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Hope Amidst A Pandemic

All non-essential stores have closed until further notice. And even in those still-open 'essential' stores, it looks like there's been a plague outbreak. Nearly everyone in face masks, with signs on every surface warning shoppers to stay 6 feet apart. It's a strange occurrence and one that's never happened in the day of social media. Almost everyone is self-quarantining, but how long is that really sustainable? It's hard to know when daily reports come out from hundreds of different scientists all giving a different ETA on the return to normalcy. 

I think I speak for most of us when I say this pandemic is freaking me out. And stressing me out. I don't know if I'm going to be able to start college this fall, and that's scary because I like to have a plan for everything. It seems so easy to give up hope and just fall into a self-isolation depression. And yet today, on April 10th, Good Friday, a worldwide fast is taking place. One started by our prophet President Russel M. Nelson. One not limited to those of the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. One offered to and asked of members of every faith. To those of no certain faith. Today we might fast for a million different things. We all have individual worries and concerns and things that need divine guidance and intervention. But the prophet specifically asked us to pray that: 
-caregivers are protected,
-the pandemic be controlled,
-the economy strengthened, and
-life normalized.

One does not necessarily have to pray in order to fast. All President Nelson asked was that we sacrifice 2 meals (or 24 hours of no food), or offer some other sacrifice in order to show the Lord that we are willing to give Him our comforts if He would answer our prayers. But if you can't sacrifice food, how about your computer? Social Media? Whatever you feel is significant enough to really mean something. 

What does this fast mean for the future? I think the fact that the prophet, who stands in for Christ and reveals His will for the members of His church to us, asked us to fast for relief, reveals the light that is undoubtedly at the end of the tunnel. The prophet believes Christ will intervene in behalf of His friends, His brothers and sisters.

And if I were to bet on it, I'd say siding with Jesus Christ's prophet on every issue in life, but especially the outcome of this pandemic, would be the best move. 

"Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)

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