Six weeks ago I started working from home due to the "Stay Safe, Stay Home" directive from Governor Herbert because of the coronavirus pandemic. I quickly realized that I was less effective working from home, which caused longer work days and additional frustrations. I also quickly forgot that I was very fortunate to still be working, and I started to complain about my supposed difficult situation.

Then, a new development arose in my life. A good friend from work became seriously ill with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. He is unmarried and lives alone so Lori would make meals for him. I would take the food to him and we would talk for awhile or I would drive him around to shop, etc. But much to my surprise, he passed away on April 14th. I was so sure that he would beat the cancer and our relationship here on earth would continue. He was only 49 years old.

I was, and am still, struggling to understand and find comfort with all of these recent events. As I was reading an article in BYU Today, I came across this question:

“What if everything that is happening to you right now is the exact way it's supposed to be and is happening FOR you and not TO you!?" (Joe Nabrotzky, MBA (2010))

This question caused me to ponder and reconsider my current situation. A new question came to my mind, "What do I need to learn and understand from all of this?". This is a question that I think we should all ask ourselves in times of personal turmoil. For me, I had several revelations of things I needed to learn or re-learn and understand.

A second question now comes to mind, "What am I going to do about the new things that I have learned?". From the depths of my sorrow I turn to a favorite passage of scripture in 2 Nephi 4:

26 O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?

27 And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?

28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.

29 Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.

30 Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

I think I know what I need to do. With blessings come heavenly obligations and I need to get busy. There are always opportunities to learn and to grow and to change and to find peace, even in the most difficult circumstances.

I love all of you my good friends and neigbors, my brothers and sisters. God, our Heavenly Father lives. God, our Savior, Jesus Christ lives. The Holy Ghost will bring understanding, peace and relief.

Brother Connors