ANGER---A CONSCIOUS CHOICE

by: Norberto Betita

Early morning after the super typhoon Yolanda ended her fury, my heart was full of gratitude in prayer to God, who is the master of the elements, for His providence in protecting and safeguarding us from the very disastrous typhoon. It was earlier reported to be the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines for the year 2013 and later reported to be the strongest in the world history at 315 kilometers per hour (195 mph). By my long experiences of typhoons in in our Province of Surigao del Norte, in one look at our vicinity I already sensed that there is not so much destruction in Surigao City. The typhoon was short-lived and launched her ferocious passion only for about two and a half hours.

As a counselor in the Mission Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints assigned to oversee the Surigao District of the Church, I immediately awaken my son and my son-in-law for us to make our rounds and visits to the members who might have been affected by the super typhoon Yolanda, and those people in the meetinghouses which were used as evacuation centers.  After our visits and meetings with Branch Presidents trying to comfort them and expressing sincere gratitude for their service in shepherding the flocks, despite their own needs, I went home with my son. I was a bit downhearted.

My son told the family that I had been in altercation with a full-time Church employee. My daughter-in-law laughingly reminded, “Pa, did you take your medicines?” My wife and daughters laughed at me as if to scorn, telling me that I am kind of being hit by a typhoon stronger than Yolanda. While I was preparing our food for lunch, as it was my assignment, my children and daughter-in-law continued teasing me. My daughter-in-law jokingly told my wife and daughters, “Papa, is putting all his anger on the pork meat he is slicing.” Until we have our lunch we laughed together as I related to them the story of such an undesirable experience while doing service to God and His people.

Even in such situations the family are used to throw jokes on me because it is not in my nature and person to easily get angry, especially in family settings. I am generally the home pacifier. But they knew that I am a protector of those who might have been abused. Hence, it was no surprise to them that I would react in favour of a faithful Branch President who had been insulted and branded as mistrust by a full-time church employee, while in the height of his concerns for the welfare of the evacuees---members and non-members---who were at the church.

Like the Lord Jesus Christ who “cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves” for making the temple “a dean of thieves” (Matthew 21:12-13), mine temperance seemed to also reach its limits. Yet I have a clear consciousness that it is not proper for me an ordinary being to be angry for whatever reason. I might have justified my anger by the words found in Matthew, “That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.” (Matthew 5:22). I have a cause and a good reason to be angry in defence of a brother. But the clause “without a cause” was already omitted in Matthew 5:24 JST and the same clause is not part in 3 Nephi 12:22, which read: “But whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment...”

The Lord is the lawgiver and He has that right to chastise those who are subject to His laws. No matter the circumstances I needed to hold on to temperance and sobriety. But I chose to be angry and so become downhearted unto repentance by the guilt of submitting to the deceiving tactics of the Devil.

The Lord made it clear, “For very, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine that such things should be done away.’  (3 Nephi 11:29-30.)

In my associations with people, I always maintain a personal atmosphere of solemnity. When I am in groups, even in the Church I seldom talk. But when I talk, I always make it sure that I follow the words of the wise King Solomon, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11.)

However, since I was in my youth, it’s been my nature to be a defender of the weak. In college, I always help the weaker students who were insulted by ostentatious scholarly learners. At work I usually establish a harmonious and peaceful atmosphere with colleagues. When my subordinates are threatened, and I know I have legal reasons to defend them, I stood against the wiles of management.  When I became a member of the Church, I get my feet strong under continued ridicule and mockery from associates, friends and relatives in defence of the image of the Kingdom of God, which truth I bear witness.  And in many such situations, I often broke in anger. I am grateful though that from such bright and sheer consciousness of getting angry, I had long since learned to muster “line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little,” (2 Nephi 28:30) the principle of sobriety, solemnity, harmony, and peace, especially in our home and family. I understood better that I should love my wife and “be not bitter against” her, and I should not “provoke” my “children to anger.” (Colossians 3:19, 20.) I long since realized that I cannot “be...angry, and sin not.” (Ephesians 4:26.) But I have to admit that perfection is still a long, winding and extended highway to walk and a high mountain to climb.