Things are getting weird, huh? It's been a little eerie watching people fight over staples like toilet paper and flour.
It's unsettling to think of all the elderly, immunocompromised, and infirm staying home to preserve their health.
The reports from Italy are tragic--that the elderly with COVID-19 instead of going to hospitals to receive medical care, they are being met at the door by a priest who gives them last rites and sends them home because there are not enough beds and ventilators to meet the needs of all who need medical care.
My husband is immunocompromised and my parents and in-laws are in the over 60 group who are advised to simply stay home. We have reason to be concerned. I have felt some anxiety out of my love for them.
But, there is something else I have felt over the last week and a half as we have watched the seriousness of this unfold.
So. Much. Gratitude.
I have seldom (if ever) made a social media post about Russell M. Nelson. He is a world famous heart surgeon. He helped to develop the heart and lung machine and developed techniques still used today.
He has perfect pitch and is a concert pianist.
He speaks multiple languages including Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.
At 95, the only reason he doesn't still downhill snow ski is his family's concern for his well-being--but he could totally still snow ski.
He is cheerful, optimistic, and a delight. But more important than all of that, he is a prophet of God.
Did I lose you?
When people in modern times hear the word prophet, we think of psychopaths like the man who kidnapped Elizabeth Smart, or twisted old men who marry multiple teenage girls. I'm not talking about someone like that.
Instead, think Moses. Or Noah. Or Abraham. A man who talks with God. A man who God uses to tell the world what He would have us know. Does he replace God answering us directly? No. Not at all. In fact, Russell Nelson encourages the whole world to recognize the whisperings of the Spirit that bring answers from God for our own questions. He encourages us to read Scriptures, pray, ask God, and know for ourselves what God would have us do.
BUT, he also teaches and warns of things we never knew to ask or know about.
He is one prophet in a 200-year string of prophets. Many of his predecessors have taught to be prepared with long-term food storage, toiletries, and all the necessities we would need to last us a year. Sometimes this has blessed people after natural disasters, long-term illness, or job loss. Today, it blesses my family in the midst of global pandemic. Sure, some of our creature comforts will run out (without running to the store), and we certainly haven't built up a whole year's supply for a family of 7, but we have food and toiletries to last us a while because we have worked to heed this counsel.
In the last year and a half, he has asked our families to do more gospel teaching at home, and not rely on church as heavily to teach our children about Jesus Christ. My family has called this "home church." We have lessons about Christ and His holy Scriptures at home every day. My rowdy, noisy children have grown somewhat accustomed to this.
Then, this last week, Russell Nelson told members of my faith not to congregate, rather to hold church meetings in our own homes so as to limit exposure with others. My husband blessed the Sacrament of the Lord's supper, and our oldest son passed it to us in our living room. It was one of the sweetest experiences I have had as a mother. Two of my children bore testimony of their Savior Jesus Christ, and one gave us a talk he prepared himself on how prophets have blessed the world by revealing Christ's will for His church. We sang and prayed together, and my children soaked it in. It wasn't rowdy or irreverent. It was filled with joy and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
We try to follow the direction of the Lord as given through what He tells us directly, as well as what He gives us through His prophet, and WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED.
So many times over the last week, I have thought, "I am SO GRATEFUL for a prophet. I am so grateful that God called as His prophet for today a highly intelligent DOCTOR who has close relationships to the medical community in China and has been monitoring Coronavirus since the beginning. I am SO grateful for the peace that comes of being (even relatively) prepared."
I don't normally talk about a prophet because it sounds like I'm a crazy. Jesus warned of false prophets because SOME ARE FALSE, but why not warn of ALL prophets if some weren't TRUE?
Russell M. Nelson is a true prophet. On April 4th and 5th, he will be speaking to the world (via satellite). You can stream it at www.churchofjesuschrist.org and hear the words of a prophet yourself.
I tell you all of this not to convince anyone who doesn't want to hear it, but if there may be some of you who wish you had more guidance and direction from Heaven, I know where to look to find some, and I didn't want to hoard it anymore (also, if you need a little TP, I might have some to spare . . . let me know )
