My thoughts go back to the day 12 years ago, where what to be a normal day ended up to be anything but. The day, September 11, 2001 where people were doing their normal routines such as getting ready for work and school. People were busily boarding airplanes to get to their intended destinations. Perhaps a hurried kiss and hugs with an, "I love you" was exchanged before heading out.
I remember the news breaking about an airplane crashing into one of the twin towers in New York City. My thoughts were of sorrow and with all the others who were aboard that flight. My thoughts were with the people who were in the building. I treated it as it were a freak accident. But then another plane hit the other tower and I knew then that something very sinister was occurring. I remember the news reporters talking about the structure of the building being compromised and then, as if a slow motion picture was rolling as the tower gave way and crumbled to the earth with a large plume of dust and smoke. The 2nd tower crumbling too. I remember reports of a plane crash into the pentagon and another that crash landed in Pennsylvania, only to find out later that that plane had missed the hijackers intended goal - the White House.
I remember the signs of people looking for their lost ones. I remember the transcripts of those on the towers to their loved ones. The last time their voices would be heard by their loved ones. I remember the solemn dust-filled faces of the first responders, their rejoicing when they found someone alive in the deep rubble. All in all, 2,900+ souls were lost in a matter of a few minutes. I remember the chilling remarks by our, then Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley gave over the pulpit in General Conference one month after the attack:
"I have just been handed a note that says that a U.S. missile attack is under way...."
How my heart sank at those words. We were at war and the only thing I could think of was my son and what it might mean. I thought of the armed forces preparing to battle, who may have wrote their spouses or talked with them before they boarded the airplanes that would whisk them off to the Middle East and directly in harms way. As of this date, over 31,000 brave soldiers have perished as a result of that fateful day. But, our prophets have a way of making positive out of negative; bringing light out of darkness. President Hinckley concluded his remarks with these words of hope:
"Are these perilous times? They are. But there is no need to fear. We can have peace in our hearts and peace in our homes. We can be an influence for good in this world, every one of us.
May the God of heaven, the Almighty, bless us, help us, as we walk our various ways in the uncertain days that lie ahead. May we look to Him with unfailing faith. May we worthily place our reliance on His Beloved Son who is our great Redeemer, whether it be in life or in death, is my prayer in His holy name, even the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
No one plans for their day to end up tragically. Do we do as the song says to live each day as if it were our last? Do we place our entire trust in God that all will work out. Was the sudden loss of life that day in our Lords plans? I do not know the answer to that. I do know that over 2,000 souls mortal sojourn ended.
I am not a war-monger that will go and fight a war. I thank those who are. For those that every day step into dangers to protect the God-given freedoms that we enjoy. I am not a presidential thumper that would find faults with every move taken. I may not agree with some of the decisions, but my personal prayers to the Almighty are my voice. Again, I do not try to find adult with those who wish to verbally and publicly proclaim their stand. I would like to think of myself more aligned with those who were called the Anti Nephi-Lehi's:
"Oh, how merciful is our God! And now behold, since it has been as much as we could do to get our stains taken away from us, and our swords are made bright, let us hide them away that they may be kept bright, as a testimony to our God at the last day, or at the day that we shall be brought to stand before him to be judged, that we have not stained our swords in the blood of our brethren since he imparted his word unto us and has made us clean thereby.
And now, my brethren, if our brethren seek to destroy us, behold, we will hide away our swords, yea, even we will bury them deep in the earth, that they may be kept bright, as a testimony that we have never used them, at the last day; and if our brethren destroy us, behold, we shall go to our God and shall be saved.
And now it came to pass that when the king had made an end of these sayings, and all the people were assembled together, they took their swords, and all the weapons which were used for the shedding of man’s blood, and they did bury them up deep in the earth.
And this they did, it being in their view a testimony to God, and also to men, that they never would use weapons again for the shedding of man’s blood; and this they did, vouching and covenanting with God, that rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives; and rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him; and rather than spend their days in idleness they would labor abundantly with their hands.
And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace." - Alma 24:15-19
This does not mean that I do not mourn for those who perish in times of war and strife. I am still a patriotic person who honors those who gave all. May we never forget those events of that fateful day. May we remember the now widows and widowers; the children without a parent; the parents without children. And our Heavenly Father who grieves for all His children but also welcomes them home with outstretched arms.
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