In chapter 3 of Galatians Apostle Paul taught the Gentiles of Galatia (today’s Turkey) that it mattered not if they were of the seed of Abraham or not to receive the same blessings promised to the Jews. Through Christ’s sacrifice, he taught, ALL believers are adopted into the new covenant. We all become one big happy family.
Nevertheless, Gentiles were convinced that only those of the seed of Abraham had a promise of special blessings. They started to turn away from the new truth brought about by Christ, their rhetoric being, well, if the Jews are a chosen people and are promised cool blessings, and we are not, why should we try to live a higher law of Christ?
Anyway, they felt like they could not fit in with the Jews, neither could they stick to the new Christian doctrine. Both ways were foreign to them, first one did not guarantee acceptance, second was hard to do. If the Jews had been trained to ride a bicycle using training wheels (Mosaic law), the Gentiles were put on a two-wheel bike right away, and told to pedal relying on faith that velocity of two wheels can create balance and carry them through. This tough situation caused many gentiles to feel challenged and walk away from the Church.
This Bible story is centuries old, but it feels like new still. When I joined the Church and came to the land of plenty, the land run by these chosen people, I immediately felt the inferiority complex. In my mind American people, especially here, in Utah looked perfect to me. Everything they did or had was better and worth of adoration. Even the way they looked and smiled. I felt like a savage who has come out of a cave. I could not drive a car, support a conversation, or even tame my frizzy hair.
Like Galatian gentiles, who were offered amazing things but could not accept the fact that they were worthy of blessings that came from these things, I felt like it was not going to work for me. Other people would have a fulfilling life surrounded by large family, great experiences and miracles popping for them here and there. I doubted I could ever be called to be in teaching or leadership positions in the Church. I did not have experience, knowledge, enough English vocabulary, appearance, confidence… Why would God even want me here?
In fact many immigrants stumble upon similar situation, and not only in a spiritual sense. They are Gentiles trying to get adopted into this new world of privilege, or persevere with life through greater than average amounts of humility, resilience and hard work.
I have chosen the way of an immigrant. I have chosen to start over and to learn a new culture and a language. I have put a ton of work into making this place my home, and have invested time, strength and talents raising my awesome kids, serving in the Church, helping in the community, and building my new identity. Having gone this far, I have been lifted up by so many people, erasing the difference between the savage me and the perfect them. The insecurities and weaknesses I have, are the same ones that they have. And surprise! - my strengths and abilities are needed here. I am good at something. You are good at something! Yes, sometimes we have to work harder to get through the same stretch in life, and doing so without the support of my Mom and Dad is harder and lonelier, but we still get to grow and receive Heavenly help. Even if I don’t get to enjoy all the fruits of the seeds I’m sowing, my kids and grandkids will. Even if I don’t get to live my American dream (but only work for it), my kids will be able to go farther and live five of those dreams.
Back to my Come follow me lesson, remember, when you feel like you are not qualified for the task and question your ability to succeed, Christ has already taken you into His fold and this is all that will really matter when all is said and done. No matter how steep the mountain, how many detours, how many setbacks, we are saved because of our faith in His gift of Atonement. Our faith is no different from the faith of Mormon pioneers. It’s the same faith that transformed wicked Saul into the greatest apostle Paul. Choose to carry on and walk tall, and act now like you have already been chosen, because you chose to believe.
