29 Ye
hear of wars in far countries, and you say that there will soon be great wars
in far countries, but ye know not the hearts of men in your own land.
30 I tell
you these things because of your prayers; wherefore, treasure up wisdom in your
bosoms, lest the wickedness of men reveal these things unto you by their
wickedness, in a manner which shall speak in your ears with a voice louder than
that which shall shake the earth; but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.
(D&C 38:29-30)
Apparently the
brethren were very much interested in the international situation at the time
and speculating about the possibility of foreign wars a bit and praying about
it. The Lord warned them that war was in the hearts of men nearby them as well.
I think He wanted them to know so that it wouldn’t be so much of a shock when
violence and mobbing broke out.
I think there is a
principle here that still stands true today. We hear stories of wickedness in
faraway places or other towns or other neighborhoods and we tsk-tsk over that,
but we don’t know the hearts of people nearby. The same things can happen nearby. If we realize that,
we won’t be so shocked when it does happen. A shooting can happen at our schools. Murders and thefts and all
kinds of awful crime can happen on our
streets. Our families can be
affected. Our country can be
attacked.
If we don’t realize
this, when it happens it is as the Lord says, --it “shall speak in your ears
with a voice louder than that which shall shake the earth.” It’s worse than an earthquake because it
destroys all mental-emotional sense of security and stability.
Realizing it could
happen here or close by helps us not fear when it does. Not that we go around
expecting awful things to happen, but retaining the sense that the awful can occur prepares us just enough to cope better if it does.
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