Empathy for One's Enemies

As we read Mosiah 28 tonight, one thing that struck me was how much empathy the sons of Mosiah had, even for their enemies. The Lamanites, for whom the sons of Mosiah had empathy, had been enemies with Mosiah's people, the Nephites, for as long as those two nations existed, if not longer. Yet, despite the Lamanites' hatred for them, the sons of Mosiah had compassion for them and wanted to help them by sharing the Gospel with them.

Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble. 

Mosiah 28:3

 Anyone can have compassion for a loved one, and some can feel compassion and love for even strangers, but it takes an entire other level of empathy to have compassion for someone who treats you like an enemy. It's hard to be kind to people who aren't kind to you. It's hard to wish well on someone who wishes you ill. It's hard to be friendly to an enemy. Yet, the sons of Mosiah did it, and, arguably, so does Jesus Christ.

Jesus has compassion for everyone. He served everyone. He died for everyone. He even asked God to forgive the people who killed Him, while they were killing Him. He is an extraordinarily forgiving and compassionate person.

And, of course, we should try to develop that kind of empathy. It won't be easy, but it was possible for the sons of Mosiah, and it's possible for us. We can learn to see the humanity in and our spiritual kinship to literally every who has ever lived, including the people we kinda dislike and who really dislike us. When we really see each other as spirit sisters and brothers, we can feel a familial love for everyone.

As Jesus Christ and the sons of Mosiah have proven, it is possible, if difficult, to have compassion for literally anyone, including one's enemies. We should aspire to having that much compassion.