Bondage and Strength to Stand

This morning I read Elder Quentin L. Cook’s 2013 October conference talk on bondage.  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/lamentations-of-jeremiah-beware-of-bondage?lang=eng

There are so many ways to be in bondage I feel like I’m walking along the shores of a shark-infested, alligator-infested shoreline.  If that wasn’t enough, I read Luke 21 where the Savior is calling out the divers troubles of the Last Days and warning against them.

Wars and rumors of wars

Nation wars against nation

Earthquakes

Famines

Pestilences

Persecution of righteous

Armies in Jerusalem

Distress in the land (could this be pollution which is certainly stressing us!  All the illegal edicts coming down from the Federal government with no voice from the people.  Now that’s distressing!)

Sea and waves roaring (tsunami’s)

Men’s hearts fail them for fear

THEN we shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory (v27)

But all these things will serve as a testimony (and strengthening) if we choose.  I like v15 where it says “I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.”  I will have a voice to speak and the Lord will put the wisdom into that voice.  This is particularly interesting to me given the conversation I had with my husband last night.  Will I have the strength and power to “fight”?  Will it be in hand-to-hand combat as the Nephites experienced?  Or will my part be in the form of bearing testimony and physically supporting i.e. providing food, clothing, caring those who are actually in the battle,? 

Then I read a most poignant message designed especially for me given the frustrating day I had yesterday, and I won’t go into detail.  Verse 19 “In your patience possess ye your souls.”  [sigh]  This comes just after the verses where I can expect loved ones of any relation to betray me and hate me because I love my Savior.  This said, maybe my frustrating day yesterday is for a purpose.  Am I learning to be patient?  Not as much as I should.  So I must learn to deal with the frustration of children who are wandering off the path and flirting with the alligator and shark-infested waters.  They too much decide to choose to stay clear of those things that will harm them and bring them into bondage, just as I have and just as I’m still doing.