Have Hope.

I decided to write this piece because I have a voice and I will use it for good. I will not stay silent. I believe in the power of ONE and I have a testimony of the magnificent work that God can do when we allow Him to work through us. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we are encouraged to "raise our voices against the wicked trends in our day." The philosopher Edmund Burke stated, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men and women to do nothing."

A couple of weeks ago, just before the new online school year ended, Isaak started acting out. It was more that just a kid being a little turd as we all know they like to be sometimes. This was different. For several days in a row he was awful to be around. He would say horrible things to me and Austin or his siblings with no remorse. He was defiant in all his actions. He would disobey just to get a reaction from us and then almost embrace the pain from the verbal scolding. He was THE WORST. Nothing he did or said was kind or loving. It was really sad and disappointing to watch him behave in that manner when usually he was such an awesome kid. Luckily Austin and I know our kid well enough to recognize that there was a deeper issue than just bad behavior. One evening we were finally able to get him to calm down enough to have a talk. After a lot of questioning and screaming and crying, we FINALLY extracted the source of the madness. For the ENTIRE time since we had switched to online school, he hadn't actually done ANYTHING. He had been lying about doing his work. And now, with the end of the year approaching, he was feeling the heat. He was not only afraid of us finding out about his lies, but also the possibility of not excelling to the next grade level. He was devastated. His precious little heart was so sad and tormented over the heaviness he had been carrying that it resulted in a pinball machine of emotions. Bouncing from one corner to other, slamming into bells and horns, setting off lights and sirens, all in an attempt to release this pain he was holding.

As I observe the current situation of our world, I see it emulating this behavior almost exactly through protests, riots, heated voices on social media, choosing sides, memes created to stir up rage, violence, destruction, yelling, confusion and much more. Everywhere I turn it's loud. It's overwhelming. Everyone is searching for someone to be mad at. Everyone is pointing fingers. Everyone is right and everyone is wrong. The comments in posts go on and on with the back and forth. I won't lie, it's easy to get caught up in. When I indulge in reading the mess my chest gets tight and my face feels hot. It's easy to fall into the trap and find offense and get fiery with people. It's easy to want to argue and prove your point. Because YOUR point of view is the right one, isn't it? I mean, how could it not be? If everyone could just see things the way YOU see them, then they would get it. They would stop this madness and everything would be fine! Duh.

Unfortunately, no. That isn’t the secret to fixing the world right now. And I'm not even saying that your point of view is wrong. But it's just THAT: It's YOUR point of view. The thoughts and ideas you've gathered together based off of the experiences that YOU and ONLY you have been through in your unique life, make up YOUR point of view. It isn't necessarily wrong, but it's not the ONLY point of view out there. It's actually quite a beautiful thing that we all have so much to offer with our experiences and circumstances. We have so much to learn from one another. The problem arises when we choose to get upset over our differences of opinion and create a divide. When we become prideful and close-minded to listening, not allowing ourselves to learn by the spirit and recognize truth when we see or hear it. This is exactly what Satan wants.

In regards to decision making for the church, President Nelson once shared the process that takes place.

"When we convene as a Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, our meeting rooms become rooms of revelation. The Spirit is palpably present. As we wrestle with complex matters, a thrilling process unfolds as each Apostle freely expresses his thoughts and point of view. Though we may differ in our initial perspectives, the love we feel for each other is constant. Our unity helps us to discern the Lord’s will for His Church. In our meetings, the majority never rules! We listen prayerfully to one another and talk with each other until we are united. Then when we have reached complete accord, the unifying influence of the Holy Ghost is spine-tingling! We experience what the Prophet Joseph Smith knew when he taught, “By union of feeling we obtain power with God.” No member of the First Presidency or Quorum of the Twelve would ever leave decisions for the Lord’s Church to his own best judgment!"

Most of the madness going on right now is a result of someone hurting. People are sad. They're Isaak, acting like the pinball bouncing off any and everything they can to mask the pain or distract from it. I didn't condone Isaak's behavior when he acted out. I didn't agree with it. He was still punished for it. But I recognized that it wasn't normal and it was a result of hurt and sadness. I was still disappointed in him for behaving that way, but I knew that he just needed love. He needed to be heard and understood. He needed to know that I still loved him and we would figure this out and fix it together.

As silly as the whole 'What Would Jesus Do' fad was, I have to admit it's genius. I believe it's a great pattern for personal growth and I actually find myself asking that question often. What WOULD Jesus do?

Fighting back and getting yourself into word wars only creates more contention and hate. Instead of indulging in a fight, focus on similarities over differences. "I'm hurt too. Maybe not for the same reasons you are because we have different life stories, but my heart is still broken and I feel sad."

Give others the benefit of the doubt and assume the best instead of the worst. Allow this to be an opportunity to learn about someone and their life. Why are they hurting? What have they been through? What have they seen or experienced? We all have a story! Giving someone the opportunity to open up to you and share their life and personal experiences creates a bond and trust. It creates love and acceptance. Allow space for a "room of revelation" to be present by listening with your heart and truly taking the time to understand where someone is coming from.

Pray for strength to know what you can do to make a change. Ask God specifically to be an instrument in His hands. Ask Him to use you for good and to impress upon you what He needs of you and your specific talents and skills. Ask for humility and to have an open mind and a soft heart. Ask Him to help you love others (I have to do this a lot). I have a testimony of answered prayers. I know God hears us and He DOES answer according to His will and timing. If we sincerely seek truth, guidance, help, or whatever we may be in need of, He will show up. He always shows up.

After you pray, don't sit around and wait for answers. ACT. Start doing things you KNOW are Christlike and you will be lead to know what to do next. But it takes action on your part to begin the process. Even if those first steps are small, if they are righteous (think WWJD), the spirit will continue to guide your path.

Do your own research. Educate yourself. Grow.

STOP TRUSTING MEDIA. Trust in the LORD to lead your way. Satan wants us to look side to side for answers. He wants us to compare ourselves to those around us and lose our divine identity. He wants us to feel hopeless and confused. He wants us to withdraw and be angry. The Lord wants us to look forward with blinders blocking the worldly influence and distractions. He wants us to look UP to Him and only Him for answers and guidance. To remember His goodness in the scriptures and cling to His redeeming love. To have hope and peace knowing that He is always there and to remember our DIVINE IDENTITY. You are a child of a Heavenly Father who loves you. Your Savior and brother, the Lord Jesus Christ, loves you. You have spiritual roots in eternity. This is an eternal truth that no one can ever take from you. Knowing this truth should give you an enormous sense of infinite worth and value.

In the Book of Mormon, Mosiah 29:32 it states: "And now I desire that this inequality should be no more in this land, especially among this my people; but I desire that this land be a land of liberty, and every man may enjoy his rights and privileges alike, so long as the Lord sees fit that we may live and inherit the land, yea, even as long as any of our posterity remains upon the face of the land."

It's interesting how this scripture places equality and liberty together. They go hand in hand. Yet today we mistake liberty for doing whatever we want, even if that hurts others. Liberty is not equality if others are oppressed. The ONLY way for us to have BOTH is to have SO MUCH LOVE for our fellowmen that our liberty would never tread on equality. And the only way for us to have THAT amount of love, is to always do our best to carry ourselves in a manner that would please Christ. To always do our best to act as He would act. President Ballard said, "We are inhabitants of the same planet and we are dependent upon each other for our mutual survival, happiness and peace." Knowing about our divine identity and understanding it's importance places a lofty responsibility on us as mankind. We have a worthy purpose here on earth and that is to obey the two great commandments. Love the Lord God with all our hearts, with all our soul, and with all our mind. And love our neighbors as ourselves.

So for all those who claim the title of Christian (including myself), are we truly TRYING to act as Christ would act in every circumstance? We can do better. We MUST do better. The world needs us to do better.

President Nelson said, "If there is a lack of unity, there follows an absence of action."

We must be ONE in love.

Sidenote:

I know we have a just God. I know that those who maliciously hurt or murder others will be handled justly if not on this earth by our legal system, then in the afterlife by the final judge. I have absolute faith in this truth.