WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE THERE

A friend told me the following about Iraq:

I have a story regarding peace from my last deployment that I would share...

To understand the situation you have to try and imagine yourself there. You are in a military uniform and surrounded by other U.S. servicemen (and a few women) in theirs. Many of the Army members have been separated from their families for over a year, and don't even know what month they will be headed home. All in the room realize that they may never see their loved ones again in this life.

You are meeting in an old building with an original purpose that’s impossible to tell. It has been hit with ordnance and there are a few holes in the front of the building, though luckily the room we are in is generally intact. There are even two small windows that are still intact near the top of one wall. Power has long ago been cut to the building, so there is no air conditioning. The air would be overwhelming if you hadn't been there long enough to get used to it. As it is, it is merely stifling. Every so often (once or twice a day usually) the insurgents blow something up or lob something over the outer wall to the base.

Dust is everywhere, on the chairs; the box you are using to hold the sacrament, the floor is covered in it, and of course, all over you. The smell of the dust in this part of the world has a distinct smell...hard to describe; just old. For thousands of years one of the most precious commodities in your area has been water, and that continues. No one in the room has had a shower for some time and your nose can tell, although it has been so long that you are starting to get used to it.

It is too hot to sleep during the day (I saw up to 131 deg) and if you are lucky enough to be EOD, then most nights see you dealing with roadside bombs. You mostly just pass out whenever you get the chance and you are ALWAYS tired. Everyone has at least one gun in the 'chapel' with them. Tucked under chairs or in holsters. It is against the rules to be found without one.

So there you are; hot, dirty, tired, homesick and generally scared. Then one member opens the meeting and you say a prayer, pass the sacrament and someone gives a spiritual thought. Just for a little while, you are at peace. The burdens of life seem lighter when you are reminded, even for a fraction of time, of the reality of our earthly existence. Our elder Brother died so we can have peace, in this life and in the next. Families can be forever and we are all loved by our Eternal Father. You are supposed to be here at this time. You can't control the situation but you can control how you deal with it. You feel rejuvenated and uplifted by your fellow saints and especially by the spirit.

Our minds are funny. We tend to 'edit out' the bad parts of our past, and hold onto the good times. When I think of that deployment, I often gravitate back to those saints in that hot, smelly room filled with the spirit.

THE GIFT OF TONGUES

A friend told me the following:

When a young man of 19 years, I was called on a two year LDS mission to Cambodia. Members of the church in that country were sparse back then and to make matters even more challenging, six of us had to open a brand new area. My language skills were meager and yet I did the best I could to convey the Gospel to the Cambodian people. After we had been in the new area a few months, we were told that Ezra Taft Benson of the Twelve Apostles was going to speak with us at a special conference.

He had been recently released as the Secretary of Agriculture under President Eisenhower and had given a Book of Mormon to the Prime Minister of the country, who would be in attendance with his staff. Because of Elder Benson’s political association, the Prime Minister deemed the conference as an official U.S. visit. We were told to get as many of our investigators there as possible and the leadership decided that they wanted me to translate as Elder Benson spoke to the conference.

I was terrified at even the thought of speaking in front of such a large and important gathering and begged my mission president that he choose someone else, but he would not hear of it. I prayed, fasted and then studied the language more intently until the appointed day arrived. I had worked as hard as I could but still felt grossly unprepared. As Elder Benson and I stood before a full house audience of about 30 investigators, missionaries and political dignitaries, he began with, “Good morning and welcome to the conference.”

I was so nervous that I could hardly speak and this simple sentence that he started with seemed complicated and I struggled through it, mumbling and perspiring. At that point, Elder Benson stepped back from the microphone, put his hand on my shoulder and whispered graciously, “Elder be at peace. You can do this and the Spirit will help you.”

An electric feeling coursed through my body and as he spoke the remainder of a talk that lasted over 30 minutes, the translated words flowed and I was calmed and able to speak better Cambodian than before or since. The Spirit truly supported me and gave me the power to speak with confidence and authority. When we do what we can to prepare, and are in God’s service, the Spirit will help us all along the way. Since that time, my wife and I have served in Cambodia as mission president and spouse, and I continue to feel the Lord’s hand in His work. Many leadership callings have come our way since then and I testify that when we work sincerely, He guides us along, despite the obstacles.

BRUISING HEEL AND HEAD

From the Old Testament Student Manual: Genesis to 2nd Samuel, page 41 we read, concerning Moses 4:21:

“The promise concerning the bruising of the heel and head means that while Satan (as the serpent) will bruise the heel of the Savior by leading men to crucify him and seemingly destroy him, in actuality that very act of atonement will give Christ the power to overcome the power that Satan has over men and undo the effects of the Fall.

Thus, the seed of the woman (Christ) shall crush the head of the serpent (Satan and his kingdom) with the very heel that was bruised (the atoning sacrifice)."

The JST Answer

There are so many verses in the Bible that are a puzzle. For instance, the one below would seem to be a bit extreme. Why must we give in to a bully or a thief? I always told myself that it is because we need to be more Christlike; however, there is more to it than that. Note the following King James Version (KJV) scripture below and then read the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) that follows. It is very insightful.


KJV Luke 6:29-30

29. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
30. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

JST Luke 6:29–30

29. And unto him who smiteth thee on the cheek, offer also the other; or, in other words, it is better to offer the other, than to revile again. And him who taketh away thy cloak, forbid not to take thy coat also.
30. For it is better that thou suffer thine enemy to take these things, than to contend with him. Verily I say unto you, Your heavenly Father who seeth in secret, shall bring that wicked one into judgment.

So…it is better to give in than to contend. Not at easy task, especially if we think we are right, but still one that will bring heavenly rewards.