Have you ever wondered how far you would go to defend your beliefs? Would you back down if confronted? Would you give up your scriptures, or your right to worship in the way you believe? There are two people that amaze me, and as I learn more about each of them, I have prayed that I would have their courage. Corrie Ten Boom and Helmuth Hubener stood up in the face of evil and struck back. Ten Boom saw Jews in her hometown disappearing, and began to believe that the Nazi's were indeed taking them. Her home became a stop along the way for Jews to flee the Nazi's in The Netherlands. For her brave actions, she was turned in and her entire family was arrested by the Nazi's...all while she had people hidden in a secret room, the secret room that was built to hide the Jews they were protecting from arrest if there was a raid. But, this time, it was the Ten Boom family that was arrested. Corrie's father died while in custody of the Nazi's; her sister, Betsie became so ill that she, too, died; Corrie lived. And she felt that her mission was not over. She opened a home for Nazi soldiers and for persecuted Jews that were suffering from PTSD (there was no name for it, at that time). She put them together, under one roof; and amazing things happened. They both overcame and were able to be friends. Ten Boom then began lecturing around the world about reconciliation and forgiveness. She wrote about the atrocities she lived through a book, "The Hiding Place". Helmuth Hubener was a 16 year old member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Germany when the Nazi's removed the Boy Scouts from his country and required all youth become a member of Hitler's Youth. He did so, as required. Then, Jewish homes, families, and businesses were being destroyed. He knew this was not right. He found his brother's short wave radio and set it up to listen to the BBC. This act in and of itself was treasonous. He learned that the BBC was presenting a view of the war that Nazi Germany media was not presenting. He knew his country was being lied to, and decided to relay that message as best he could. He began to write anti-national socialist texts and anti-war pamphlets. He enlisted two friends, also members of his Church, Karl-Heinz Schnibbe and Rudi Wobbe, to help him distribute the pamphlets. When he was found out, he was arrested. At his trial, when he was found guilty he stated to the judge, "Now I must die, even though I have committed no crime. So now it's my turn, but your turn will come." His friends, Wobbe and Schnibbe, were sentenced to prison terms. On the day of his execution Hubener wrote to a church friend, "I know that God lives and He will be the Just Judge in this matter… I look forward to seeing you in a better world!" The faith of these extra-ordinary people was stronger than the trials they had to endure. I pray that I, too, would have this faith to do the right thing. How do we get to that point? We make sure that we already have such a relationship with our Father in Heaven that we know without a doubt He will see us through, even if sure death is the end result. What steps do we take to have that kind of faith? Action. It takes action on our part. There are two things we need to do, pray and read the scriptures. When we do those two things, all other things will fall into place, we will be compelled to do good, to attend church, to give service, and we will be close to the Holy Ghost who will give us that direction we need in our daily lives. We will focus on those two things for next long while to prepare us to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. One of my favorite scriptures to turn to when I see the world falling down around me through war, politicians that have only power in mind, entertainment media, and just seeing the world around us become more and more entrenched in evil (yes, I said evil, it does exist and it is not a pretty thing). We will start with setting the goal to want to be a better person, to look up to those who have left us an example to follow while living in the world at this time. There are three books and a movie that are good to impact one's life, and all are available. Viktor Frankl 'Man's Search for Meaning' Corrie Ten Boom 'The Hiding Place' Helmuth Hubener 'Truth and Conviction: The Helmuth Hubener Story There are several books on Helmuth Hubener.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Carolyn Bendall"After years of teaching people how to develop their 'outside' image; we realized the 'inner image' need just as much work. Let's take this journey together!" Archives
August 2022
Categories |