It's just getting to be too much - hitting closer and closer to home. Every day activities becoming unsafe and deadly. Shopping at the mall, listening to a Politician, going to school (elementary, college, high school)!, a midnight movie. I can't help but ask why do people continue to make these choices??? What is it about their life that just seems this is the only option and then why must others suffer too?? How sad for these families right before Christmas to lose their small children in such a tragic way. It's frustrating, scary, upsetting and sad that some consequences can't be undone. You can't bring back that child or parent, sister, daughter, brother, son, husband, friend. And for what reason, I wish there was an easy answer or something that can be said or done for these families who remain here on earth with nothing but questions and probably some regrets. What was the last thing you said to your child today as they left for school? Do they know I truly, madly, deeply LOVE them!? Did they offer up a prayer as they faced the end to their life here on earth? What was that reunion like in the Spirit world? Can I still believe there is a God who allows this to happen more often than we'd like or even at all?
Every time I hear a situation of any sort where someone has suffered at the hand of another, I'm reminded of this story (I really don't like the word story as it seems the telling of this situation is 'fake' - it's not fake it's a recording of true events that has been preserved in the Book of Mormon.) Anyway, I think of this - doesn't mean everything I feel instantly goes away, but it does answer the question Why? Why can't we stop these people who choose to harm another, why must the innocent suffer? Why am I still here - why did I survive?
Our prayers and thoughts, tears and sorrow are for those families who are suffering with the loss of their child, spouse, parent, sibling, however they are related in Newtown, CT. That they can find peace and not hold a grudge - to eventually forgive the misguided child who committed such acts of bizarre and unwarranted behavior. I would hope that if I were ever put in that situation that I wouldn't allow Satan to take hold of my feelings and twist them into a 'justified' grudge. That I might rise up, never forget my child, spouse or loved one and make the best of a miserable situation. Easy to say, hard to do.
Chapter 14 : Alma 14:12
Chapter summary: Alma and Amulek are
imprisoned and smitten—The believers and their holy scriptures are
burned by fire—These martyrs are received by the Lord in glory—The
prison walls are rent and fall—Alma and Amulek are delivered, and their
persecutors are slain. About 82–81 B.C.
8 And
they brought their wives and children together, and whosoever believed
or had been taught to believe in the word of God they caused that they
should be acast
into the fire; and they also brought forth their records which
contained the holy scriptures, and cast them into the fire also, that
they might be bburned and destroyed by fire.
9 And it came to pass that they took Alma and Amulek, and carried them forth to the place of amartyrdom, that they might witness the destruction of those who were consumed by fire.
10 And
when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming
in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we
witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and
exercise the apower of God which is in us, and save them from the flames.
11 But
Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch
forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in aglory;
and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may
do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that
the bjudgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the cblood of the dinnocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.
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