24
The 2011 Moses Lectures: Instructions for Body & Soul
the Instructions recognize their varied backgrounds and the effect that these may have on their ability to live with their bereavement. Some may come from the congregation, but not many. Some may have their own assets; many do not. Some may have children, many have stepchildren; some do not. Some are widowed old, some young, some once, some several times, and so forth. Some marriages were cheerful and happy; some were not. Some widows may continue the trade of the husband after his death, and raise the children themselves; some do not. The reason for the establishment of the widows’ choir differs from that of the others because it is based not only on the physical and spiritual care of the widowed sisters but also on their psychological well being. The belief that lies behind all the choirs is that people living together in the same stage of life can foster spiritual growth. So, too, in the widows’ choir, living together can help each widow through her grief and a possibly radical change in material circumstances. The Instructions recognize that each widow has gone through her own school. The choir helper has to deal especially compassionately with a sister who had a merry and blessed marriage with her dear husband, and is now recently widowed. The memory of her marriage often renews the pain, and the choir helper must be mindful of this and think of the words, “Weep with those who weep.” So how does the widows’ choir helper comfort the widows? First she reminds the widow that her husband has gone home to Christ and will be eternally by him, in unspeakable joy and blessed light. She no longer has her husband with her because the Lord has taken him to be with him. And it is certainly the Lord’s right to deal with what is his, as he wants. Therefore the widow should not be dissatisfied with God’s acts, and not complain. The Savior comes down to us and sees all our circumstances as an open book before His eyes. He looks upon you as a widow, doing so not with indifference but rather with a tender, compassionate, and sympathetic heart. All our desires are known to Him. By this you can be especially comforted in your present situation, which grieves you so [¶9]. The Instructions advise the choir helper to remind the widow to remember what the scripture says: Let us love Him, because He has first loved us. If you do this, then you will also share in the promise: All things must work for good for those who love God. Your beloved husband’s death will also work for good for you, and you will be thankful to God that He has taken him to Himself. We then have Him to thank for everything. While this advice might seem harsh, the death of the earthly husband means that the widows have a special right to Jesus: “Now that your dear husband has completed his course, you are the Savior’s widow and you have a special right to Him.”