For Our Day

So, do you remember that song from the Seminary music entitled, "For our day"? Well, I am discovering new lessons from the Book of Mormon that are more poignant in my life than ever before. Today after reading, in fact, a while after reading, a scripture from Alma came to my mind. "...because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility" Alma 62:41. I realized that I have been on the road to becoming hardened because of this war and the situation that I often find myself in. Now, I do not by any means reliquish my right to question, probe and investigate the general situation of the policies surrounding the war, but I find myself changed. Coincidentally this discovery occurred on the same day that I FINALLY finished reading Anna Karenina, a book that I found terribly full of inane details but fascinating at the same time. In the conclusion one of the main characters, Levin, finds himself tormented as he searches various philosophies for the meaning of life and finds no peace. When he finally gives himself over to God and becomes a believer, he finds the peace that he so desparately searched for and realizes that the change of heart will gradually change the rest of his life and the relationships he has with those around him. I now know that I need to search the Book of Mormon more deeply to understand how to humble myself in these trying times. I think that coming to face the reality of sending Marc to war has hit me head on this time, something that has not happened in all of the previous deployments. Now that I have awakened to see things as they really are I need to hold on to what is most important and do what I can to strengthen our family and seek to understand how to best face this situation. Yes, with all of the wars in the Book of Mormon, my testimony of it being written for me right now has been greatly strengthened. Happy reading!