Not every one can say that they have been blessed to have been surrounded by good people most all of their lives. We hear every day how some families are dysfunctional, with abuse and even downright cruelty taking place in their homes. There are people who cannot get along with their co-workers and are faced every day with hurtful remarks and unnecessary stress at their work places. Every night as I kneel to pray I find myself thinking about and expressing gratitude for all the wonderful people that I associate with each day. People, who are kind and good, people who radiate love. As I think back, I realize that I have always been blessed with good people around me but I haven’t always been as keenly aware of it, as I have probably, taken them for granted.
I sometimes wonder, would I be so blessed if I had been born 150 years or even longer ago? As I have read pioneer journals and stories from histories past I find there were great and kind people in every dispensation of time. Wise and good people whom I would have enjoyed knowing and associating with. People, Heavenly Father created as spirits and sent them here to experience this same earth life that we have now been given an opportunity to enjoy.
Yes, I think that I probably would have been blessed with good people around me, regardless of what generation I was born into. Why, because I find that I tend to gravitate toward good people, I admire them and want to be around them, I learn from them, I grow and seem to blossom around them. I may be the only one that recognizes any blossoms but at least I feel like I am blossoming.
Why were we so fortunate to be sent here, to this earth, at a time when there are so many wonderful things to enjoy and experience. When we don’t have to spend from sun up to sun down plowing the field or harvesting meager crops with hand made implements just to provide the bare essentials for our families. I believe the inspiration for the answer to that question comes from the voices of several latter day prophets who have said that we were held back to come forth at this time to do a mighty work for all of those who did go before, those who did plow the fields from sun up to sun down.
People, who gave all their energy just to provide a meager living for their families and yet, people who some how found just a few more ounces of energy to prepare the world for these times, the last dispensation. Many were illiterate and lived in unenlightened eras of time but they worked hard and loved their families. They gave and were given in marriage and the women traversed the valley of death to bring forth children, and at times experienced delivery all by themselves and in primitive circumstances.
Nephi, quoting Lehi, recognized that our time would be an important time to do the work for all those who came before to prepare the way; “Wherefore, our father hath not spoken of our seed alone, but also of all the house of Israel, pointing to the covenant which should be fulfilled in the latter days; which covenant the Lord made to our father Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindred of the earth be blessed.” (Nephi15:18) Do we owe them anything? I think so, I think we owe them a mighty work, it is our turn to thrust in our sickle with our might, for our fields are white all ready to harvest, the fields on both sides of the veil. What is the difference between a humble person and one who is proud, the answer is gratitude! May we be humble, humble because we are grateful for those who preceded us and who did not have the gospel light as we are so blessed? May we show that gratitude by our works not by our faith only, for faith without works is dead?God bless the wonderful people who work to further the Father’s plan, people who have caught the vision of this important and mighty work. People that I am blessed to associate with every day!