You know those times where you want to sit down and write
something profound, but you are just so content with life, no words are in your
head aside from the constant sigh of joy in your heart? That is how I feel right now. Everything is just...good.
I have been studying a lot, both in Church history and in
the Book of Mormon (which, I guess, is still technically Church history), about
Saints of God who had to endure trials and persecution. We certainly don't encounter much persecution
here in Nauvoo, but the trials have sure been coming on strong in our group.
Something I have noticed is that there are really two
different instances where a group of God's children suddenly encounter great
influxes of hardships. (1) When they
fall away from the truths they know to be true and become an indolent and
idolatrous society, and (2) When they come together in the faith, their hearts
"knit together as one," living in a Zion community under Christ. Why?
Well, the answer to #1 seems obvious.
I am so grateful for trials.
In a more eternal perspective, hardships are really some of our very
greatest blessings we can be given. It
is in persecution that our loyaly to the Lord is polished, in sickness that our
hope in His promises is secured, in confusion that our trust in the word of God
blossoms, and in abandonment that our relationship with the Savior becomes more
tightly sealed. Heavenly Father allows
trials to come into our lives when we have brought ourselves in a position to
come even closer to Him.
Because of this, I have come to understand that Zion is a
place of trial. With so many people
growing and working together to build up the Lord's Kingdom on the earth with
pure, humble, and consecrated hearts, that entire group is in a position to be
spiritually lifted up to God, similar to the physical miracle that happened in
the city of Enoch. The only way this can
happen is through trial. With this
understanding, we come to know that misfortunes and tragedies are actually a
sign that we are living right in the sight of God!
I was particularly touched yesterday, as we received news of
our greatest trial yet this summer. Just
hours ago, the step-father of our very own Elder Foster (who plays in the band)
was killed in a plane crash, and his younger brother was severely injured, in
some ways that may be irreversable in this life. When we found out at the end of a long and
very successful day, it was as Elder Foster bore his hopeful and powerful
testimony that because of temples on earth today, families will be reunited
after this life, and that the resurrection will truly come to pass and
physically perfect every one of us. What
made the greatest impact on me, was that a band of 46 disciples of Christ,
directly after hearing about this great cause for mourning, stood up with tears
in their eyes and aching hearts, and sang praises to God. As we lifted our voices together and sang,
"We gather in His holy name to thank Him and to bless Him," my spirit
was so full of peace that I wept.
That is faith. That
is Zion and hope and charity and diligence and purity and power. To find ourselves in the midst of affliction
and sing in gratitude to our Lord... It was too sacred and too godly to
accurately pen.
"Thus did Alma teach his people, that every man should
love his neighbor as himself, that there should be no contention among them. .
. .Therefore they did watch over their people, and did nourish them with things
pertaining to righteousness. . . .And it came to pass that they did multiply
and prosper exceedingly. . .and they built a city, which they called the city
of Helam. Nevertheless the Lord seeth
fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith. Nevertheless - whosoever putteth his trust in
him the same shall be lifted up at the last day." (Mosiah 23:15-22)
"And now I would that ye should be humble, and be
submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and
long-suffereing; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the
commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in
need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for
whatsoever things ye do receive."
(Alma 7:23)
No comments:
Post a Comment