I am sitting in my office. Out the window, the Salt Lake Valley is changing from day to night. It looks so calm. Peaceful. Silent.
Usually, with the advent of Spring, I would see lights coming on from county ball fields. I would see planes landing at the airport two at a time or see the lights of numerous planes preparing to land.
On Wednesday it was April Fool’s Day. I only heard about one prank which was soon followed by an official statement saying that this not the time for jokes. I read later that the day was cancelled. I don’t know by whom.
For members of the Church, St. Patrick’s Day isn’t a popular holiday but given our current situation, it passed without a whimper.
We are trying to live a normal life in abnormal times. We ask, “How many in the world will get sick? In the United States? In my state? In my city?” The same questions can be asked for how many will die.
Sometimes, I feel like I am living out a scene from the “Ten Commandments” movie with Charleston Heston. The scene I am thinking about is when the Lord sends “the destroyer” through the night, killing the first born of man and beast. In the movie, this destroyer was depicted as red smoke traveling through the streets killing those who weren’t prepared by putting lamb’s blood around their doors.
I understand that there are rich spiritual meanings in this story. The blood of the lamb, representing Christ’s own sacrifice for us. I don’t mean to make light of it.
But I wish that the COVID-19 virus could be like that red smoke. That on a given night, the virus would “Passover” me and my family. At which point, we could rejoice in the morning and celebrate our deliverance.
However, COVID-19 doesn’t work that way. You can’t see it. It might be on the shopping cart handle or not? Your sister might get sick or not? And we all ask, “when will the pandemic be over?”
Going back to the movie. That scene always scared me because I think would I have been obedient. Would I follow the words of the Prophet Moses?
That thought brings me to this weekend. Through the chaos of the word, this weekend “High on the mountain top a banner [will be] unfurled. Ye nations now look up; it waves to all the world.” (High on the Mountain Top, hymn #5)
I hope and pray that I am ready for General Conference. I hope that I am like the righteous Nephites who came “… to hear the pleasing word of God, yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul.” (Jacob 2:8)
I pray that the words spoken by Prophets, Apostles, and other leaders will take root in my heart and that I will nourish those words in the coming months and “… not cast it out by [my] unbelief, that [I] will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within [my] breasts; and when [I] feel these swelling motions, [I] will begin to say within [myself]—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.” Alma 32:28)
On Monday, I would love to hear how General Conference provided you the peace that only comes from God.
A wonderful video is making the rounds. If you have seen it, you know how beautiful the message is. If you haven’t, it will prepare you well for this weekend.
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