Stand in Holy Places

 

Nineteen years ago I woke up alone in my apartment at BYU-Idaho not knowing the world had changed forever. The TV had been left on, so I flipped through channels while eating cold cereal. I soon realized something was terribly wrong. My roommate burst in and I asked her WHAT IS GOING ON? I listened in shock.

Later, thousands of anxious students gathered for a scheduled devotional with Elder Bednar, who was the president of the university at the time. 

What would he say on this day of terror?

He quoted D&C 45:26, "...and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men's hearts shall fail them”

And vs. 32, “But my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved”

He continued, “We have received a number of phone calls today in the President's Office: ‘Are classes cancelled?’ The answer is no. ‘Will the devotional continue as planned?’ The answer is yes. On this, of all days, we as disciples of the Savior have the opportunity to gather together and stand in holy places. So it was our determination to move forward with classes and with the devotional...

“This is a time for us as members of the Church to demonstrate faith in the Savior and unity. It is not a time for fear. This is a time for us as disciples of the Savior to be concerned less with public demonstration and more concerned with personal, private devotion. This is a time for us as disciples of the Savior to carry on, not to halt nor to pause.”

Then we all sang the hymn “Carry On.”

I think we can all agree the world is in utter commotion! People’s hearts are failing them.

Elder Bedar’s message back then is for us right now! Gather together in unity. Stand in holy places. Be not moved!

When the Nephites were threatened by the Gadianton robbers, what did they do?

They gathered in the center of the land.

They made it a holy place as they turned to God.

They were not moved, literally, for YEARS. 

It’s no wonder that when it was over, “they did cry: Hosanna to the Most High God...And their hearts were swollen with with joy, unto the gushing out of many tears, because of the great goodness of God” (3 Ne 4:32-33)

Now is the time to unite, strengthen, trust. 

Now is the time to stand.