Post # 45 – Fear Not … in Me Your Joy Is Full

Dear Family and Friends

I have been thinking about the past a lot here lately, so I thought we could take a little adventure through the past again and learn a few things along our way. The other day was the anniversary of the tragedy of 911 and I could not believe that it has been 17 years since it happened. Do you remember where you were when the first plane hit the first tower? The second tower? The pentagon? How about when the third plane was taken down by the passengers? What were your thoughts?

That was definitely, something, that we would not want to reoccur! Though similar things have happened throughout my life since that time and prior to that time I think this was the worst! It was a very sad day. I was fortunate to be working with some of the Lord’s choicest spirits on that day, so I had a wonderful distraction. Children always amaze me and make me smile – even on my worse days, they just seem to bring out the best in me most of the time😊

I have always wondered how those people managed to get through that great trial when they had families that were in those buildings or they were in the area, of the disaster, or they were emergency responders at the scenes. The only way, for me of course, is to rely on the Lord and allow Him to give me the strength that I need to get through whatever trial, difficulty, struggle, tragedy, disaster, and anything else that happens for me in this mortal life.

Have you ever thought about those people who were involved in that tragedy, did you think to pray? Whenever I know that there is nothing that I know to do, I do know that there is something that I can do, I can pray!  Sometimes it is for those who are hurting and sometimes it is for those who seem to be the cause of the problems. I know that this may sound a little crazy, but it’s what I do.

No, I was not always like this, but I have learned to trust in a higher power for the help that I cannot give to myself or to or for those I love. With the Lord’s help, we can be happy in whatever circumstances we are in, no matter what? Over 2800 people were lost during this tragedy.

This message was given during a devotional on the BYU campus after the events of 9/11/2001.

Hope for Peace   Merrill J. Bateman President of Brigham Young University Sep. 11, 2001 • Devotional--- This morning, as most of you know, one of the greatest tragedies that has occurred on the mainland of the United States took place. Thousands of lives have been lost, and thousands have been injured. The most important counsel that we can give this morning, I believe, is threefold.

The first is there is no reason to fear for our lives or the lives of our loved ones if they weren’t in those towers or the Pentagon. We suspect the terrorists are hoping for panic. With the exception again of the Pentagon and the World Trade Center, we believe there are no other areas of danger.

Second, it is extremely important that we be respectful of all people. When the Oklahoma City federal building was bombed, there was considerable speculation early on as to who might have been responsible. In the end those speculations were incorrect. We ask all of you to be respectful of every single person that you meet and contact here on campus and elsewhere.


Third, the best news of all is the good news. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Even though we live in troubled times—and prophets have indicated that there will be turmoil in the last days—it is possible for each of us to feel peace, to have the peace of the gospel in our lives. We believe that is the most important message we have for the world.

We are part of the greatest peaceful mission this earth has ever known. The 60,000 missionaries and 11 million members of the Church have the only message that gives hope for peace. And peace will not come in the lives of people until they have internalized the message of the Master.

I love the advice he give the students on that tragic day, I think it can be applied to each of us, no matter where we ar. No matter what our situation is, we can 1. Don’t fear – trust the Lord, 2. Be respectful of everyone you meet. And 3. Seek out the Gospel of Jesus Christ, embrace it and find the peace that only He can give you.

Let me turn to the words of the Savior. At the Last Supper, after finishing the meal, the Savior and his disciples sang the Hallel. The words of the Hallel are from Psalms 113 to 118. Chapters 113 through 116 are sung before the meal, in which thanks are given to God for the deliverance from Egypt; chapters 117 and 118 are sung after the Passover meal. I invite you today to read those chapters in Psalms. Those chapters talk about being saved from death. They are talking about the Atonement. So, at the Last Supper with His eleven disciples—Judas having left and Jesus knowing where he was going—Jesus is then singing about His own death.

In that setting He went on to talk to His disciples about the most precious gift He had to give them. That gift was the gift of the Holy Ghost. These are His words: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).

And then He said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you” (John 14:27).

He knows where He is going, and there is peace in His heart. He knows He is going to the garden, and He is going to the cross. He is telling them He is leaving them His peace.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

This peace that Brother Bateman is speaking of is possible for all of you who read this post! This peace is not a peace that can be gained from buying things or being with someone, or from having more money than you need, or from being the best at what you do, or having the greatest job, it can and does only come in and through the Holy Ghost from our Savior Jesus Christ. We receive the Holy Ghost once we are baptized a member of His Church here upon the earth, the true and living church, even the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.


Brothers and sisters, that is our message this morning. Fortunately, this is only the second act of a three-act play. Even when death comes to those we love, we know what lies ahead. We know they are fine. It is those of us who are left behind who are sad. We know we will see them again, and we know we will be with them. When death comes to someone who has the peace of the Holy Ghost inside, it can be sweet, not bitter.

Do you understand why you young people hold the power of peace for the world in your hands? The world depends on you.

Many of you have just returned from missions; many of you will go next year. The world’s peace is on your shoulders because you have the only message that gives hope for eternal peace. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Merrill J. Bateman was the president of Brigham Young University when this devotional address was given at a special prayer meeting on 11 September 2001.

Finding Hope                      Description --- A man describes his journey from the tragedy and trauma of 9/11 to hope, healing, and renewal through Jesus Christ. https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/finding-hope-2

Victor Guzman - 9/11 Survivor, Father, Mormon   Description -- For years, Victor worked tirelessly as an attorney in the World Trade Center. Out of the house before his family woke up, home after they went to bed. On Sept 11th, 2001, all that changed. https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/im-a-mormon/victor-guzman-911-survivor-father-mormon

I would like to share a message given at a Devotional 15 years after the events of 9/11/2001. I found this article one that is full of hope and peace – the peace that can be found only in our Savior Jesus Christ. This article is a bit lengthy so I am only including a few quotes from it: this Devotional was also addressed to the young adults who attended, but I think the message and insight can be applied to each of us. I have added italics and underlined some phrases that stood out to me, I hope you don’t mind that I that did?

“The world literally seems to be in commotion.¹ There is a level of contention that is unprecedented. Peace of mind and feelings of security can seem elusive and even unobtainable. My message to you this evening is that we should not have fear even in a dangerous and troubled world. The scriptures assure us that we can have complete joy because of the Savior.”

He tells how we have certain things in our lives that we remember every detail of and that these “kinds of cherished events bring not only a rewarding but lasting joy” and happiness.

"It is interesting that individual events that in any way relate to the Savior are usually the ones that bring the greatest joy.” If you really and truly think about this – any activity that involves or brings us closer to or is related “to the Savior are usually the ones that bring the greatest joy” --it is so very true!!!

Then he spoke of those event that are so shocking and tragic and how they affect us in a profound way; his examples were of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the assignation of President John F. Kennedy, and the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Next, he told of what happened what happened his son and his family during the attack, who lived only three blocks from the World Trade Center.so this event had great significance to him and his wife.

 ‘Our oldest son and his wife were expecting their first child and lived three blocks from the World Trade Center in New York City when the first plane, hijacked by terrorists, crashed into the North Tower. They went to the roof of their apartment building and were horrified as they watched the consequences of what they thought was a terrible accident. As they witnessed the second hijacked plane crash into the South Tower, they realized that this was no accident and believed lower Manhattan was under continuing attack. When the South Tower collapsed, their apartment building was engulfed in the debris that rained down over lower Manhattan.’

‘‘Confused and terrified at what they had witnessed, and concerned about further attacks, they made their way to a safer area and then to the Manhattan Stake church building at Lincoln Center. When they arrived, they found that dozens of other members in lower Manhattan had made the same decision to gather at the stake center. We were relieved when they called to let us know where they were and that they were safe. We were not surprised at their location because modern revelation teaches that the stakes of Zion are “a defense, and … a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth.”³ They were not allowed to return to their apartment for over a week and were devastated by the loss of innocent lives, but they personally suffered no permanent physical damage.

‘I had to quote him there because his words are much better than mine. The place where this devotional address was given was near where plane crashed into the Pentagon Building in Washington D.C. It was also a terrorist suicide mission with similar devastating results as the two planes that were flown into the World Trade Center in New York City.

This devotional was given fifteen years after these attacks on our country. He said that he did not bring up the horrific events for us to dwell on them. One of his purposes was to emphasize the great things in our lives. I believe especially those things of eternal value. Another purpose was that he wanted to help each of us to think about all if the trials, difficulties, and dangers that we will either face or are afraid we will face in our individual lives. These things may involve and be very personal to you, or they could involve many people.

Although the types of things we might face are numerous, he chose to address only three -- those that would involve physical dangers, special challenges – specific to our day; and spiritual dangers and challenges that we might face.

’Physical Dangers or Challenges --- Physical dangers are the easiest to see and identify. Regardless of how or where you access your daily news, physical dangers, violence, and tragedy are the first reported—particularly on television and the Internet. One reason for this is that violence and death are very dramatic and usually are easy to portray visually as well as in writing. Violence and death, whether near or far away, capture our attention and can destroy our peace and tranquility. When we do not feel safe physically, we feel personally vulnerable.  

We see this almost every time we look at a newspaper or turn on the news on the television or radio, and now on our computers, phones, tablets, and the internet – we access the news. It seems as if every day there is some violent act somewhere, a missing child or person, a huge fire, tornado, tsunami, flooding, heat wave, drought… there is always something in the news that can make us sad or distraught if we let it. We need the peace only our Savior can give us!

Last March 22nd, a terrorist detonated a suicide bomb in the Brussels, Belgium, airport. Four of our missionaries were at the Delta checkout counter. All of them suffered significant injuries; some were very serious. A senior missionary, Elder Richard Norby’s injuries were very serious. Recently he indicated that while life will never be quite the same, “he has chosen to rely on the Lord and not fear.” He further said, “I’m going to live my life, and I’m going to teach my children and grandchildren that we [must] put our trust in God.”⁴     

Most people may think that because the missionaries are serving the Lord that nothing bad could ever happen to them during that time. This is not so, because people still have their agency and most always the use of one’s agency affects those around them – sometimes in a positive way and sometimes in a very negative way, like the terrorist attack of 9/11/2001.

I suppose we do not think of our using our agency, that it really does affect those around us in so many ways. Therefore, we should probably really ponder our actions before we make them. Because even though it our choice to make – the choices that we make truly do affect others either in a positive way, which is great! Or in a negative way, which sometimes cannot be corrected, no matter what we do. That is why I recommend that you and I should take our choices to the Lord in prayer before we make them. If we have the Lord’s approval we will be so much the better for it, this is something that I have learned over my years of experiences.

So, dear Family and Friends, please have a good month and remember to take some time to review our choices of the past and let them help us to make better choices in the future. The Lord and Hos servants will never lead us astray. And th words of the Lord will tell us all things which we should do, but we must know those words in order to follow them – right? So we should really study the scriptures and pray about our choices and the decisions that we should make😊 Until my next post, stay positive, help someone around you and make some really good choices for the good of your lives and the lives of those you love.