Walk with Him: Hesed

Hesed. There is no adequate English equivalent for this Hebrew word. The best word scholars can do is lovingkindness. It’s used to describe the covenantal love God has for us when we make a covenant with Him. While watching General Conference and reading Isaiah, I felt His lovingkindness. There was light and goodness and love in the faces of those who spoke. And the first message was loud and clear: God loves us because we’re His. He wants us home, and He’ll do everything He can for that to happen while honoring our agency. Hesed.

Did you notice how often Isaiah was quoted? Especially these verses: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5). This was the second message. This voyage home is hard, but He understands completely, and while the storms won’t stop, Sister Runia shared this wise truth: “The gospel isn’t the umbrella; it’s the solid rock we’re standing on during the storm—that “sure foundation … whereon if men build they cannot fall.” Hesed.

President Oaks summarized the third message succinctly. Daily trying. One step at a time. No need to be overwhelmed with the distance. Simple, daily connection through prayer and scripture learning with one verse or one chapter. Whatever you can do, do it. The effort counts. Because He loves us and He knows us. Hesed.

“There is no physical pain, no spiritual wound, no anguish of soul or heartache, no infirmity or weakness you or I ever confront in mortality that the Savior did not experience first. In a moment of weakness we may cry out: ‘No one knows what it is like. No one understands.’ But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He has felt and borne our individual burdens.” (Elder David A. Bednar)

“We all have present or future concerns or struggles we are trying to overcome. Those may include questions or doubts. Whatever they are, the way to overcome them is to get closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ. Again and again, He has taught us that He is the way. Focus on developing your faith in God and the mission of His Son, Jesus Christ. Strong faith requires more than strong desire. It means daily trying, one step at a time, with prayer and scriptural learning.” (President Dallin H. Oaks)