Daily Answers: Peace and Patience

​The Coronavirus pandemic has gone on a long time and affected many aspects of my life, all our lives. I thought that if I sacrificed by staying home and giving up things like family reunions and vacations and in person attendance at church, that soon I'd be able to do those things again. At this time, the week before Thanksgiving, the cases of the virus are increasing and government officials are asking us to make sacrifices again for the safety of ourselves and others. How much longer will this go on? How much more will I have to sacrifice? Next week my children are all planning to be home for Thanksgiving. I don't want to give that up. Then a week later my son and daughter-in-law have scheduled a date to be sealed in the Portland Temple. They were supposed to be married and sealed in the Portland Temple in April, but ended up getting married in a civil ceremony in March as the virus restrictions began. I want so much for them to have this day in December, and I want to be there. My question recently during my scripture study was, "How do I have peace and patience with the Coronavirus, specifically with Thanksgiving and the sealing?" I read in Ether 6 about the Jaredites crossing the sea in their barges built tight like a dish. Their experiences gave me direction. The Jaredites commended themselves unto the Lord. When they were "encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters" (Ether 6:7). During this time when they were buried in the sea and the wind did not cease, the people "did sing praises unto the Lord; yea, the brother of Jared did sing praises unto the Lord, and he did thank and praise the Lord all the day long; and when the night came, they did not cease to praise the Lord" (Ether 6:9). "They did have light continually" (Ether 6:10). And after "they were driven forth, three hundred and forty and four days upon the water...they did land upon the shore of the promised land...and...they bowed themselves down upon the face of the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them" (Ether 6:11-12). Three hundred and forty and four days! I haven't been restricted that long yet, and as I look back, there have been so many tender mercies. I am crying unto the Lord that my children can come for Thanksgiving and that I can attend the sealing of my son and daughter-in-law.
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The Lord knows me. He knows you. I'm grateful for the light He's given me as I ask in prayer and through my daily scripture study. I'm also grateful that we have a prophet on the earth like the brother of Jared. Our prophet is President Russell M. Nelson. He is experiencing the trials of the pandemic along with us and also has a responsibility to guide the people of the earth. I'm looking forward to hearing from President Nelson what the Savior wants us to know at this time. I know President Nelson's words will provide me with more light and peace.