Brief summary

Elder Kearon invites us to make helping and strengthening other people a central purpose of our lives. In the gospel of Jesus Christ, lifting others involves more than occasional acts of kindness. It means noticing people who are struggling, offering encouragement, showing compassion, and helping others feel their worth as children of God.

This theme connects naturally with the Saviour’s example. Jesus Christ ministered to individuals, comforted the sorrowful, healed the afflicted, and gave hope to those who felt forgotten. As disciples, we can follow Him by making our relationships and daily choices a means of lifting others.

Key quotes

‘A decade after those gliding days, and not far into my journey of faith, I recognised that the principles of gliding I had learned in my teens have significant similarities with spiritual principles: We must avoid sink and find lift.’ (Paragraph 11)

How does Elder Kearon liken spiritual growth to flying a glider?

‘At the heart of our faith is the glorious truth that we have an adoring Father in Heaven, whose Son, our Saviour, loves to lift!’ (Paragraph 12)

What scriptural examples can you think of where the Saviour lifted others?

‘Through the amazing grace of Jesus Christ, we can avoid spiritual sink and find spiritual lift. Spiritual lift cannot be seen, but as we learn to discern and act upon the sensitive impressions of the Holy Spirit, we can feel it—as surely as I felt the rising air lift a wing beneath me.’ (Paragraph 15).

How can we learn to avoid spiritual sink and find spiritual lift?

‘How easy it is to slowly slip from spiritual heights we have worked so hard to climb when we neglect the practices and behaviours that brought us there. We rarely intend to sink. We want lift—its joy and blessings—but we may not recognise the quiet cost of neglecting vital communion with our Father, Saviour, and the Holy Spirit.’ (Paragraph 19)

What causes us to slip from spiritual heights?

‘The language of the Spirit of God is not a language of words.’ (Paragraph 23).

What language does the Spirit use?

‘As children of the covenant, we are privileged with the responsibility of assisting the Lord in fulfilling His promises to all His children. Helping others turn from sink and into the lift of Jesus Christ is our glorious opportunity and brings joy beyond compare.’ (Paragraph 26)

In what ways can we help others turn from sink and into lift?

‘Your Saviour is your lift. He is your ever-rising air. There is no limit to how high you can climb with Him. Jesus Christ lives to lift.’ (Paragraph 32)

How does this make you feel?

Invitations

‘Pay close attention to the sweet, peaceful feelings that come when you choose spiritual lift, the rising forces that bring you into the Saviour’s loving upward pull.’ (Paragraph 24).

‘Likewise, pay attention to the dim and dampening feelings that lead away from the Redeemer and His infinite love.’ (Paragraph 25)

‘Helping others turn from sink and into the lift of Jesus Christ is our glorious opportunity and brings joy beyond compare.’ (Paragraph 26)

‘Watch closely for the subtle signs of sink in your own life, and turn away decisively. And when you find lift yourself, show someone else where and how to rise! Then soar in the joy of the Lord!’ (Paragraph 28).

‘None of this is complicated; we simply need to keep turning toward the Saviour, into the source of lift, and keep choosing to rise into the light rather than drift imperceptibly into the shadow.’ (Paragraph 30)

Application

• Where do I find spiritual lift? What reliably brings me closer to Jesus Christ?
  
• What spiritual sink should I avoid? Is there something I need to change before a gradual decline becomes more serious?
  
• Who can I help rise? How can I share the hope, faith and strength I receive from the Saviour with another person?
  
  Elder Kearon’s message is ultimately one of hope. We will not always remain at the spiritual heights we desire, but we need not face our descents alone. Jesus Christ is ready to lift us as we turn to Him. And as we learn to recognise His influence, we can help others discover it too.

You can watch Elder Kearon’s talk here.

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