A country without a memory is a country of madmen.
George Santayana
The question of our parents generation was, "Where were you when Kennedy was shot?" The question of our generation, "Where were you on September 11, 2001?" Both defining moments in America's history. Both, forever changed the world.
On September 11, 2001 I was serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I was in the Roanoke area of southwest Virginia. My companion was Sis. Emily Brown. While serving a mission, missionaries do not watch TV, read the Newspaper, or listen to the radio. We have very limited knowledge of current events. We didn't hear about the attack in New York City until we arrived at our volunteer service at the local hospital. We watched some of the news and then headed home to check our messages. We were told not to go out and preach the gospel that day. Instead, we were given permission to go to a member's home and watch the news. We were at the Smith's house watching the events unfold when we found out about the Pentagon. My companion, Sister Brown, was given permission to call her father to make sure he was okay (he occasionally worked at the Pentagon for his job). We spent the rest of the day praying for the victims and for all those heroes who sacrificed their lives in an effort to save others.
In the following weeks, 9/11 was all anyone could talk about. It was the conversation at every dinner table, and every appointment that we had. People wanted to know, why? Why would God let this happen? While going around, knocking on doors, we would introduce ourselves as representatives of Jesus Christ. Naturally, people expected us to have answers that could explain why? I wish I could say that I had an answer for them, but I didn't. I don't know why this horrific event happened. But I do know this....
I KNOW that the people in the Twin Towers, were not alone.
I KNOW that the people in the Pentagon, were not alone.
I KNOW that the people on the planes, were not alone.
I KNOW that those that went in, while others ran out, were not alone.
I KNOW that as the loved ones learned about their loss, they were not alone.
I KNOW that as that horrific tragedy unfolded that the Lord held this nation in his arms and he wept with us.
He WEPT for the all of the lives lost.
He WEPT for all the families ripped apart.
He WEPT as evil grasped this nation and brought us to our knees.
He WELCOMED us with open arms, as those who professed not to believe in HIM turned to HIM in that time of terror.
He HELD us as we picked up the pieces.
He HELD us as we took baby steps to continue on with our lives.
He HOLDS us now, 10 years later. He has not forgotten us. May we never forget, that in one of our nation's bleakest moments, WE WERE NOT ALONE.
Isaiah 53:4 (KJV)
America by Imagine Dragons
