It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times

 

In reviewing my personal journal from this past week, it easily has been the hardest week emotionally for me thus far on our mission. From disobedience on the part of some missionaries, to a bike wreck putting a missionary in the hospital, to an easily avoidable car accident - seemingly all hitting on the same day - I had to apologize to my wife for my bad attitude. Fortunately, the car accident was minor, the missionary in the bike wreck will likely be fully healed in a couple months' time, and I have to remember that the disobedience is coming from 19- to 20-year old young men and young women who have not fully matured mentally and emotionally and, more importantly, the Savior atoned for sin and transgression (disobedience), from the trivial to the most consequential.

As hard as those few days were, the week culminated in being able to attend the morning session of General Conference today (Sunday) with many of our missionaries as well as with our daughter Rebecca. What a wonderful experience! For those not of our faith, twice a year - the first Saturday and Sunday in April and October - our church holds a world-wide conference over five 2-hour sessions (three Saturday and two Sunday) wherein our church leaders speak to the members of our church and to the world on various gospel topics. It is always an opportunity to "recharge one's spiritual battery". This General Conference was no different. It was so uplifting and inspiring! I invite anyone who was not able to watch it to do so at General Conference.

Then tonight, I was asked to speak to the University of Utah Institute on the Book of Mormon. It was nice to be with those in attendance and on the U campus. An octet, accompanied by a violin, cello and piano performed an arrangement of "Lead, Kindly Light". The pianist had created the arrangement and it was absolutely beautiful. Following my remarks, they showed the most recent Book of Mormon video ("[s]ignificant portions of the Book of Mormon and its prophets, main characters, and general narrative are dramatized, depicted and abridged for children and adults") portraying the coming of the Savior Jesus Christ to the native peoples of the American continent following His resurrection found in 3 Nephi chapters 8 through 11 of the Book of Mormon. It was also an inspiring meeting and I was privileged to participate and attend.

I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who helped me recognize that sometimes life is hard and it is at those times especially that I have a personal responsibility to follow the Savior's example and be longsuffering, patient, kind, full of compassion and charity - which is the pure love of Christ.

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