Embarrased by a Human Creature

In Bleak House by Charles Dickens, one important character is an orphaned and homeless boy named Jo, and in one scene the doctor Allan Woodcourt tries to come to his aid. Jo is terribly sick, and Allan convinces the boy to come with him to get help. As he proceeds through the streets of London looking for a place where he can take the boy to get rest, Allan says this to himself: “It surely is a strange fact, that in the heart of a civilized world this creature in human form should be more difficult to dispose of than an unowned dog.” By the phrase “dispose of” here he meant to find him a place to take him in. I actually liked the French translation that I am reading better, for I think it captures the sentiment Dickens was trying to portray: “N’est-il pas étrange, qu’au centre du monde civilisé, on soit plus embarrassé d’une créature humaine que d’un chien égaré?” (Translation back to English: “Isn't it strange that, in the center of the civilized world, we are more embarrassed by a human creature than by a stray dog?”) The point is that when we are confronted with the homeless or the beggar or those in need, we often feel embarrassed or uncomfortable or annoyed. I had this scene from Bleak House on my mind as I passed by yesterday a family on the side of a road clearly asking for help. I was stuck by the sign that a woman was holding which included these words, “in the name of Jesus.” As I continued driving I thought about the fact that I have taken upon myself the name of Jesus, so how could I just ignore them when they were reaching out in His name? So, after picking up my daughter on my way back home I stopped and walked up to them, determined not to be “embarrassed” to converse with this family in need. There was a father with his two children as well as his sister. English was clearly not their first language. They expressed their need for money to help them get home to Seattle, and so I gave them a small amount and wished them well. It is possible that the money I gave them wasn’t really being used for the purpose they suggested? Certainly. But I hope that’s not the case, and perhaps my small contribution made some difference for them. For me the experience was a reminder that I have taken upon myself the name of Jesus and need to work harder to try to do the things that He would do. And we certainly should never be embarrassed by those in need around us—He never was.

                In the most recent general conference, Elder Renlund taught about what it means to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ. He said, “When we take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, we link our name with His. We identify with Him. We gladly become known as Christian. We acknowledge the Savior and unapologetically stand up to be counted as His.” Using the story of Dr. Craig H. Selzman who was the first to hold the “Dr. Russell M. Nelson and Dantzel W. Nelson Presidential Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery” professorship, Elder Renlund taught, “We more fully take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ through identification, remembrance, emulation, and alignment.” He then continued, “Doing these four leads us to a fifth parallel—empowerment. We access God’s power and blessings in our lives. The Nelson professorship provides Dr. Selzman recognition and support funds that he is using to change the culture in his division. He applies this ‘endowment of power’ to help others. In a similar way, when we take upon ourselves the name of the Savior, our Heavenly Father blesses us with His power to help us fulfill our mission in mortality.” This doctor was changed because he felt he need to be more like Dr. Nelson as he held this professorship, and so too we should be changed because we bear the name of Jesus Christ. In whatever situation we are in, we should remember “his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men” and strive to have that as well (1 Nephi 19:9). The angel summarized the mortal life of Jesus this way, “The Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases. And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men” (Mosiah 3:5-6). If we have taken upon ourselves His name, then we should strive to do these kinds of things in our life, seeking to love and bless as He did without being embarrassed by those struggling around us. Elder Renlund summarized, “Take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ. Identify with Him. Always remember Him. Strive to be like Him. Join Him in His work. Receive His power and blessings in your life. Etch His name in your heart, willingly and intentionally.”