Twelve years ago today I wrote this in my journal:

“Not sure what to think about this election. Part of me feels scared and unsure of the future. Yet, I fasted last week that God’s will would be done and that I would understand it.

“There are good members of [my] Church who support ______. How can I see what they see? I just don’t see it. I want to understand how this can be good for the country. I try to be objective.

“I need to trust God.”¹

So I guess I’m saying I know a little about the feelings some people are having today. Maybe the stakes feel higher twelve years later. I don’t know.

But I hear you.

You’re disappointed. You’re sad. You’re angry.

Please feel and have all the emotions you need. I don’t want to sound like I’m dismissing any of that.

That said, I wanted to say the world didn’t end twelve years go when I thought it might. I don’t think it’s going to end today or tomorrow either.

Before you assume I’m not disappointed in the election results, I’ll remind you that you don’t know who I voted for. And it doesn’t matter who I voted for because that’s not my point.

I think I can be optimistic because time is a blessing.

In similar past situations, time has given me more perspective. Time has provided more understanding. Time has taught me to be more compassionate. Time has helped me let go of things I cannot control.

As one of my friends posted today, “I can’t change many things but I can help make my small circle the best it can be. I still hope we don’t forget that we’re all humans who need each other.”

Just a few weeks ago, Russell M. Nelson said:

“Brothers and sisters, the Lord will comfort you too! He will strengthen you. He will bless you with peace, even amidst chaos . . .

“The best is yet to come, my dear brothers and sisters, because the Savior is coming again! The best is yet to come because the Lord is hastening His work. The best is yet to come as we fully turn our hearts and our lives to Jesus Christ.”²

The sun still came up today. Christmas will still happen next month. There are still good people on both sides.

So, I think it’s going to be ok. I mean, I didn’t even know the world was ending until I accidentally went on social media today.

Lead photo by Pete F on Unsplash

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1. Personal journal, November 6, 2012.
2. Russell M. Nelson, “The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again“, General Conference, April 2024.
3. There is also this promise from President Nelson : “. . . Let us not just endure this current season. Let us embrace the future with faith! Turbulent times are opportunities for us to thrive spiritually. They are times when our influence can be much more penetrating than in calmer times. I promise that as we create places of security, prepare our minds to be faithful to God, and never stop preparing, God will bless us. He will ‘deliver us; yea, insomuch that he [will] speak peace to our souls, and [will] grant unto us great faith, and … cause us that we [can] hope for our deliverance in him.’ As you prepare to embrace the future with faith, these promises will be yours!” “Russell M. Nelson, “Embrace the Future with Faith“, General Conference, October 2020.
4. I also like to keep this in mind that no politician can or will take the place of God: ““Those who govern their thoughts and actions solely by the principles of liberalism or conservatism or intellectualism cannot be expected to agree with all of the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As for me, I find some wisdom in liberalism, some wisdom in conservatism, and much truth in intellectualism—but I find no salvation in any of them” (Dallin H Oaks, “Criticism“, Ensign, February 1987).