Day 23-
“Because the Restoration reaffirmed the foundational truth that God does work in this world, we can hope, we should hope, even when facing the most insurmountable odds.”
-Elder Jeffery R. Holland
This lovely, inspiring painting by Annie Henrie Nader, is hanging in my studio as a print. The tree is the tree of life and if you can enlarge this on your computer you can see how Annie painted a genealogy pedigree among the tree's branches. The glowing fruit of the tree is the love of God. His love resonates within the fruit as we partake of the Atonement of his son, Jesus Christ. This fruit is to be shared. This fruit fills me with hope.
“We still have hopes that have not yet been fulfilled. Even as we speak, we are waging an “all hands on deck” war with COVID-19, a solemn reminder that a virus 1,000 times smaller than a grain of sand can bring entire populations and global economies to their knees.”
Elder Jeffery R. Holland gave a truly invigorating talk in the 2020 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was entitled A Perfect Brightness Of Hope.
I needed that talk and the re-reading of his words has brought me a rekindling of hope.
“We pray for those who have lost loved ones in this modern plague, as well as for those who are currently infected or at risk. We certainly pray for those who are giving such magnificent health care. When we have conquered this—and we will—may we be equally committed to freeing the world from the virus of hunger, freeing neighborhoods and nations from the virus of poverty.”
Elder Holland speaks with such power when he declares that we will conquer the plague of Corona Virus. It made me more hopeful that I to can conquer the disease of cancer.
“May we hope for schools where students are taught—not terrified they will be shot—and for the gift of personal dignity for every child of God, unmarred by any form of racial, ethnic, or religious prejudice. Undergirding all of this is our relentless hope for greater devotion to the two greatest of all commandments: to love God by keeping His counsel and to love our neighbors by showing kindness and compassion, patience and forgiveness.”
Going back to Annie's painting I sense in the energy of the bodies receiving the fruit is one of forward moving. Hope can't flower if we sit on it and wait. Hope opens up when we act and move forward as if it was already so.
“May we press forward with love in our hearts, walking in the “brightness of hope” that lights the path of holy anticipation we have been on now for 200 years. I testify that the future is going to be as miracle-filled and bountifully blessed as the past has been.”
Thank you Elder Holland for lifting my spirit and allowing me to live in hope instead of fear.
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