In Sister Bonnie D. Parkin's office hangs a painting depicting Jesus with Mary and Martha. That painting reminds the Church's Relief Society general president daily of the Lord's teachings to "Choose that good part" and was the inspiration for the theme of the Sept. 27 General Relief Society meeting.
"Dear sisters, one thing is needful, to follow Him each day," said Sister Parkin during the annual meeting. "Choose ye therefore Christ the Lord. Choose to feast upon His word. Choose to trust in Him above. Choose to wait upon His love. Choose to give Him all your heart. Choose ye therefore that good part."
Offering the opening remarks, Sister Parkin recalled the story of Mary and Martha — two biblical sisters from Bethany who received Jesus.
On one occasion, Martha, making dinner, was "cumbered about much serving." While Mary listened to the Savior's teachings, Martha became increasingly upset that no one was helping her. Martha asked the Savior for Mary's help; He simply responded that Mary had chosen "that good part." (See Luke 10:40-42.)
"The Savior's response strikingly clarified what mattered most," said Sister Parkin. "On that night in Martha's home, the good part was not in the kitchen, it was at the Lord's feet …
"We all are trying to choose that good part which cannot be taken from us, to balance the spiritual and the temporal in our lives. Wouldn't it be easy if we were choosing between visiting teaching or robbing a bank? Instead, our choices are often more subtle. We must choose between many worthy options."
Sister Parkin said she doesn't believe the Lord was saying there are Marthas and there are Marys. "Jesus did not dismiss Martha's concern, but instead redirected her focus. He said, 'choose that good part.'"
Sister Parkin said Latter-day Saint women need to choose eternal life. "We choose daily. As we seek, listen, and follow the Lord, we are encircled in the arms of His love — a love that is pure."
The story of Mary and Martha, she added, also illustrates how the gift of charity can be diminished. Within Martha's request for assistance was an unspoken but clear judgement.
"Do we judge one another? Do we criticize each other for individual choices, thinking we know better? We rarely understand another's unique circumstances or individual inspiration. Have we ever said, 'She works outside the home.' or, 'Her son didn't serve a mission.' … Such judgements, and so many others like them, rob us of the good part, that pure love of Christ."
Sister Parkin said women also lose sight of that good part when they compare themselves with others. "Sisters, we cannot allow ourselves to feel inadequate by focusing on who we aren't instead of on who we are. We are all Relief Society sisters. We simply cannot criticize, gossip or judge and keep the pure love of Christ."
Sister Parkin asked the women to exercise charity, to love others without judgement.
"I've learned that the best way to reclaim charity is to uncumber myself and simply love and serve the Lord. How do we do that? I believe we start each day by kneeling in prayer to our Father in Heaven, we hear His words through daily scripture study, and we follow the guidance we receive."
E-mail: sarah@desnews.com
