This past summer in the little town of Eagar, AZ, there was a forest fire that burned 840.702 sq mi. It left only a few homes and cabins destroyed. Nobody was injured or killed but many people where evacuated and asked to leave there homes until the smoke settled. The fire lasted months and many hours were spent trying to get it under control. Forest fires are popular in the norther part of Arizona due to the amount of Ponderosa Pine Trees that cover the mountains and the dry summer weather. Fire is an interesting element. It has the ability to be used for much good and also for much bad. Fire can be a wonderful source of warmth in the cold winter nights. It can bring light to a home. It can even give a romantic touch to a dinner. As we also know, fire can bring destruction and pain to those very same things and people.
In the case of a forest fire, the area burned is completely bare of what once was. The forest is black and ugly, the lumber is useless and non-existent. The once beautiful forest is now scared with events of the past. The things that use to make the forest fun and interesting are no longer there. The wildlife has moved on and life is grim. The whole city was dark and the smoke as so thick you could hardly see.
There is however a ray of sunshine that comes with the fire. Have you ever heard the saying " Everything gets better with time."? This is the case with the fire. As years go by the rain will fall one drop at a time and new life will begin to grow in place of the old. The new grows healthy and strong because of the rich soil that is now all around. The trees have a wonderful chance to receive plenty of sun and all that they need. Anything that once was bad for the forest has now been burnt or moved on. After the years go, by the forest is back to normal and most of the time its even better than before.
In our Life at times we are like this fire. We go through life, we work, go to school, have kids, ect. We think things are going well then a life changing even happens. We lose a job, relative or close friend. We lose our home, have to move or to tell you the truth life can just get a little busy and overwhelming. We begin to look at the world around us and our own lives. We see black and ugly scars that for some reason seem to be all around us. We feel burnt out, useless, and even non-existent. I have felt this way! It is not a happy time!
There is again a ray of hope! It is called the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Just like the fire, time and faith will cure our sorrows and heal our lives from the destruction. Life does move on, things will get better! The Atonement makes it possible. Christ heals from the inside out. He changes us one drop of rain at a time, He help us see out weakness and then strengthens us. (Ether 12:27) He has his arms of mercy stretched out to us! The Atonement of Christ has amazing life changing abilities that will help us change. He invites all to come unto Him, to follow Him that He may make our burdens light. I testify of his love and of his patience. 