deeply into our souls and confronting our weaknesses, limitations, and fears. Consequently, when we do examine our lives, we look through the filter of biases, excuses, and stories we tell ourselves in order to justify unworthy thoughts and actions.

But being able to see ourselves clearly is essential to our spiritual growth and well-being. If our weaknesses and shortcomings remain obscured in the shadows, then the redeeming power of the Savior cannot heal them and make them strengths. Ironically, our blindness toward our human weaknesses will also make us blind to the divine potential that our Father yearns to nurture within each of us.

“‘Lord, Is It I?’” General Conference, October 2014

Some of the most poignant passages in the Book of Mormon occur when the authors engage in rigorous introspection. I’m inspired by their willingness to acknowledge their weaknesses and to turn to God for help. For example:

• Nephi: “I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me” (2 Nephi 4:18).
• Alma: “I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me” (Alma 29:3).
• Moroni: “When we write we behold our weakness, and stumble because of the placing of our words; and I fear lest the Gentiles shall mock at our words” (Ether 12:25).

How can we become more aware of our opportunities for improvement? A few years ago, Sister Neill F. Marriott gave the following counsel:

During the sacrament, which I call the heart of the Sabbath, I have found that after I pray for forgiveness of sins, it is instructive for me to ask Heavenly Father, “Father, is there more?” When we are yielded and still, our minds can be directed to something more we may need to change—something that is limiting our capacity to receive spiritual guidance or even healing and help.

“Yielding Our Hearts to God,” General Conference, October 2015

Immediately after her talk, Elder Larry R. Lawrence suggested that we ask some of the following questions when we pray:

• “What lack I yet?”
• “What is keeping me from progressing?”
• “What do I need to change?”
• “How can I feel at peace with all that I need to do?”
• “What can I do to improve my life?”

We are more likely to receive corrective feedback if we request it. The act of asking a question like these can open our hearts to receive the guidance.

Today, I will ask God to help me see myself more clearly. I will seek to understand what I can do differently and will act on the inspiration I receive.