"You are a child of God. He is the father of your spirit. Spiritually,
you are of noble birth, the offspring of the King of Heaven. Fix that truth in
your mind and hold to it. However many generations your mortal ancestry,
no matter what race or people you represent, the pedigree of your spirit can
be written on a single line."
--- Boyd K. Packer
"Nothing is going to startle us more when we pass through the veil to the
other side, than to realize how well we know our Father, and how familiar
his face is to us."
--- Ezra Taft Benson
"For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to make your
appearance in the final days before the Second Coming. Every previous
gospel dispensation has drifted into apostasy, but ours will not... God has
saved for the final inning some of his strongest children, who will help
bear off the kingdom triumphantly. And that is where you come in, for you
are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God... Make no
mistake about it- you are a marked generation."
--- Ezra Taft Benson
From: Shelno
Author: Emma Lou Thayne
LDS Hymnbook, Pg. 129
1973
(I heard Emma Lou speak at Women's Conference at BYU last week, and was
so touched to know that she wrote the words to this hymn at one of her
darkest hours. It really inspired me. I hope it touches these people
as it did myself.)
Where can I turn for peace? Where is my solace
When other sources cease to make me whole?
When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,
I draw myself apart, Searching my soul?
Where, when my aching grows, Where, when I languish,
Where, in my need to know, where can I run?
Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?
Who, who can understand? He, only One.
He answers privately, Reaches my reaching
In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.
Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching.
Constant he is and kind, Love without end.
From: Steve and Leta Bryant
I know it's not always easy in such difficult situations; but my
favorite scripture is D&C 64:10.
"I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive; but of you it is
required to forgive all men."
It's a part of our returning to live with our Heavenly Father.
From: Pat Hayes
Although I could be the grandmother of any student at Columbine High
School, I feel so deeply their pain, and my heart goes out to each one.
I would like to share a scripture that has seen me through a number of
hard experiences. I pray it will help someone else at this time.
Isaiah 32:17 "The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect
of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever."
May there be peace, quietness and eternal assurance for those who are
suffering this tragedy. And may these blessings come because of the
righteousness of all the people who love you.
Much love, Pat Hayes
From: Jeff McCollum
In reflecting on the tragedy of Columbine, I recall a minister, not LDS,
say, "There were two plans for April 20 in Littleton. One Satan's (the
planned havoc of Messrs. Harris and Klebold) and the Lord's. The Lord's
won out." The powerful testimony of those kids who are now teaching all
of us about faith is what I recall. There is a scripture, Romans 12:21
that also seems relevant:
"Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
--- Jeff McCollum
From: Deron Smith
"Trouble is a part of life,
and if you don't share it,
you don't give the person
who loves you a chance to
love you enough."
--- Dinah Shore-
From: John Kidwell
Dear Amy,
I applaud your effort to do this service project for the survivors
of the Columbine H.S. shooting. About three years ago a friend of mine
and his son were murdered in a home invasion. I had known Neal for over
thirty years, and his son, Brendan since he was born. I was Uncle John
to the boy.
The murder was devastating to all of his friends and extended
family. It was not an easy time to get through for any of us, especially
his wife and his mother. I had to write a poem about it to help me
through it. I was hurting when I wrote it, and it may seem a little
dark, but writing it helped me put what happened in perspective.
GOD'S GAIN
A part of me is gone. . .
Savagely ripped away and I must endure the rest of my life
Without my brothers Neal and Brendan. . .
I know that they have returned to Father
And that they are in the comfort of God's embrace. . .
I know that with time my pain will fade and even that someday
I too will return. . .
To once again be with my lost brothers. . .
To dwell in God's Presence. . .
But as for today,
My pain is fresh. . .
My sorrow is great. . .
And I can only selfishly feel that
God's gain is my loss. . .
All that I wrote is true, both emotionally for me and spiritually.
The only comfort that I can give is that after three years, although I
still hurt; although I still miss them, my knowledge of the plan of
salvation and the atonement of Christ assures me that one day "I too
will return. . ."
So it will be with the survivors of Columbine H.S: The pain will
never go away, but it will lesson, and one day they will be reunited
with their friends and family.
Sincerely,
J. Myron Kidwell
From: Brady P Emmett
My dear friends, you are a royal generation. You were preserved to come
to the earth in this time for a special purpose. Not just a few of you,
but all of you. There are things for each of you to do that no one else
can do as well as you. If you do not prepare to do them, they will not be
done. Your mission is unique and distinctive for you. Please dont make
another have to take your place. He or she cant do it as well as you can.
If you will let Him, I testify that our Father in Heaven will walk with
you through the journey of life and inspire you to know your special
purpose here.
Bishop H Burke Peterson
First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric
"Your Life Has a Purpose."
--- New Era, May 1979
From: Debbie Hawkins
"The Task before us is never greater then the force behind us."
--- Unknown
From: "Koni Adams"
"Please Look a Little Deeper
Please don't' judge me by my face,
by my religion or my race.
Please dot' laugh at what I wear,
or how I look or do my hair.
Please look a little deeper-
way down deep inside,
and although you may not see it,
I have a lot to hide.
Behind my clothes my secrets lie,
Behind my smile I softly cry.
Please look a little deeper,
and maybe you will see,
the lonely little girl
that lives inside of me.
Please listen carefully to her-
She'll show she's insecure.
Please try and be her friend
and show her that you care.
Please just get to know her
and maybe you will see
that if you look just deep enough,
you'll find the real me
--- Unknown
"Because You're Special"
May your world stay as sweet as springtime,
may your heart stay as young as the dawn,
May the star that is highest and brightest,
Be the one that you hang your dreams on.
May the kind of things you are always doing,
Return in the most special ways,
And bring you life's sweetest joys,
to bless you all through your days.
--- Unknown
From: Eve Diana
"All a parent can give a child is roots and wings." (Chinese proverb)
"Children can learn to live with a disability. But they cannot live well
without the conviction that their parents find them utterly lovable. When
something is wrong with a child, he needs to be certain it does not
interfere with his parent's love for him. If the parents, knowing about
his defect, love him now, he can believe that others will love him in the
future."
(Bruno Bettelheim)
"Success: To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people
and affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and
endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the
best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy
child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life
has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."
(Ralph Waldo Emerson)
"To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and
too happy to permit the presence of trouble." (Unknown)
"Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try." (Yoda)
"Poetry is a way of talking about things that frighten you." (Mick Imlah)
"A room without books is like a body without a soul." (Cicero)
"When the heart is full, the eyes overflow." (Yiddish proverb)
"Winter will pass, the days will lengthen, the ice will melt in the pasture
pond. The song sparrow will return and sing, the frogs will awake, the
warm wind will blow again. All these sights and sounds and smells will be
yours to enjoy, Wilbur - this lovely world, these precious days."
(Charlotte, Charlotte's Web)
From: Dick
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk
in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12
From: Brien and Amy Hamrick
"Some popular songs and movies teach us to believe that nothing really
matters, that we should give up because everything is temporary anyway. We
know differently. We have the gospel. It isn't temporary. It is eternal. We
can't quit. We can't give up. We may not see it now, but everything we do,
every day we live is for a purpose. And we have a Heavenly Father who will
always be there to lift us up and cheer us on." - Virginia H. Pearce (?)
From: "Jill Culbertson"
We can not control all that will happen in our lives, but we can control
our reactions to the events. Do not let this ruin your life - learn and go
forward having a greater faith in the Lord and His plan.
From: Amanda Tremble
My name is Amanda Tremble and I live in Alger, Michigan. Tonight we had a
Young Women's activity and were told about the quotes for our LDS youth at
Columbine High School. Here is a poem I have written, I hope it up lifts
someone in need.
Title: GOING THROUGH LIFE WITH A FRIEND
Right now in life, it might feel bad,
But please my friend don't be sad.
Just you wait and see, life will get better,
If only we just stick together.
Life will be so much easier if we do,
If the hard times are spread between me and you.
I will always be there for you, my friend
Hopefully, with my help life won't end.
So I want you to remember, I don't want you to be sad.
For I will always be with you, for good times and bad.
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