Anger and Ignorance

When I read the news and various comments from viewers I am saddened by so much anger. I don't care who is wrong or right in the conversation...... it makes me so sick to my stomach to see people lashing out at one another, accusing, scorning, mocking, name calling, swearing etc. Can't we all just get along!!! I see it among the Liberals, the Conservatives, religious, non-religious and among every race and color. There is no excuse to treat anyone (no matter who it is) there is no excuse to be so uncivilized whether online or in person!! And before we look around and point the finger we must first examine ourselves. There are times when I've reacted in anger or in sharp hurtful words and I'm not proud of it. I believe in forgiveness. I believe we can let go of perceived offences. I believe in redemption.

I just heard about the shooting in Fort Hood. This incident makes me very sad because the shooter was a so called "Muslim". Of course immediately following this news there are those who blame the religion of Islam for the shootings. But, Islam is not to blame for these violent acts. Ignorance and anger are to blame. These extremists are taught from a Koran that has been distorted, twisted and changed from it's original text thus in many cases excusing their violence in the name of God. They become fed a steady diet of lies that lead them far from the original teachings of Islam.

Terrorism isn't related to Muslims any more than it is to Christians. There are incidents where Christians have become ignorant to the doctrine of Christ and twisted His teachings to justify violence. Anyone is susceptible to causing terror.

On a smaller scale how often do we get in arguments with neighbors, family or friends when we don't have all the facts, when we jump to conclusions, when we gossip or twist words?

What does it do to us when we dwell on these injustices?

What does it do to us when we see only bad and close our eyes to any of the good around us?

This is where it starts.........If unchecked it leads to violence, misery and sorrow... destroying everything in it's path.

Last general conference our modern day Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson warned against anger.

He quoted the words of the hymn written by Elder Charles W. Penrose, who served in the Quorum of the Twelve and in the First Presidency during the early years of the 20th century:

School thy feelings, O my brother;

Train thy warm, impulsive soul.

Do not its emotions smother,

But let wisdom’s voice control.

School thy feelings; there is power

In the cool, collected mind.

Passion shatters reason’s tower,

Makes the clearest vision blind.

On another occasion he quoted this poem by, Bolton Hall:

'I looked at my brother through the microscope of criticism,

and I said, 'How coarse my brother is.'

Then I looked at my brother through the telescope of scorn,

and I said, 'How small my brother is.'

Then I looked into the mirror of truth and I said,

'How like me my brother is.

I pray for all of us, myself included, that we will

seek to understand more,

to get the facts,

to refrain from anger and cease idle words & gossip,

to find the good in our brothers and sisters

no matter what our political view, religious view, cultural background or however different we might me.

No one accomplishes anything by tearing down another human soul.

Let us build each other.

We are all brothers and sisters.

We are all children of the same God.

Let's be civil.

Let's be kind.

I pray for peace.

Oh how I pray for peace.

Formula for Success

This is a quote I heard years ago & it's one of my many favorites.
Lately, it's been running through my mind again and again, like a broken record.
So I thought maybe I should share it:

"First, fill your mind with truth;

second, fill your life with service;

and third, fill your heart with love."

- President Thomas S. Monson

I also like this poem by Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women:

"I do not ask for any crown

But that which all may win;

Nor try to conquer any world

Except the one within."

Bright Hope

I was listening to President Monson's talk from this most recent conference and I really like this part where he said,

"Your future is as bright as your faith."

- President Thomas S. Monson

This makes me think of a couple other quotes I really like:

"Keep your face toward the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow"

- Helen Keller

"I believe in Christ as I believe in the sun at noon day... not that I can see it but by it, I can see everything else."

- C.S. Lewis

Encouragement

Just a couple of things I jotted down from Conference this past weekend that I really liked.

(Top left: President Henry B. Eyring, Top right: President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Front:President Thomas S. Monson)

"The Lord will shape the back to fit the burden placed upon it."- President Thomas S. Monson





"You can't plant a seed in the morning and expect corn on the cob in the afternoon."- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf





"My purpose today is to assure you that our Heavenly Father and the Savior live and that they love all humanity. The very opportunity for us to face adversity and affliction is part of the evidence of their infinite love."- President Henry B. Eyring

Road to Jericho

Painting by: Walter Rane

This morning I read the parable of the Good Samaritan. In a world that seems to be filled with hate, anger and violence I like to imagine hope restored, peace to reign and love to abound by seeking to forgive, lift, care and exercise compassion. We can make a difference... one person at a time. I really believe that.

“A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
“And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
“And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
“And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
“And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.”
The Savior could easily ask each of us, “Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?”
And we would answer, “He that shewed mercy on him.”
Jesus would advise us to, “Go, and do thou likewise.”3

With these words on my mind I searched through an archive of talks and found this to go right along with the Parable I read this morning.

President Thomas S. Monson observed:
"Jesus provided us many examples of compassionate concern. The crippled man at the pool of Bethesda; the woman taken in adultery; the woman at Jacob’s well; the daughter of Jairus; Lazarus, brother of Mary and Martha—each represented a casualty on the Jericho road. Each needed help.

To the cripple at Bethesda, Jesus said, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.”4
To the sinful woman came the counsel, “Go, and sin no more.”5
To help her who came to draw water, He provided a well of water “springing up into everlasting life.”6
To the dead daughter of Jairus came the command, “Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.”7 To the entombed Lazarus, “Come forth.”8
The Savior has always shown unlimited capacity for compassion.
On the American continent, Jesus appeared to a multitude and said:
“Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you. …
“… And he did heal them every one.”9 "

"One may well ask the penetrating question: These accounts pertain to the Redeemer of the world. Can there actually occur in my own life, on my own Jericho road, such a treasured experience? I phrase my answer in the words of the Master: “Come and see.”10 We have no way of knowing when our privilege to extend a helping hand will unfold before us. The road to Jericho that each of us travels bears no name, and the weary traveler who needs our help may be one unknown. "- President Thomas S. Monson

May we all "go and do likewise".
God Bless you my friends,
Alicia