Alma 24:9

Alma 24 :9

And behold, I also thank my God that by opening this correspondence we have been convinced of our sins, and of the many murders which we have committed.

I find inspiration and hope in this Book of Mormon story and its direct correlation to the Black Lives Matter movement in America today.

An opinion piece on the CNN website today had these headlines: "Our country is in chaos. But it's a great time to be an American."

The author writes "Americans are devouring books on racism and corporate America is taking a stand against racial injustice. Ordinary people are talking about racism with a new depth that's remarkable."

Correspondence is taking place - talking, seeking first to understand, asking questions, listening to personal stories, learning from each other. 

It isn't easy to hear difficult things. But this is where healing begins.  It led to healing between the Nephites and those Lamanites who chose to "open a correspondence." It will happen today in America only if we follow their example.  

I believe we are seeing it begin.  Many of those who attended the protests said that the most important thing that happened there were the conversations between those who showed up.  They came together and "opened a correspondence." They, in turn, inspired so many others to start talking about the reality of racism in our country.  

I end with these words of Frederick Douglas because I feel like he did - that I am living in a time when I see a "current of eternal principles" shaping our nation for the better once more.  

“There is a general feeling amongst us, that the control of events has been taken out of our hands, that we have fallen into the mighty current of eternal principles—invisible forces—which are shaping and fashioning events as they wish, using us only as instruments to work out their own results in our national destiny.”

May God bless us to fulfill our destiny as a nation where there is freedom and justice for all; where we can joyfully sing together "Thank God Almighty, I'm free at last."