Tender Mercies

Tonight I went over to the Quaker church by my church building to help with some of the books that were rescued from the fire. There were about thirty young single adults there trying to help in whatever way they could. It was touching to see how much everyone cared and wanted to help. We sat around for an hour cataloging the books. I wasn't there on Sunday to witness the whole event, so I don't know if I could adequatley describe what happened, but my friend Katie was telling me about some of the really touching things that happened on Sunday.

Across from our church is a Quaker church. On Sunday, they were holding silent worship. From what I understand - they pray for something and then begin a silent worship where they sit quietly and ponder waiting to hear God's will for them. No one is allowed to break the silence for the remainder of the meeting. The thing they prayed for that day was for ways to help their neighbors in the community. As they were sitting in silence, looking out their windows they noticed their neighbors from the Mormon church spilling out onto the lawn and their building in flames. Their leader broke the silence and asked if half of the congregation would come and help in whatever way they could. Promptly, they opened up their basement and nursery. A line was formed from our church to theirs and books from the institute library were passed down the line and into their basement. Only a few books were lost, and as I was helping organize the books tonight I was amazed at some of the books that we had. The Quakers have offered up their building for a place to hold FHE on Monday nights and they are allowing us to use their basement to organize and restore some of the books. Other churches in the area have offered their buildings for our congregation to meet. We have been told by our bishop that we will probably meet in a neighboring church or synagogue for the next few months. What a beautiful testament to Christlike love.