Succor the Weak, Lift Up the Hands Which Hang Down, Strengthen the Feeble Knees

For many years I have had a scripture hanging on my fridge.  I love it so much that it kind of has become a guiding path in how I want to live my life.  The scripture is Doctrine and Covenants section 81 verse 5.  It reads in part: 

“Succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.” 

Today I want to elaborate on the three parts of this scripture. The first part of is to “Succor the weak” M. Russell Ballard once said:

“As we think about the imagery of succoring the weak, I am reminded of a sweet seven-year-old showing her grandfather a small tomato plant she had started from seed as part of a school project. <She was so excited to nurture it and watch it grow.>  But then she said, “I almost killed my plant. I left it in a dark room and forgot to water it. When I remembered the plant, it was all wilted and dead looking. She was then excited to tell her grandfather about the “miracle” that happened. She explained, “Momma said maybe the plant wasn’t dead. Maybe all it needed was some water and some light to bring life back. “And she was right. I gave the plant some water, and I put it in the window for light. And guess what?” It came back to life!” Her small tomato plant, so full of potential but so weakened and wilted from unintentional neglect, was strengthened and revived through the simple ministration of water and light by the little girl’s loving and caring hands.” 

I found that story and thought it was the perfect illustration of why it is important to succor the weak.  As I have been through challenges in my life there have been so many times where I was honestly too weak to reach out for help.  I had so many people constantly telling me to let them know if I ever needed anything, but sometimes, like that wilted tomato plant without light and water, I didn’t have the strength to do so.  That is when all of us need, and pray for someone to reach out to us.  When I first moved into the ward it was less 2 weeks before Christmas, and I was trying to make it special for my kids.  I was unprepared for how much grief I would feel after moving from our previous home, and finalizing my divorce.  I honestly was not ok.  At all.  To make matters worse, the condition of my new house was much worse than I had anticipated.  I decided to get it painted to help it feel a bit more like home.  One dark winter night there was a knock on my door.  I almost didn’t answer.  I didn’t know anyone here yet, and my house was all covered up to protect it as they painted the walls.  I slowly opened the door and there were 2 sister missionaries standing there.  They had come for the previous owners, because they were Spanish speaking sisters.  I invited them in and talked a bit. I don’t remember much of what was said, but I couldn’t contain my emotions.  Then one of the hermanas asked if I needed a hug.  She gave me the best, longest hug I have ever had as I sobbed and told her thank you.  I know that Heavenly Father sent them to minister to me just when I needed it most. 

The next part of the scripture is “Lift up the hands which hang down.” When I think of this phrase a painting by the artist Yongsung Kim comes to my mind.  It’s called “The hand of God.”  It is painted with the perspective of us being trapped under water and the Savior reaching His hand down to pull us out. 

Art by Yongsung Kim can be found here.

With this imagery in mind I read a Conference talk where Elder Deiter F. Uchtorf told a beautiful story about the Savior’s hands.  Please forgive me for reading so much, but I thought it was too good to not include:

“A story is told that during the bombing of a city in World War II, a large statue of Jesus Christ was severely damaged.  When the townspeople found the statue among the rubble, they mourned because it had been a beloved symbol of their faith and of God’s presence in their lives.  Experts were able to repair most of the statue, but its hands had been damaged so severely that they could not be restored.  Some suggested that they hire a sculptor to make new hands, but others wanted to leave it as it was - a permanent reminder of the tragedy of war.  Ultimately, the statue remained without hands.  However, the people of the city added on the base a sign with these words:  “You are my hands.”

There is a profound lesson in this story.  When I think of the Savior, I often picture Him with hands outstretched, reaching out to comfort, heal, bless, and love. This is what HE did during His mortal life; it is what He would be doing if He were living here today; and it is what we should be doing as His disciples.

Christ did not just speak about love.  He showed it each day of His life.  He did not remove himself from the crowd. Being amongst the people, Jesus reached out to the one.  He rescued the lost.  He didn’t just teach a class about reaching out in love and then delegate the actual work to others.  He not only taught but also showed us how to “succor the weak, lift the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.

Christ knows how to minister to others perfectly.  When the Savior stretches out His hands, those He touches are uplifted and become greater, stronger, and better as a result. IF WE ARE HIS HANDS, SHOULD WE NOT DO THE SAME?

The last part of the scripture is “Strengthen the feeble knees”  Many years ago Elder Marvin J. Ashton said

 “Early on, I assumed “feeble knees” meant weak or exhausted. However, the context of its use in Isaiah suggests that it may have a somewhat richer meaning, something more like “fearful.” I actually favor this latter interpretation. Today we often hear such expressions as “weak in the knees” or “knocking knees” to denote fear. How do we deal with the inevitable moments of fear or “feeble knees”? It is vital that we not face them alone. It is helpful and comforting to be able to confide in a loving and trusted friend or relative who empathetically listens to our uncertainties. We often find that our confidant has experienced similar fears, and we may even share in his wise counsel.”  

One way that we can help strengthen the feeble knees is to be open and vulnerable with our own struggles.  We never know what other people are facing, but If we can be honest about difficulties in our own lives, it could help give them hope through their own trials, or help them to feel safe enough to ask for help and advice with something they are facing.  One Sunday I was walking in from church and stopped to talk to a neighbor.  I didn’t know her well, only that she had recently lost her husband.  I was open and felt the conversation turn to how difficult it was for me to go to church as I was going through my divorce, and how difficult it is to sit alone.  She then opened up about her own challenges with that.  I didn’t even know she was a member of the church!  But my being willing to follow the spirit and talk about difficult things helped this sweet sister know she wasn’t alone, and that God loves her.  

I have a fervent testimony that God has asked us to be His hands on this Earth.  I know that He can use our trials and challenges for our good, and the good of others, because through them we can learn how to love and Serve as He does.  It is my prayer that we can all go home and ask Him how we can succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees, and who is in need of our ministering today.