Even though our country has laws against certain forms of persecution (would it fall under "hate crimes"?), I believe that when it comes to the Saints, those laws will be ignored. I believe that any breaking of those laws will be overlooked, much as KKK activities were overlooked for so long. Laws or no laws, we are going to be persecuted. I believe that it has already begun, though not yet widespread.
Faith, like Pres. Hinckley said, is the key. With faith, I can feel pity for those who have persecuted the Saints and will yet persecute because eventually they are going to have to pay a terrible price and they don't even know it. What a terrible surprise that will be. If I have faith, if I truly live the gospel, what of any eternal significance can happen to me? Just my two cents' worth... Heidi the fair > [Original Message] > From: Valerie Nielsen Williams <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: 8/8/2003 4:32:27 PM > Subject: Re: [ZION] The Exodus from Nauvoo > > The feelings then are still present today. I have been to Nauvoo twice > in the past year, and both times met up with people who absolutely hate > us. I'm not sure they even know why they do, except it has been taught > to them to hate. As I stood looking across the mighty Mississippi, I > tried to imagine the Saints crossing with wagons and horses. It was > incomprehensible to me. I get nervous driving over that river on a > bridge. Then, on the Iowa side, I looked over and saw what the Saints > must have seen--the beautiful Nauvoo temple, shining and beautiful. I > cannot begin to imagine what it must have been like to work so hard to > build that edifice, only to have to leave it behind. In fact, it was > finished and dedicated after many Saints had already left Nauvoo. I > can't be so sure that I would not have stayed behind with Emma--she had > already suffered so much loss. > > It is unfortunate that such hatred exists--but it did then and it still > does. If anyone read the article link I sent the other day, then you > know that such hatred still exists. A few months ago we discussed here, > briefly, Pres. Hinckley's allusion to our season of relative comfort > coming to an end. At the April 2001 General Conference, he mentioned the > relative peace we lived in, and the fact there were no big wars. Of > course we know what happened less than a month before the Oct 2001 > conference. At that conference GBHinckley talked very strongly about the > evil that still exists in the world today. He emphasized over and over > the value of our testimonies and faith. Especially our faith. > > I still remember hearing him speak and thinking to myself that we are > going to, again, be a persecuted people. I doubt it will be in the same > manner it was then--our country has laws now against such things, but I > believe it will happen nonetheless. I still have people who have known > me for years give me the strangest look and turn their backs when they > find out I am a Mormon. I much prefer those who find out and joke with > me about which wife I am. At least I have something on which to build. > But those who say nothing and just walk away. . . > > my 2cents > val > > > On Fri, 08 Aug 2003 11:48:36 -0800 "John W. Redelfs" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > > I've been reading THE STORY OF THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS by James B. > > Allen and > > Glen M. Leonard, and I just read the part where the saints were > > forced to > > leave Nauvoo in February, 1846, months before their planned > > departure in > > April. I was especially moved by the story of the saints who were > > too poor > > to make the trek, but who were forced across the river > > nevertheless. Reading this history, I just can't help feeling a > > deep > > resentment towards the American people who either persecuted the > > saints or > > looked the other way while they were persecuted. > > > > Over a thousand saints died on the trail that first winter, the > > winter of > > 1846-47. Disgusting. > > > > > > John W. Redelfs [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > =========================================== > > "There is no place in this work for those who believe only > > in the gospel of doom and gloom. The gospel is good > > news. It is a message of triumph." --Gordon B. Hinckley > > =========================================== > > All my opinions are tentative pending further data. --JWR > > > > > ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// > ///// > > /// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// > > /// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// > > > ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// > //// > > > > > > > > > > > .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. > 互户互户互户互户互户互 > > ________________________________________________________________ > The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! > Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! > Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! > > //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// // > /// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// > /// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// > //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// / ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// /// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// --^---------------------------------------------------------------- This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aaP9AU.bWix1n.YXJjaGl2 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] TOPICA - Start your own email discussion group. 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