#institute

She challenged us to become more like the Savior by picking a Christ-like attribute and working to make it part of our character. Even if we just picked one, our efforts would make us a better person. One student noted that while it might take 10,000 hours to master something, it takes far less time to learn to do a thing well. At the start of the lesson, the class came up with numerous characteristics and attributes of the Savior, including:

Mercy, Faith, Patience, Forgiveness, Passion, Knowledge, Generosity, Kindness, Understanding, Long-suffering, Equitable, Obedience, Humility, Diligence, Empathy, Hope, Service, Considerate, Supportive, Inclusive, Confident, Forgiving, Loyalty, Mediator, Creative, Perseverance, Healer, Joy!, Charity, Hope, Just, Integrity, Service, Meek, Virtue, Love, Courage, Compassionate, Self-love

A bit later, the teacher directed us to Moroni 10:32 which says “Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness…” and asked us how we could go about denying ourselves of all ungodliness. As several students offered their responses, something occurred to me.

When I was young, if someone had asked me about my ungodliness, I would have immediately turned to all the things about me that are LGBTQ. As I held that thought in my mind, the attributes and characteristics of godliness we had just written on the board seemed to reach out to me with particular force. I raised my hand.

“To me, denying myself of all ungodliness means giving up the opposite of everything on the board. And I want every bit of that - for myself and everyone else!”

I want to be someone who is Kind, Merciful, Joyful, Empathetic, Faithful. I want to be a Healer. I want to be full of Charity. I want to be Compassionate. I don’t want to be Unkind, Unmerciful, Miserable, Uncaring or Inconstant or Hurtful. I want Love, not Hate, in this world. If I can be all those good things, and give up all those bad things, I will be more like my Savior. Working toward that end for myself and those around me is a good life’s legacy.

And nothing on the board was about being LGBTQ.

Sant Pau Hospital Research Institute, Barcelona - PICHARCHITECTS