Stories can paint beautiful pictures about the way things should be. Story can teach us lessons in an intimate way, they can help us reflect, and they invite us to change.
One such oft-shared, classic story is about a little girl wanted to know what the United States of America looked like.
In order to help her out, her dad tore a map of the United States from a magazine and then cut it into small pieces. He told her to go to her room to see if she could put it together.
After a few some minutes she returned and handed the map correctly fitted and taped together.
Her father was surprised that she was able to figure out the map and asked her how she was able to finish it so quickly?
She said, “On the back side of the map was a picture of Jesus, and when I put Him back then our country just came together!”
“The Lord Jesus Christ,” by Del Parson
This is a beautiful story with an increasingly poignant and timely message. A focus on Christ will bring people back together.
Never in my lifetime have I felt so divided as a country, as a church, and as a community.
The solution is not debate, the solution is not posting opinions on Facebook, the solution is not violent protesting – the solution is doing exactly what our prophet, Russell M. Nelson has said.
The solution is for each individual to learn to Hear Him.
There is a covenant upon this land, but as all covenants are, it is conditional. The condition to prosperity and peace in this land is explain thoroughly in the book of Ether.
“Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written.” – Ether 2:12
As we commit to serve Jesus Christ, who is the God of the land, we are blessed to be free of bondage and captivity. A blessing that we all yearn for and hope remains intact.
Rozy
Wednesday 27th of January 2021
That is an extremely old story; I first heard it when I was a child, told about a little boy whose father wanted to keep him busy and out of his hair, so the father tore up a picture of the world/USA (I don't remember which) thinking it would take the boy a long time to put it together. A short time later the boy was finished, because there was a picture of a home on the back. This is one of those "it sounds true and makes a point" stories that get passed around generation after generation. I get the point of it, but please tell us what magazine had a map of the USA on one side and a portrait of Jesus on the other? Who is this wise child, where did it happen and when. We've long been told by the prophets and apostles that every (not some or most) but every social ill in the world can be cured by following the Savior Jesus Christ. Now, if we can just get everyone to believe and do that!
R Scott
Wednesday 27th of January 2021
@Rozy, I agree. In the meantime what does a Latter Day Saint do as society seems to be in a moral free fall? As our liberties slip away we are certainly counseled correctly to; :Hear Him". The problem is the powers that be are not listening and have no Godly interest. The right to life is mocked, organized religion is mocked and under attack, morality has been replaced with live and let live and yet we are counseled to do in reality nothing. What is a peaceful protest? On the left it is anything goes, on the right it is censored and declared illegal. Our elections have been compromised and are now an exercise in futility. The vast majority of Americans are good God fearing people and yet we have no voice in secular affairs. Where are our leaders? I live in California and we are still locked out of formal church services. Approximately 545 people are dictating to us as to what they perceive as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. D&C 134 4 We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of aworship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish bguilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.
The brethren should express this as revelation and God's law.