Write at the Heart

  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 h...

  Alma taught the poor Zoramites, who had been cast out of the synagogues by the rich, that they actually could pray and worship anywhere. He reminds them what Zenos said- that God heard him in the wilderness, in the fields, in his house, in his closet, in the midst of the congregation, AND God heard him when he was cast out. That God hears those who seek HIM and NOT men. That God hears us in our afflictions. In our sincerity. And He is merciful! “Therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy.” Alma 33:11 It is beautiful that I can pray to a loving Heavenly Father, and He will hear me anywhere! I have prayed in some unexpected places, and have felt his peace in some unexpected places. I think of Joseph Smith’s “temple-prison,” the horrific Liberty Jail, and love Elder Holland’s words, “You can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experience with the Lord in any situation you are in. Indeed, let me say that even a little stronger: You can h...