Synergy At Its Best

There is an exercise that we have done with a couple of members that I would like to share with you.  You take three cups and separate them knife-apart.  You get three knives.  The goal is to place the knives in such a way that you can put a book of Mormon on top of them and it won't fall down.  SPOILER ALERT: this is how you do it.

The point is that it takes three things (church, scripture study, and prayer) to keep things in working order.  If you miss out on one, then everything will far apart.  But as I read the talk "We Have Great Reason to Rejoice" By Carole M. Stephens I realized that this same idea can be applied to us as human kind.

A single knife placed on a cup doesn't have much strength to it.  In fact, it will topple over at even the lightest load.  But when you hook all three knives together then not only can they support the weight of all three of the knives, but you could also put a dictionary or two on top of them and they will stay secure.

How does that work?  Each of the knives are interlocking with each other, supporting one another as they are being supported themselves.  With this kind of a design, they become much stronger together than they would separately.  (I love synergy like that.  When you can get 2+2 and come out with a number like 10 then you just know your day has been made.)

This is parallel to our lives.  Alone, we can't do much.  We're weak little human beings that tear up at a small papercut.  But when you get a group working together, supporting each other, then miracles can happen.  Like the people of Nehemiah, they worked together and were able to rebuild a wall in a matter of 52 days.  Or like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.  When they worked together and supported each other in their beliefs, it was easy to stand up to what they knew was wrong.

Likewise, we are asked to "bear one another's burdens, that they may be light;" (Mosiah 18:8).  And when we do that, we become like the three knives.  We are able to lift one another and together we are made strong.  Indeed, the burdens do become light as we help each other.  Going to church and giving our input is one way we can help each other.  Giving service and faithfully fulfilling our visiting or home teaching assignments makes strengthening each other possible.

While it may seem counterintuitive to find ways to help others while we are struggling ourselves, I know that if we do we will be blessed with strength from on high to endure every challenge that comes our way.  We will not only have the ability to deal with our own baggage, but we will be made strong to withstand any and all trials that this world has to throw out at us.

So look out to others. Seek for ways to help them - for they do need your help.  And I promise you that you will find that strength and peace that you need in your life.