Write within our Circumference

A few months ago my sweet mother-in-law sent this quote to me and I found great comfort in these words. Harold B. Lee, the eleventh president and our prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints said these words back some time in the 70’s. As we experience trial and tribulation in our country, his message gives me great hope.

"Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail. This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of the New Jerusalem. This is the place that the Lord said is favored above all other nations in all the world.  This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple.  This is the favored land in all the world. Yes, I repeat, men may fail, but this nation won't fail.  I have faith in America; you and I must have faith in America, if we understand the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are living in a day when we must pay heed to these challenges. I plead with you not to preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world.  This is the favored land.  This is the land of our forefathers.  It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through. (Harold B. Lee, "Ye Are the Light of the World", pp. 350-51)

Through all the trials we see as a country, natural disasters: floods, blizzards, and earthquakes, political unrest with corruption, and over the top crime tragedies, we bang our heads against the wall and think to ourselves: when will it stop!

The frustration of not able to do what we can to help others is frustrating but we must learn to just let it go. All we can do, all that we have the power to do is in our own corner of the woods, our own community of people and happiness. As much as we want to, we cannot fix everything.

This is the same rule with our writing. All we can do is promote the positive and warn others from the dangers of the negative. We can only write within the parameters of our own circumference; in our own little world.

So paraphrasing what President Harold B. Lee said from  a writer's point of view: Preach goodness. Take the high moral stand in our writing and don’t drag ourselves down to the gutter.  We can do a lot in our writing to promote peaces.  Take the high road and don't get sucked into what everyone else is writing. We are better than that.