The time hopping and confusion of Mosiah has come to a close. The people of Limhi and the people of Alma have all made it to Zarahemla and have joined with King Mosiah and the people Mulek. King Mosiah invites all the people to gather together and he reads the accounts of both Zeniff (King Limhi's people) and the account of Alma and his people. I feel like it is very simple in this moment to put yourself there and instead of hearing Mosiah reading the accounts you just read them. What did you feel as you read? Were you filled with hope, wonder, amazement? The people in Zarahemla immediately raised their voices and gave thanks to God.
Can we take this a little step forward and bit more personal? How do you respond when you hear about friends, family, or acquaintances that have been brought out of bondage? Do you feel a desire to give thanks and express gratitude to the Lord for blessing your friend? What about after the Lord has brought you out of bondage, do you immediately respond with gratitude?
As I reflected on this idea that by studying or hearing of God’s dealings with others, I can feel joy and gratitude for the goodness of God, my mind began recalling events in my life where I found this to be true. Times where I found myself expressing gratitude and finding joy in experiences of my friends or even my own kids.
One event that comes to mind was from December of last year. Just for back story my oldest goes to a public school and my two youngest boys go to a private school that offers all day kindergarten. In first grade they all transition into public school and ride the bus home which is wonderful. Anyway on this particular December I was driving to my son's private school right after work to pick him up. Their private school just so happens to be right across the street from my neighborhood. As I pulled into my neighborhood I immediately passed our church building and in the parking lot was about 50 different cop, SWAT, undercover, Highway Patrol, and other tactical vehicles. Obviously, it was a strange sight in our quiet neighborhood and left me with that sick feeling that something was very wrong. I then rounded the corner of the next block and as my son's school came into view I was met with two officers holding their long rifles blocking the school driveway entrance. I rolled down my window and they informed me the school was on lock down. I would have to park my vehicle and walk up to the school and go through lock down protocol to get my son out. I have to tell you I have never been so nervous in my entire life pulling up to my kid's school and being met with armed officers.
I went through proper protocol to get brought into the school through the double doors after my ID had been checked and waited with four other nervous parents as our children were escorted one by one from their classrooms down to us. As I made my way back to the car I asked my son the million questions all mom's ask: "are you okay?" "what happened at school today?" etc. just trying to get an idea of what was going on. His response was: "I don't know mom but we had to turn all the lights off and gather in the corner with our teachers and be very quiet. I was really scared when the men came in with guns to check on us but I just said a prayer and knew everything was going to be okay." My heart soared with joy that in a moment of fear my son knew where to turn and I was so grateful he had experienced that peace from the Holy Ghost. As we arrived at my home with all three boys safe and sound we immediately got on our knees to express gratitude.
In the coming hours and days I would learn that a hostage situation had unfolded in the home directly behind my kids school. That the altercation leading to the hostage situation started outside during the student's recess and a weapon was involved. The school was put on lock down to protect the students. I was so grateful for the big and small ways the Lord protected my son that day.
I hope my story helped each of you think of a time where your friend or family member was "delivered" from bondage in some way. How has that experience lifted you or perhaps reminded you of the goodness of God? With all going on right now it may seem hard to find stories of deliverance from our friend and family but I promise they are there.
Can we take this a little step forward and bit more personal? How do you respond when you hear about friends, family, or acquaintances that have been brought out of bondage? Do you feel a desire to give thanks and express gratitude to the Lord for blessing your friend? What about after the Lord has brought you out of bondage, do you immediately respond with gratitude?
As I reflected on this idea that by studying or hearing of God’s dealings with others, I can feel joy and gratitude for the goodness of God, my mind began recalling events in my life where I found this to be true. Times where I found myself expressing gratitude and finding joy in experiences of my friends or even my own kids.
One event that comes to mind was from December of last year. Just for back story my oldest goes to a public school and my two youngest boys go to a private school that offers all day kindergarten. In first grade they all transition into public school and ride the bus home which is wonderful. Anyway on this particular December I was driving to my son's private school right after work to pick him up. Their private school just so happens to be right across the street from my neighborhood. As I pulled into my neighborhood I immediately passed our church building and in the parking lot was about 50 different cop, SWAT, undercover, Highway Patrol, and other tactical vehicles. Obviously, it was a strange sight in our quiet neighborhood and left me with that sick feeling that something was very wrong. I then rounded the corner of the next block and as my son's school came into view I was met with two officers holding their long rifles blocking the school driveway entrance. I rolled down my window and they informed me the school was on lock down. I would have to park my vehicle and walk up to the school and go through lock down protocol to get my son out. I have to tell you I have never been so nervous in my entire life pulling up to my kid's school and being met with armed officers.
I went through proper protocol to get brought into the school through the double doors after my ID had been checked and waited with four other nervous parents as our children were escorted one by one from their classrooms down to us. As I made my way back to the car I asked my son the million questions all mom's ask: "are you okay?" "what happened at school today?" etc. just trying to get an idea of what was going on. His response was: "I don't know mom but we had to turn all the lights off and gather in the corner with our teachers and be very quiet. I was really scared when the men came in with guns to check on us but I just said a prayer and knew everything was going to be okay." My heart soared with joy that in a moment of fear my son knew where to turn and I was so grateful he had experienced that peace from the Holy Ghost. As we arrived at my home with all three boys safe and sound we immediately got on our knees to express gratitude.
In the coming hours and days I would learn that a hostage situation had unfolded in the home directly behind my kids school. That the altercation leading to the hostage situation started outside during the student's recess and a weapon was involved. The school was put on lock down to protect the students. I was so grateful for the big and small ways the Lord protected my son that day.
I hope my story helped each of you think of a time where your friend or family member was "delivered" from bondage in some way. How has that experience lifted you or perhaps reminded you of the goodness of God? With all going on right now it may seem hard to find stories of deliverance from our friend and family but I promise they are there.
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