By Giles Lambertson, Area Media Specialst
Area leaders of the Church gather to counsel sorrowing Saints
The path to recovery for the wounded Uvalde community was explored Sunday in a special Uvalde Branch sacrament meeting. Speakers emphasized the need for members to respond to the tragic school shootings in ways consistent with what Jesus Christ taught His disciples — forgiving, believing and supporting one another.
“We may never know why some things happen. But God knows what we don’t know, and sees what we do not see,” said Area Seventy Jorge Contreras, who was the concluding speaker during the service. Elder Contreras traveled to Uvalde from Austin for the meetings. In his talk, he specifically addressed the power of forgiveness.
Elder Contreras spoke of a similar tragedy in 2006, when a man entered an Amish school in Pennsylvania, let some students leave and eventually shot 10 girls, ages six to 13, five of whom died from their wounds. The 32-year-old shooter then killed himself.
His point in recounting the earlier shooting was to talk about the response of the Amish community. “They immediately began to reach out to the shooter’s family,” said Elder Contreras. Within hours of the shooting, members of the Mennonite community offered their sympathies to the widow and parents of the assailant and eventually attended his funeral in support of the family. “The Amish see themselves as disciples of Christ and want to follow his example of loving and forgiving everyone.”
Elder Contreras said that the Uvalde community similarly must “acknowledge any angry feelings we have,” reminding listeners of the scriptural counsel that the Lord will forgive whom He will forgive, but that we are required to forgive all men. By so doing, the Area Seventy said, we can claim the happiness and peace that should be ours by virtue of our faith in the gospel.
Eagle Pass District President Ross Davidson reminded those gathered in the chapel that “there is no wound that Jesus Christ has not endured.” Therefore, he told listeners, we as His disciples should understand that Christ knows the pain and sorrow we are feeling at this moment and that He is helping bear our grief.
President Davidson shared a tragedy he experienced as a boy when his younger sister drowned in a swimming pool. He said the family drew strength from their understanding that, if they lived righteously, they would be able to see her again. Added the president: “Heavenly Father’s perspective is different than ours. He is in control of this world. I am grateful for my testimony of life after death.”
Texas San Antonio Mission President Jason Tveten recalled an outing with youth some years ago during which a storm blew up and disrupted the hike. He called it a learning experience for the young men. “I am not comparing stormy weather with the storm of violence and tragedy that struck Uvalde. But things go wrong. How we respond to them makes all the difference.”
He referred to Christ’s sermon on the mount, specifically mentioning the passages where Christ taught, “Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be comforted… blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy… blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called Sons of God.”
The mission president said now is a time for Saints to be merciful, to mourn with those who mourn, and to be peacemakers in the midst of rancor. “The Savior taught us the way to navigate through moments like this. I, too, know the resurrection will take place one day.”
Elder Contreras concluded the session by calling for the congregation and community to believe in Jesus Christ and His mission. “I pray that we all may feel the power of His atonement in our lives.”
The messages were augmented by a special musical number, a quartet singing, “Let the Children Come,” which spoke of the special love Heavenly Father and Christ have for the youngest among us. Some of the lyrics are …
Little children are saved as a gift from the Lord.
For He suffered for them in the Garden.
Then He gave up His life on Calvary
So we might forever with Him be.
The second hour of the Sunday service was an airing of questions and answers, with Elder Contreras leading the conversation.
The visiting Church leaders, President Davidson, and some members of the Church’s area coordinating council met earlier with members of the Uvalde Branch council. The general topic was how in coming months the branch, its members and the area Church can continue to respond to needs in the community.
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President Davidson reminds District members of two ways they can help support the Uvalde community at this moment. One is to donate blood, which, sadly, is in relatively short supply. The second opportunity is to support memorial funds created to help families of the shooting victims. The Robb School Memorial Fund was created at First State Bank, with donations accepted at any First State Bank branch. The second fund was started at TXN Bank, with contributions accepted at any TXN Bank branch or through a special TXN Venmo account.
