promised blessings.

With the promise of a new year and fresh starts we have already seen much of sadness and destruction. Just recently Haiti was rocked with a powerful earthquake and strong aftershocks. The death toll in that country is already over 150,000 and the count continues to rise. It is hard for me to even wrap my mind around that number. I sit here feeling helpless and wanting to do more. The LDS church released the following statement.

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following statement today:

Our hearts are filled with sadness as we have watched the suffering in Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake. We turn to the example of Jesus Christ who reached out to “lift up the hands which hang down” and “strengthen the feeble knees.” We are keenly aware that many in America are dealing with economic challenges caused by the recession. However, we are appealing to members to donate to Church Humanitarian Services as their means allow in order to help our Haitian brothers and sisters. Many have already contributed and others are anxious to do so.

Money is not the only need in Haiti. People are frightened, bewildered, and wholly uncertain about their future. In addition to what people can do in helping with food, water and shelter, there needs to be a calming influence over that troubled nation. We invite our people everywhere to supplicate God for a spirit of calm and peace among the people as urgent aid and reconstruction efforts continue.

( http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/ )

Even though physically I cannot be there to comfort, I can do my part by sending monetary donations and offering up prayers on behalf of my Haitian brothers and sisters. The promised blessings are that if we seek the Lord we will be comforted in times like these. In Isaiah 51 and again in 2 Nephi 8:1-3 we are taught that if we look to the Lord, the gospel, the Abrahamic covenant... if we put our focus there "...the Lord shall comfort Zion, he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody." If we seek the Lord, seek to do His will, the promised blessings will be ours. We can be comforted and we can comfort those in need if we turn to the Lord.