finding comfort for connecticut

december 14, 2012: a tragic day in american history. innocent blood of very young children was shed. 

as this story played in my mind over and over, i couldn't help feeling disturbed, heartbroken, and confused. why did those children need to be killed? i felt some anger and even some hatred towards the wicked people in this wicked world. i got on facebook and saw so many people's posts about laws this proves or doesn't prove are good or bad. i read about so much bitterness and hatred. and that, too, began to fuel my own dark feelings. 

i did not feel "good". i did not like the way i was feeling. i did not want the sick pit in my stomach. 

so i did what i try to do always when i feel down, or hurt, or angered, or frustrated. i turned to God. i had already offered so many prayers for the families of the children, but this time i prayed for myself. i prayed to find peace and comfort in my own heart. i know anger and hatred are not feelings i should ever feel with a strong testimony of Christ, and the gospel. i know this tragedy would never have happened if it had not been God's will. i've recently learned a lot about God's timing and will in my own life. it does not always seem right to us, but with a strong testimony of the gospel, we know it was the will of God. and maybe the better perspective is 26 angels were welcomed into their Father's arms, 20 of those angels being innocent and perfect and children, who we know was loved by God so much.

so with a prayerful heart, i turned to the scriptures this morning. i turned to lds.org and researched words of comfort and peace in times like these. funny enough, i found the most touching blogpost on the subject on facebook. he puts my feelings into words so much better than i could, and as i read and watched the accompanying video, tears streamed down my face, but i felt the spirit in the room. i felt the spirit teach me the truth of the words i had read, and i felt the spirit grant me comfort and peace. a tender mercy. an answer to a small prayer. 

i'd like to share now this man's sweet blogpost.

from:  http://sethadamsmith.com/2012/12/14/comfort-for-connecticut/

Comfort for Connecticut

SHOOTING AT A CONNECTICUT SCHOOL ON DECEMBER 14, 2012.

In the wake of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school in Connecticut, I know that many of you are asking (as I am) why?  Why did this have to happen?  Why does God (if He exists) allow such evil things to happen to such innocent people?  How can God be loving when He lets innocent, pure children suffer?

While I certainly don’t pretend to know the answers to these ageless questions, I do believe that religious faith can comfort even in the darkest of times.

As many of you know, I am a devout Mormon.  As such, I believe in the love and power of Jesus Christ.  I believe in a God who honors our agency so much that He allows us to choose between good and evil.  This, of course, often leads to the pain and suffering of others—many of whom are completely innocent and pure.

So how do we reconcile that?  How can Christ, if He loves us, allow such horrible things happen to innocent people?

JOSEPH AND EMMA SMITH HOLDING THEIR BABY THAT HAS PASSED AWAY. PAINTING BY LIZ LEMON SWINDLE.

I think the answer to that question is found in the Atonement.  In the Book of Mormon, it is written that through the Atonement,Jesus has ”[gone] forth, suffering pains and afflictions andtemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people…and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities (Alma 7:11-12).”

There is a high price to our agency and many innocent people suffer when we choose evil over good.  But the same God who allows such evil things to happen is not a spectator to our pains.  He paid the price for our agency and intimately, personally and deeply feels our pain as if it were His own.  If we reach out to Him during our times of darkness, He will reciprocate.  Because He has felt our pain and knows how to heal us.  ”In the world ye shall have tribulation:,” He said.  ”But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).”

The Prophet Joseph Smith (who lost six of his eleven children) said this:

“I have meditated upon the subject, and asked the question, why it is that infants, innocent children, are taken away from us, especially those that seem to be the most intelligent and interesting. . . . The Lord takes many away even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man, and the sorrows and evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth; therefore, if rightly considered, instead of mourning we have reason to rejoice as they are delivered from evil, and we shall soon have them again. . . . All children are redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and the moment that children leave this world, they are taken to the bosom of Abraham. The only difference between the old and young dying is, one lives longer in heaven and eternal light and glory than the other, and is freed a little sooner from this miserable wicked world.”

Here’s a video about another shooting that involved children and the power of forgiveness.

with the words of president faust's last talk, i know that instead of hate and bitterness, we should be feeling forgiveness and faith in the Lord. i know that making an effort to listen to the counsel of the Lord's servants, and filling our hearts with forgiveness, and going to the Lord in prayer will only bring us the peace and comfort we need to remain happy and bright in the hope of the future