Undaunted

In the last five days my husband has had a stroke, my long-awaited back surgery was cancelled ten hours before the incision due to Covid-19, my daughter reluctantly moved home from campus due to collegiate shutdown, I was a player in Grocery Wars, and—like everyone else—I've wondered what on earth is going on with the memes and the toilet paper and the social graces and the frenzy.

I've been thinking almost constantly these five days why our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, asked the Church as a worldwide whole nearly six months ago to study the Restoration before April 4, 2020. I have a few guesses after dissecting these verses from Joseph Smith's own account of it all:

Maybe he wanted us to freshen up on the sequence of being almost overpowered and then delivered. Because isn't that how it felt this weekend? Like we were about to be swallowed up? And then the Prophet delivered that three minute beacon of hope. I felt lighter and brighter instantly!

Maybe he wanted to assure the whole world that no matter what "thick darkness" swirls in or around us it can dissipate with "light exactly over (our) head(s)". "Exactly" over a head seems like pretty perfect placement. Custom alleviation of anxiety, anyone?

Maybe he wanted to illustrate the stark contrast between fear and faith—between tailspinning and trusting—with the word "undaunted".

Or maybe he simply wanted to remind us that if the Lord knew Joseph's name then he knows my name, and your name, and how worried you are about your kids and your occupation and your bank account and your sanity. Because He does!

President Gordon B. Hinckley said it so well, "Don't worry—I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future.”

These are times for prophets and foundations, for centering and focusing, and for trusting and exhaling.

Photo quote from the hymn "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" by George Manwaring. Collage by my church youth group kids.

Verses from here

undaunted (adjective): not intimidated or discouraged by difficulty, danger, or disappointment