World Wide Fast Against Covid-19. Were you prepared?

President Russell M. Neilson, President and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has proposed a day of world wide fasting a prayer to call upon Heaven for help with Covid-19. 

I don't do well fasting from food and water because my blood sugar goes all kinds of crazy.  So today as my fast I decided that I would fast or abstain from my electronic devices.  The only thing that I use is the computer to write and journal.  Each time that I want to look at my phone, instead I sit down and read scriptures.

This morning I sat down to read.  I wanted my reading to have a focus on it.  That focus is how are the events of today paralleling those of the past.  I read Helaman 1, in the Book of Mormon.  It is mostly war chapters still but I figure that since we are in a war in the world and at war with Covid it was was fitting.

As I read nothing really popped out.  Then I read

"Helaman1:19 But it came to pass that Coriantumr did march forth at the head of his numerous host, and came upon the inhabitants of the city, and their march was with such exceedingly great speed that there was no time for the Nephites to gather together their armies."

At first I disregarded the thought because how could that pertain to us today.

Then I kept reading:

23 And now (Coriantumr) did not tarry in the land of Zarahemla, but he did march forth with a large army, even towards the city of Bountiful for it was his determination to go forth and cut his way through with the sword, that he might obtain the north parts of the land.

24 And, supposing that their greatest strength was in the center of the land, therefore he did march forth, giving them no time to assemble themselves together save it were in small bodies; and in this manner they did fall upon them and cut them down to the earth.

The thought came again.  They were not prepared.  Two cities were not prepared and they fell.  Then the third attempt.

28 But when Moronihah had discovered this, he immediately sent forth Lehi with an army round about to head them before they should come to the land Bountiful.

29 And thus he did; and he did head them before they came to the land Bountiful, and gave unto them battle, insomuch that they began to retreat back towards the land of Zarahemla.

The third attempt was met by a leader who was prepared.  The enemy fell and suffered great loss.

He was prepared.

When Covid started, we sat back and watched as it happened to someone else, China.  Then another, Italy. Then it hit the United States and we were not prepared even though we had been watching.  In my own family and life, we were not prepared.  We worried about having enough food, enough supplies, enough cash flow if Joel's job were affected. 

We panicked.  We worried.  We felt hopeless.

Luckily, we have been greatly blessed/spared.  We had enough food.  Joel got to keep working.  We have been healthy and safe so far.

There was a post I believe, by Elder Holland, President of the 12 Apostles.  I'll have to find it later for a direct quote, but it basically said.  Covid is not the end.  This is not the time of the second coming of Christ, but it is a test to see if we are prepared for it.

It comes back to Helaman:  Are we prepared?  We were not prepared... We need to be prepared.  This was our warning.  I have also thought during all of this about the ten virgins and their lamps.  Prepared vs unprepared.  I felt like a virgin who was not prepared and scrambled.  We need to be better prepared.