It’s the beginning of autumn. School has started up again, including seminary. Michelle has been called as a seminary teacher. She has had this calling a number of times in the past, in a number of different states. This year things are different as you might guess. In our stake, seminary is currently a virtual synchronous activity. They are using Zoom. In order to make the audio work better for her we invested in a nice set of headphones with a microphone built in. At the time we bought them the local Best Buy really only had the kind designed for online gamers. So now she sits in our living room, a little old lady, talking with teens as she communicates with them through a cool headset some of them wish they had. It’s funny to think about, sort of like that Beach Boys song, The Little Old Lady from Pasadena who is known for driving a hot-rod car.
In the past few weeks my Book of Mormon study has led me through the early parts of 3 Nephi. In particular my thoughts have dwelt some on the portion of events that happened immediately following the atonement and resurrection of Jesus in Jerusalem. Among the Nephite and Lamanite people what followed were three hours of destruction, then three days of darkness. In the midst of the darkness, the voice of the Lord was heard with a number of messages. In particular these stood out to me:
3 Nephi 6: 13 & 15
13. Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; some did return railing for railing, while others would receive railing and persecution and all manner of afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but were humble and penitent before God.
AND
15. Now the cause of this iniquity of the people was this—Satan had great power, unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world.
As I reviewed these words I could not help being reminded of images of violence and vitriol we see constantly splashed on our screens these days within our country. It saddens my heart, but also makes me wonder. If I were personally attacked would I return railing for railing? There have certainly been times in the past when I would have with little thought. Even now when looking at current events and listening to how so much of what I hear seems disingenuous, it is hard not to become angered at how off track so many people seem to be. I firmly believe in the adage “by their fruit ye shall know them.” Sadly, by the fruit of what I see there appears to be so much negativity in the hearts of so many. Late last week I was listening to a talk entitled Fulfillment of Prophecy, by Elder Ronald A. Rasband, given in the most recent (April 2020) general conference. Quoting Joseph Smith, he said, “No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”
For me, standing firm in the faith of the Savior is the antidote to the fear and anger that is growing in the world. May we find and share comfort through our faith.
In the past few weeks my Book of Mormon study has led me through the early parts of 3 Nephi. In particular my thoughts have dwelt some on the portion of events that happened immediately following the atonement and resurrection of Jesus in Jerusalem. Among the Nephite and Lamanite people what followed were three hours of destruction, then three days of darkness. In the midst of the darkness, the voice of the Lord was heard with a number of messages. In particular these stood out to me:
3 Nephi 6: 13 & 15
13. Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; some did return railing for railing, while others would receive railing and persecution and all manner of afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but were humble and penitent before God.
AND
15. Now the cause of this iniquity of the people was this—Satan had great power, unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world.
As I reviewed these words I could not help being reminded of images of violence and vitriol we see constantly splashed on our screens these days within our country. It saddens my heart, but also makes me wonder. If I were personally attacked would I return railing for railing? There have certainly been times in the past when I would have with little thought. Even now when looking at current events and listening to how so much of what I hear seems disingenuous, it is hard not to become angered at how off track so many people seem to be. I firmly believe in the adage “by their fruit ye shall know them.” Sadly, by the fruit of what I see there appears to be so much negativity in the hearts of so many. Late last week I was listening to a talk entitled Fulfillment of Prophecy, by Elder Ronald A. Rasband, given in the most recent (April 2020) general conference. Quoting Joseph Smith, he said, “No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”
For me, standing firm in the faith of the Savior is the antidote to the fear and anger that is growing in the world. May we find and share comfort through our faith.
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