Compassion

When Jesus saw the multitude at the temple in Bountiful in tears, wishing He would stay with them a little longer, He said, “Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you” (3 Nephi 17:6). He chose to stay. He healed their sick, blessed their children, and introduced the ordinance of the sacrament.

This week’s Come Follow Me lesson says, “Showing compassion for God’s children is always a high priority to [Jesus].”

Elder Ulisses Soares taught:

Compassion is a fundamental characteristic of those who strive for sanctification, and this divine quality intertwines with other Christian traits such as mourning with those who mourn and having empathy, mercy, and kindness. The expression of compassion for others is, in fact, the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ and a marked evidence of our spiritual and emotional closeness to the Savior. Furthermore, it shows the level of influence He has on our way of life and demonstrates the magnitude of our spirits.

“The Savior’s Abiding Compassion,” General Conference, October 2021

Throughout His mortal ministry, Jesus demonstrated an awareness of the needs of the people around Him and a willingness to stop what He was doing and respond to those needs. When a leper expressed confidence that Jesus could heal him, “moved with compassion, [Jesus] put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean” (Mark 1:41). When He saw a widow in the city of Nain, mourning the death of her son, “he had compassion on her” and brought her son back to life. (See Luke 7:11-15.) When a private meeting with His apostles was interrupted by a huge group of people, He “was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:34).

When we have compassion, we recognize the needs and desires of other people, feel empathy toward them, and are willing to do what we can to help them.

Today, I will choose to feel more compassion for the people around me, and I will act on those feelings of compassion. I will remember that compassion is always a high priority for the Savior and for those who are striving to be like Him.