I enjoy reading about the lives of people who lived before us. Their examples (both good and bad) can teach us a great deal about how we should live our own lives. Recently I was reading about Phoebe Woodruff. Those who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will likely recognize her as the wife of Wilford Woodruff, the fourth President of the Church. Phoebe was a remarkable woman. She left her home and family (much to their disappointment) in the New England states and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois where she became a Latter-Day Saint and later married Wilford. Phoebe’s story is one of complete dedication to her new faith and husband. She served with Wilford on missions both foreign and in the United States, and traveled extensively for the cause.
The most remarkable thing to me about Phoebe is that through all this traveling and service, she mothered nine children. Five of those children died, four of them less than 3 years old. The fifth child was 14. Phoebe buried those five children in four different states, in hand dug graves in places where she had temporarily stopped on her journeys from the Midwest states to Utah. She left them shortly after burial with the understanding that she would likely never be at those grave sites again. As I read of Phoebe’s experiences, I wept. I marveled at the level of dedication she had in the midst of absolute heartbreak and trial.
In this tender moment I had a very distinct thought come to my mind. It occurred to me that one day I would be in the presence of God to give an accounting for my own mortal existence. What had I done with my time? Who had I served? What was my contribution? While these thoughts came to mind, I realized that Phoebe (and thousands of others like her) might be there too. How would I ever measure up if I had to report with them present? Then another thought came to mind. It occurred to me that God might be a mathematician.
I have come to believe that God knows every one of us in a personal way. Within the incredible details of the creation, He has the capacity to create environments and circumstances that are unique to each of His children based on their capacity and opportunities for growth. It might be that we each have our personal algorithm for life designed to give opportunities and blessings based on our choices. Each is designed to maximize our growth. That is the purpose of His creations. “To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” (Moses 1:39) He knows what life experiences will give us the tutoring necessary to progress to our own highest capacity and He creates an earthly assignment to enhance that progress. It is different for all. Some have great hardships and trials. Some have great riches and pride. All must use their agency to decide how they will respond and what growth or damnation (which is the end of progress) will result from how they choose in the curriculum of their mortal experience. Those choices determine how far we progress toward becoming like Him.
In these algorithms of life, there seems to be one common denominator in all of them. The one thing every person must give to fulfill the entire measure of their creation, and maximize their mortal progress is simple. It is everything they have. The actual amount given is irrelevant. The fact that it is everything we have is not. There are several patterns of this in the scriptures.
Jesus is the preeminent example. He always is. He “descended below them all” (D&C 122:8) so that He could overcome all by given everything he had. He suffered and bled at every pore, then gave His life as His final mortal contribution. His capacity was like God, and his sacrifice and contribution matched that capacity.
Consider also the widow of Zarephath, who at the Prophet Elijah’s request, gave him the final bit (everything she had) of food. Upon the making of her sacrifice, her contribution was accepted of the Lord.
The widow’s mite is another example of giving all. “And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And He called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” (Mark 12: 42-44) There is something about those whose mortal algorithm requires them to be widowed. That especially difficult challenge seems to produce especially remarkable faith and the attendant willingness to give all.
Another had a similar requirement, but chose (as far as we know) a different path. He asked Jesus what he needed to do to gain eternal life. When Jesus explained the need to keep the commandments he responded: “All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?” This was to be the moment he had to choose what he was willing to give. “Jesus said unto him, if thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” (Mathew 19: 20-22) I believe the Lord will give him every blessing associated with his faithfulness, but by his own choice, he did not qualify for every blessing available to him.
I occasionally wonder about my own algorithm. What does the Lord require of me? The question is largely rhetorical. Every day of my life I have the opportunity to choose to give all that I have, or to hold some back. The choice is my own and the blessing is always given to match the sacrifice.
The prophet Joseph gave his life as a testament to his assignment. Phoebe Woodruff gave her life too, but while she was living it. In both cases it was all that they had. I do not share their great capacity, so it is likely that I will not share in the same amount of sacrifice they gave. I just have to give all that I have, even if it amounts to a farthing. And if my contribution is all that I have, the Father has promised to give “all that He has”(D&C 84:38) in return.
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Jerry is the author of “Partners with God, Using His Teachings and Example to Raise Our Kids” and has been a guest speaker at numerous gatherings, firesides and organization events, as well as working as a facilitator for individual families.
Jerry and his wife Melanie are the parents of 12 children and currently have 13 grandchildren.