With The Love that Remains

Ten years ago today the world was shocked by the events that took place on what is now commonly known as "9-11." Those numbers will forever be engrained in the minds and hearts of those who were old enough to understand the meaning of the terrorist attacks on that day, serving as a reminder about how truly fragile freedom can be, and the high cost that we all must pay to preserve those freedoms. For those who will not personally remember what happened that fateful day, it will be much like the majority of people today who don't recall another infamous day, 12-7-1941, or the day that Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, and thrust the United States into World War II. I was not there, and I don't know anyone who was there; and to the best of my knowledge I don't know anyone who knows someone who was there. That event for me is just a conglomeration of media and commentary that I use to form my opinion of what happened. While that suffices me, it does no justice to the sentiment that drove the people of the time, united in the defense of their liberty, homes, and their way of life.

Likewise, many who have only a tertiary understanding of the September 11th attacks will not feel what those in New York and Shanksville and Arlington felt, and will not feel what the rest of us felt. It will take their own September 11th to truly learn what it feels like to have under attack that which they hold most dear. Nevertheless, we can through our testimonies teach others what it feels like to experience such hardship and uncertainty, and to escape such times unscathed and even stronger than before.

In previous posts I have talked about "forgetting," and how that relates to the great Plan of Happiness that Heavenly Father has set in motion. I believe that the best way that we can teach through our testimony unto the rising generation is through the Spirit that we exude as a function of our knowledge if this Plan. Using the love that remains with us from faith-confirming and faith-promoting experiences, let us not give up on those who come after us, but in stead strive to teach them true doctrine that will enable them in turn to find their place in the Plan.

I know that we are all in the arms of the Savior, and that He has the power to heal our spiritual, emotional, and even physical wounds through the supernal gift of the Atonement. The Atonement is central to the Plan, and should be central to the message of love that we convey. Events like those of September 11th, 2001 are not new in the trauma, anguish, and heartache that they cause, and in fact continue to happen on a daily basis. The Book of Mormon is filled with stories of tragedy, war, famine, plague and pestilence as well. The lasting legacy of the Jaredite people is likely their ability to quite literally and completely self-destruct, to which there were "howlings and lamentations, that they did rend the air exceedingly. (Ether 15: 16)" Similarly, the Nephites who remained after the prophesied destruction which marked the Savior's crucifixion were said to be "howling and weeping continually" as they endured three days of complete and utter darkness (3 Nephi 8: 23).

In spite of impending doom and gloom, I know that we may persevere through the power that rests in the Savior. When we sin we feel utterly alone, and feel that the light of the Savior has gone from us. In that precise moment the Master of Lies, even Satan strives to have us believe that we cannot recover the light we lost. I believe that this is where we must focus our efforts for the new generation which will undoubtedly experience hardship at a level that we may not understand. But we do understand how they will feel, and we do understand that the "Son of Man hath descended below them all. (D & C 122: 8)"

As we strive to remember that we are not "greater than he," we will begin to see that God has purpose in destruction and pestilence. We will see that those righteous who have suffered death are received by the Lord "unto himself, in glory," and that for the rest us "God will have a humble people. ("Beware of Pride," Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, May 1989)" Let us, with the love that remains after our hardship look to the Savior, that we may have strength to share our love of Him and the Plan with those around us. And on this special day, let us teach that love prevails over all toil and strife, and that in the end, the Lord's humble people whom He calls His own will prevail as well.

Have a great week!