Remembering

[Traveler]

Three ideas collided for me this weekend.  I could have put this thread in different places but I decided to put it under general discussions.   The three ideas come from the Book of Mormon, our Church history (in particular July 24^th  1847) and to current conditions and threats to our freedoms and liberties.    There is a great deal in our current news concerning the upcoming election for president here in the USA.  Once again we are being told that this election is the last chance to save the country and preserve our freedoms and liberties.  Is this really the last chance?  Is there ever a last chance?

In the Book of Mormon, during the era of Alma and his son Alma the younger we see over and over again that the only way to preserve freedoms and liberties is through keeping the Commandments of G-d.  But somehow the message being “retweeted” in our modern era is that we can best preserve our freedoms and liberties by taking up arms and fighting for our freedoms and liberties.

I was touched in remembering my ancestors that came across the planes as pioneers.  They lost their freedoms and liberties as they were driven from their farms (businesses) by violence.  The world was in such turmoil.  Europe was fresh off the Napoleonic wars and was gripped with a depression and widespread starvation.   Much of the violence suffered by the early Saints had under currents in general racism and religious bigotry.   Taking up arms only made matters much worse for the Saints.

There was a 20% death rate at Winter Quarters (mostly young mothers and children under 1 year old) – yet they pressed on with faith in G-d.  Times were hard.  One of my ancestors was an amazing lady.  As a teenager she was pretending to ice skate on a frozen pond near her home when my great grandfather came upon the seen and they almost met for the first time.  But Laura was embarrassed and ran away because of her poverty she did not have ice skates – in reality she did not even have shoes – she was bare foot. 

How can I forget my heritage?   Laura was just one of many that endured much and pressed on remembering her parents and their sacrifice to join to the Kingdom of G-d and sacrifice so much.  Our history is not just my heritage – it is the heritage of all faithful Saints; be we members of generations or the first of family; baptized yesterday.

I do not believe we face any bigger threat than others have not only faced but prospered through them.  Yes, these were difficult and trying times – and many early Saints gave up and fell away.  Some that gave up were witness of the Book of Mormon, some were members of the first presidency, some were apostles and some were close and beloved friends of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.  But I have chosen to remember those that endured the trials like unto in the days of Alma and settled in the western regions of the USA.   Many of their names are not on statues or even in prominent  history books but the legacies are written in the hearts of their children that remember.

As I remember – I wonder how my (our) generation will be remembered.

 

The Traveler