Friday, September 9, 2011

Some Random Thoughts

This Sunday is the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks in New York. I'm pretty sure there isn't anyone who needs that reminder. I remember where I was when I heard the news. I was in the middle of teaching early morning seminary and I wasn't sure what to say to the students after we had all been told. We just sort of sat in silence for a few minutes and then talked about our feelings until class was over. I remember the closing prayer was not the typical closing prayer. It was real and heart felt and I was touched.

 President Thomas S. Monson was asked to contribute to the Washington Post's "On Faith" blog. Click the link below to read his powerful message:

 9/11 destruction allowed us to spiritually rebuild

He finished up his blog post by writing:

"The way to be with God in every season is to strive to be near Him every week and each day. We truly 'need Him every hour,' not just in hours of devastation. We must speak to Him, listen to Him, and serve Him. If we wish to serve Him, we should serve our fellow men. We will mourn the lives we lose, but we should also fix the lives that can be mended and heal the hearts that may yet be healed.

"It is constancy that God would have from us. Tragedies are not merely opportunities to give Him a fleeting thought, or for momentary insight to His plan for our happiness. Destruction allows us to rebuild our lives in the way He teaches us, and to become something different than we were. We can make Him the center of our thoughts and His Son, Jesus Christ, the pattern for our behavior. We may not only find faith in God in our sorrow. We may also become faithful to Him in times of calm."

I think his whole post merits some great consideration and several readings as there is, of course, great counsel given.


a little switch now...


I'm giving a Relief Society lesson on Sunday. The title of the lesson is The Postmortal Spirit World
Any connection to the anniversary of 9/11? Any coincidence of a reminder of part of the Great Plan of Salvation on a day that will have many contemplating their own mortality and thinking of those who lost their lives? Knowing how our Father works...probably not. I look forward to a great spiritual experience while studying this lesson with the women in Relief Society on Sunday.

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