A New Beginning? by Greg Bates

Photo: Arta

Greg Bates has another article published in the Bow Valley Ward Newsletter. He has given me permission to republish it here.

Arta

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Recent events have prompted many to look for answers beyond the daily outpouring of news and views. In order to better understand what is happening, many are turning to the past even though, as Mark Twain reportedly said, "History doesn't repeat itself, but it rhymes."

Looking at the recent past, the 20th Century for example, a number of historians mark the beginning of that century not in the year 1900, but 1914. Why do they do this?

The 20th Century was truly transformational. Almost all that we now take for granted was invented or came into general use during that 100 year period including electricity, running water, indoor plumbing, central heating, refrigeration, the telephone, automobile, airplane, radio, motion pictures, television, modern materials and modern medicines, computers, the internet, etc.

But there is another side to the 20th Century, a darker side. Imagine for a moment you were born in 1900. You are 14 when World War I breaks out. It ends in 1918 with 22 million lives lost. That same year, the 'Spanish Flu' pandemic strikes. Fifty million people die.

You are 29 when recoveryfrom these twin disasters falters with the onset of the Great Depression. Countries are near collapse along with the world economy. 

You are 39 when World War II erupts. Seventy-five million people perish in this war, including 6 million in the Holocaust.

You are 47 when the world descends into another war, the Cold War. This war, which lasts for 44 years, is marked by conflicts around the globe: the Iron Curtain, the arms race, the Korean War, the Berlin Blockade, the U-2 Incident, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, Angola, Afghanistan.

You are 57 when another pandemic known as the 'Asian flu' breaks out, claiming over a million lives. 

You are 68 when yet another pandemic, the 'Hong Kong flu', breaks out, claiming another one million. The century finally draws to a close with Y2K and the Dot-com crash.

Why do some historians say the 20th Century began in 1914? Because all that went before 1914 was swept away. When will future historians mark the beginning of this century? Will it be the year 2000 or 2020?

In 2018, the Church made a announcement which was introduced by the following statement:

"For many years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been working on a home-centered and Church-supported plan for members to learn doctrine, fortify faith, and foster heartfelt worship."

In addition to introducing a new resource, "Come Follow Me", the Church announced a number of changes including changes to Sunday services.

One might have asked at the time how these changes were intended to help us in the future? Perhaps now we have at least a partial answer. Following the counsel of our Church leaders will guide us into the new, uncertain 21st Century.

As the Apostle Paul wrote: " . . . but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope:" (Romans 5: 3 - 4)