"No Unhallowed Hand"

Recently one of the LDS chapels not too far from our house was burned down due to arson. We have been told that there had been multiple attempts in the past by someone to try and burn this chapel down. This time they were successful.

Some photos of the chapel burning and what was left of it. Fortunately it burned during the night and no one was hurt. 

I saw this quote by Martin Luther King Jr. that I think really applies to the burning of the chapel and other acts of hate and violence. It says:

"When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind. When evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love." 

Here are some glimpses of some of our good missionaries continuing to plan, to build and to bind, and to be committed to the "glories of love."

Some of our missionaries helping to build a house

Some of our missionaries and a member of our Stake Presidency at an Open House at our Church teaching people how to build and bind families.

President Lisonbee helping an investigator build a testimony of the Book of Mormon

One of our senior missionaries in the Church Welfare Center helping a non-member build a better skill set in order to have a better plan for her life.

President Lisonbee teaching how important it is to plan

One of our zones at our recent Zone Conferences held to help build testimony and friendship, and to help us plan for greater growth and success.

And of course - above all - good men and women stay committed to "the glories of love!"

One of our great elders with some of the sweet children.

Sister missionaries visiting with some investigators at one of our chapels

This formerly inactive member was recently reactivated by our missionaries and then he was able to have the joy of baptizing his son

It is sad that someone would feel so much hate that they would break into the chapel and pour gasoline all over the draperies then set them on fire. Who would be filled with so much hate? And why? We may never know the answer to those questions. But we do know that the kingdom of God has never been a stranger to enemies and opposition. But we also can be assured of what Joseph Smith said:

"The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done." 

Here's to all the good men and women in the world and in the Church who focus on planning and building and binding and who are committed to the glories of love. 

Until next time,

Onward, ever onward!