9/11, Me, and the Book of Mormon

Now don’t interpret this as being what you may think I’m trying to say. The Book of Mormon did not predict the actual event of September 11, 2001, nor are the Muslims somehow connected to the people of that book but rather what it has to say to about the patterns and principles.

Where were you on that dreadful morning?

Well for me, it started early in the morning in my early morning seminary class in Vista, California. My friend David showed up late and said that he and his dad had just heard on the radio that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. Being a sophomore in high school, age 14, I had no idea what the World Trade Center was. I assumed it was a smaller building and done by accident. We carried on with our lesson in seminary, we were just beginning to learn about the Book of Mormon for the school year. The Book of Mormon is a companion volume to the Bible for the Latter-day Saints. A book full of prophets, just like the Bible, but in America. It tells of the ups and downs of people following God.

At the end of seminary, I walked down to my high school just a quarter mile away. It didn't faze me about the plane crash again until I got in front of the band room door. All of us who normally hung out inside the band room before school were stuck outside because the person with the band room door key had not unlocked it yet. Everyone was chatty, even more than usual. They were all talking about this plane and then a second plane. If it were today, all those kids would have been crying in tears because of our smart phones, giving us instant access. I went to my first class, Chemistry.

I never was good in Chemistry, I got a D+ in it that semester. I was grateful to have been in it that morning because that wing of classrooms at the high school had cable and I got to watch the news. When it was turned on there was nothing but what appeared to be smoke only later to realize it was a combination of dust, smoke, and the remains of the two Twin Towers that have already fallen. They replayed the fall of each over and over again.

That whole week following seemed to last forever. 9/11 was what we talked about. I cried on my own for all those lives that were lost as hope to find them faded day by day. That following Sunday at church was open for anyone to speak, much like a normal Fast Sunday in the LDS church. I recall many were sad and scared. One brother was so angry he was shaking his fists and pounded the pulpit. But I do remember at the end of the meeting feeling better about the situation, uplifted and able to move on with great faith.

All of us can remember the unity that we showed as a nation! It was glorious. With a few exceptions like people judging any Muslim, hate crimes, and false allegation, the United States of America was unified as I have ever seen to this point. Politicians seemed to have got along, people supported others in their communities, and we were united in a purpose. At this time I helped out at a family friend’s print shop. An older colleague of mine, an older gentleman and Vietnam veteran, and I were sitting next to each other. I told him how amazing it was to see all of the American flags waving and the pride we had as Americans. I didn’t want it to end and felt strongly that this could be a way to help our country in the long run. Turning his head towards me, his head down, looking atop of his classes he said, “It won’t last long. It sad how quickly it will dissolve and we won’t remember.” I knew the moment he said that that he was right.

So here’s where the Book of Mormon comes in. The average Latter-day Saint (Mormon) knows about the “pride cycle” in the Book of Mormon. People in the Book of Mormon will be following God’s commandments, prospering and living in a happy way of life. Then they will become wicked, prideful with their riches and lifestyles. They then are humbled in several different ways, one way being war or some form of deathly devastation. After solving the issues of this devastation, like a war, the people are God-fearing again and prospering. But not too long after this cycle do they forget and fall into wicked ways all over again with the cycle to repeat itself. I’m not saying we are just like the Book of Mormon in every way but rather the principle is the same. One great example are Nephites during the great war in the book of Alma! Wicked, humbled, led by righteous men such as Captain Moroni, and shortly after the war, they fall into pride because of their prosperity. Look at WWI and WWII. Before both wars there was a lot of humbling inside and outside of the battle and for a while afterwards, there was great prosperity. The cycle continues to this day.

It wasn’t too long that we began to bicker with each other again. Fellowship, support, and trust were again lost. Even to this day have we come farther and farther away from the unity we had as a country. I am still fairly young, so I don’t know what it has been once before but I fear that the few months after 9/11 is one of the best examples of a unified and helpful nation I will see. But I won’t be the cause of the further downfall. When the next great humbling experience comes, I won’t be the reason for it. I will be the one to help others whenever I can. I will be the believers that sustain the prophet and ready to act when called upon. We are battling Satan each and every day, a personal pride cycle, we each battle. Let us not fail to remember what lessons we can learn from times of old and our time at hand.

Can We Really Make A Difference?

What difference can I make? What difference can you make? Well, I guess that all begins with what and why you are trying to make a difference in. For me I am constantly thinking of what I can do for the Middle East and trying to make a difference sure seems impossible. Sometimes it is so incredibly frustrating that I think why do I even think I can do anything. But then I had my first day of class in Political Science of the Middle East class with Professor Donna Lee Bowen. She started off in her dignified way that she does, probably 5' 2'' in mid 50's and striking confidence, saying,

"Today in the Middle East there is great turmoil all over the place. And after 9/11 I thought what can I do to help my students and the people of the Middle East? I realized there was nothing I could do more than pray. So I'd like to start class with prayer and do the thing I know that works."

It hit right then that I may be just one individual but I pray for that peace. Professor Bowen prayed for our enemies, our loved ones, for understanding of each other, for peace, for protection, and for our service men and women. The next class session, she asked me to pray and then asked me to make sure I included the servicemen and women in the Middle East and their families.

Here is a extremely well educated woman in the politics of the Middle East and she says the only thing she can really do to help solve the problems in the Middle East is through prayer struck me hard. She spoke of peace being possible over there. She spoke of the great calamities that can be overcome and I took from that class period that I have forgotten the possibility through faith and prayer.

I had a dream the other night I was Lawrence of Arabia, a British soldier that helped gained unity with the Arab tribes to help form tribes. He did a great work to help the current problems at the time. But I don't know if I will ever be in situation to help them like he did. So why not pray when you want to make a difference in this world?

Islam: My View Point for September 11th

Lately, as 9/11 comes close I have seen much in the media (via Internet and TV) that there is much opposition to a monotheistic religion called Islam. I am not yet an expert on this matter but I want to express my outright disgust of the hatred towards Islam that is coming from so many people. It is the feelings I had while in Nauvoo and hearing anti-Mormons talking so negatively about Joseph Smith. The complete ignorance of what they were saying left me in awe with how stubborn we can be. How stubborn and ignorant are we towards our brothers and sisters of the Muslim faith? Let's just say there are some that are exceedingly ignorant. But I should precede it that my testimony of the Book of Mormon, prophets in latter-days, and the power of the priesthood is in fact very strong and deep within my soul. My apologetic feelings towards Islam or any other religion and culture does not weaken my testimony, it builds it. 

For Pastor Terry Jones of  Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla. it not a question of understanding but rather a christian duty (yes, a little c) to destroy sacred writings of a religion that consumes over 1.5 billion people of this world. Why? Because "Islam" is the one that attacked the country on 9/11/2001 and is built upon falsehoods, a false prophet and a culture that seems to be too aggressive for him. I have seen other obscene pictures depicting the fanatic Muslims saying death to America. My understanding is this, that there is in fact insane Muslims that attack our country. But this let me tell you that this is a small minority. Imagine that even 1% of any group or society was just nuts, completely and totally nuts, they loved to do exactly what each person of that group would want to never do for sake of doing what is right. Is that 1% enough to ruin the reputation for the group? Sure, it can be for everyone, or in some cases like Islam it is mixed. In the LDS faith, what about the Fundamental LDS church? The one with polygamy communities in Texas. During my mission, I had so many people think we were "that mormon church in Texas, with kids being hauled off because of the polygamous fathers." That certainly was not the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that I preached so fervently for. In fact, they are not even part of the church at all! Could these terrorists or antagonists not be considered Muslim to the rest of the Muslim world? 

From an Latter-day Saint perspective, those of you that belong to my faith, do you not remember the drastic persecution while the saints were in Kirkland? Liberty? Far West? Nauvoo? Did they not destroy our printing shops that were distributing the Book of Commandments? Now known as the Doctrine and Covenants. Did they not murder and rape women and children? Did our own beloved prophet Joseph Smith not seal his blood and testimony by the balls from gunshots of martyrs? Was there not false accusations made of the religious teachings and social practices? These false accusations led to many imprisonments of the church leaders, is that fair? Are any of these actions just? Alright, my point is, whomever wants to distribute anything negatively of the Islamic faith, stop. It is only being part of the mob that persecuted the early saints. When does the church grow the most? When there is opposition to the church. 

"But this church is true and their religion is not." My response is, SO WHAT?! Yes, their early history and the spread of Islam seems a little sketchy, but can I tell you how far away we are from the real truth of the spread of Islam as Americans and even Mormons to understanding what it is really about? I know there are books out there that strongly oppose the Islamic religion, calling them blood thirsty, 'convert or the sword' type of people or simply to dominate the world. Aren't we as Latter-day Saints trying to spread our faith to all the world? Do not our own scriptures say this? 

D&C: 68: 8  Go ye into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature, acting in the authority which I have given you, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

(see also Matt. 24: 14, D&C 134: 12, Moses 5: 59, Morm. 9: 22)

They were doing what was fit for the time and place that they lived in. And still do today, in fact, they are the fastest growing religion in the world, all converts that I have met were never forced to join, it was an act of their own free will. 

I have two professors that recently have returned from, one being a mission president in Italy and the other teaching in the Jerusalem Center for a few years. Both of which are amazing men in the gospel of the LDS faith. Dr. Toronto, the professor that taught in Jerusalem and recently returned as a mission president, mentioned that as he would help teach Mormon tours to the holy lands he would receive many comments during and afterwards through emails about how wrong he was to preach positively of Islam and the prophet Muhammad. His response then to us as a class and to those individuals was, "I taught the truth and some weren't ready for it."  


My personal opinion, Islam was and is inspired by God because of the good that is in it. I recall of kindness and thoughtfulness was when I was helping my friend Mohammad Al-Nasser from Jordan buy a car while he was at BYU studying Law. As we were driving back after seeing a few cars to buy, he made the comment that he wanted "a car that is safe and reliable for his family." His family were in Provo at the time, he had and a wife two little children. It sounded exactly like something my Dad would say. It taught me a big lesson, first to take care of your family (I'm going to have a very safe care for my kids) but I think most importantly that they have the same love and concerns as we do. 

Alright, I'm done. I spent way too much time writing this when I should have been studying Arabic or for my Humanities of Islam class. I hope this helped and I apologize to be so brief on many principles I am trying to express. I simply did not have the time to really do this but wanted to voice my opinion against the hatred of our Muslim brothers and sisters. If only we could realize and remember that they are our brothers and sisters. God knows what He is doing. I have a testimony of that. 

God bless America! May we all be righteous and God fearing men. 9/11 will not be forgotten in my heart.