I've heard and read quite a bit the last few weeks about how we're starting 2009 under a cloud blah blah blah. I just don't see it that way. Sure the economy could be better, we've got critical infrastructure older than McCain and a President elect who's biggest pressure decision was to put Sen. Clinton out of her misery or let her implode (he chose putting her out of her misery by the way). My point is SaintsandPatrtiots have never had more to be grateful for, or more reason to be optimistic. There are HUGE challenges all around us, in our homes, in our units, in our communities, and yes, especially in our nation. But we're given opposition "in all things" in order to grow--and I think the recent hullabaloo over Proposition 8 and the flack the church (and members in CA) took are opportunities to distinguish ourselves from the pack, and be seen and heard by the elect.Two recent stories have gone, and will go underreported, even among LDS communities. First, the Economist (best source of news in print by the way) reported on the robustness of the economy in UT, compared to the rest of the west. Mormons work really hard, and value education, and it's getting noticed. Who wouldn't want to be associated with that?
Second, a recent Oxford study published a great report on how Mormon's give the most money to charity (see chart). The study suggest we give both at church and to other charities because of our structured (tithing) and unstructured (concern for others). Who wouldn't want to be associated with that?
People ask a lot of introspective questions around New Years. Be aware of this, and pay special attention to the Spirit as you interact with others you think may be looking for answers as to "what it all means." Don't give into the doom and gloom, don't even give it the air time in your mind or speech that it gets everywhere else. People will notice, and the opportunity will come to talk about how you know what you know, and why you live what you live.
