April 10, 2003

• Today is Thursay- thursday already. A good day though. Thank you Andy for helping me get flowers this morning. Thank you Heather for deciding to put up with me at Prom I can't wait, it will be lots of fun. Anyway, I have to get going on some physics, but I will talk to everyone later . . .
  
  President Hinckley's Address
  
  I told you I would post some of what President Hinckley had to say on Sunday about the war that really impressed me:
  
  "I hope that the Lord’s people may be at peace one with another during times of trouble, regardless of what loyalties they may have to different governments or parties . . . I have prayed and pondered much concerning this. I recognize it is a very sensitive subject for an international congregation . . . I think our Father in Heaven must have wept as He has looked down upon His children through the centuries as they have squandered their divine birthright in ruthlessly destroying one another. In the course of history tyrants have arisen from time to time who have oppressed their own people and threatened the world.
  "Such is adjudged to be the case presently, and consequently great and terrifying forces with sophisticated and fearsome armaments have been engaged in battle. . . There have been casualties in this terrible conflict, and there likely will be more. Public protests will likely continue. Leaders of other nations have, in no uncertain terms, condemned the coalition strategy. . . We recognize and teach that all the people of the earth are of the family of God. And as He is our Father, so are we [Muslims, Latter-day Saints and members of other faiths] brothers and sisters with family obligations one to another. . .
  
  "But as citizens we are all under the direction of our respective national leaders. They have access to greater political and military intelligence than do the people generally. Those in the armed services are under obligation to their respective governments to execute the will of the sovereign. When they joined the military service, they entered into a contract by which they are presently bound and to which they have dutifully responded.
  
  "One of our Articles of Faith, which represent an expression of our doctrine, states, “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law” (Articles of Faith 1:12).
  
  "But modern revelation states that we are to “renounce war and proclaim peace” (D&C 98:16).
  
  "In a democracy we can renounce war and proclaim peace. There is opportunity for dissent. Many have been speaking out and doing so emphatically. That is their privilege. That is their right, so long as they do so legally. However, we all must also be mindful of another overriding responsibility, which I may add, governs my personal feelings and dictates my personal loyalties in the present situation. . .
  "It is clear from these [Alma chapter 43] and other writings that there are times and circumstances when nations are justified, in fact have an obligation, to fight for family, for liberty, and against tyranny, threat, and oppression.
  
  When all is said and done, we of this Church are people of peace. We are followers of our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was the Prince of Peace. But even He said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34).
  
  This places us in the position of those who long for peace, who teach peace, who work for peace, but who also are citizens of nations and are subject to the laws of our governments. Furthermore, we are a freedom-loving people, committed to the defense of liberty wherever it is in jeopardy. I believe that God will not hold men and women in uniform responsible as agents of their government in carrying forward that which they are legally obligated to do. It may even be that He will hold us responsible if we try to impede or hedge up the way of those who are involved in a contest with forces of evil and repression. . . To our brothers and sisters in harm’s way, we say that we pray for you. We pray that the Lord will watch over you and preserve you from injury and that you may return home and pick up your lives again. We know that you are not in that land of blowing sand and brutal heat because you enjoy the games of war. The strength of your commitment is measured by your willingness to give your very lives for that in which you believe. . . Even when the armaments of war ring out in deathly serenade and darkness and hatred reign in the hearts of some, there stands immovable, reassuring, comforting, and with great outreaching love the quiet figure of the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world. We can proclaim with Paul:
  
  “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
  
  “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39). . .
  
  "He has said, “Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me” (D&C 19:23).
  
  "And there, my brothers and sisters, we rest our faith. Regardless of the circumstances, we have the comfort and peace of Christ our Savior, our Redeemer, the living Son of the living God. I so testify in His holy name, even the name of Jesus Christ, amen." (President Gordon B. Hinckley)
  
  President Hinckley's full General Conference Address
  
  Wow. That was just so amazing, so inspiring. It is so true- those were the words of a Prophet of God. The leaders of government and military know things we don't, that is why they can make the choices in this war. I trust them. The Iraqi people are our brothers, and as such, we have an obligation to help them. In their tragic time of oppression, that means ending tyranny. On TV today I saw an iraqi approach a soldier to say in broken english, "We have been waiting for you." I believe that is true. Our brethren are waiting for us. Let us go to meet them.
  
  P.S. Hood vs. Hat . . . Andy? I'll never understand your hoodiephobia I am the exact opposite. I hate hats, but I love hoodies. That's wierd though, come to think of it, I have never seen you wear a hood, now I know why . . .
  
  P.P.S. everyone keeping track of my events page?

  • 10:19 pm
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