“Let your light so shine”

Matthew Wheeler kindly called my attention to this item:

“Malaysia’s Queen is cooking for frontline workers during the coronavirus outbreak: She’s treating hospital workers to a well earned meal”

Doug Ealy called this one to my notice:

“Israel delivers 3,000 more COVID-19 test kits and 50,000 masks to Palestinian Authority”

***

I’ve shared this favorite passage from the Qur’an on several prior occasions, but it occurs to me to share it yet again:

And we have sent the Book down to you with the truth, confirming what you already have of the Book and making it sure.  So judge between them according to what God has sent down and do not follow their whims away from the truth that has come to you.  We have made a code of conduct and a path for each of you.  And if God had willed, he could have made you a single community, except in order to test you on what has come to you.  So vie with one another in good works.  To God will be your return, all of you, and he will then inform you concerning the matters on which you disagreed.  (Qur’an 5:48, my translation)

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if heavily Latter-day Saint communities (e.g., in Utah, southeastern Idaho, and parts of Arizona) were to stand out in terms of their response to the COVID-19 pandemic?  Wouldn’t it be great if we were to do exceptionally well at social distancing and at keeping the pandemic numbers down?  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we were to do that while still figuring out ways to minister to one another?  Wouldn’t it be lovely if Latter-day Saints were to lead out both in maintaining their health and the health of their communities and serving others in exemplary fashion wherever they live?

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  (Matthew 5:16)

Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations; and that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth.  (Doctrine and Covenants 115:5-6)

And if our Catholic, agnostic, Jewish, Evangelical, atheist, Muslim, or Hindu friends try to compete with us in doing good works, so much the better!

***

Finally, as I say, I like to try to end — at least occasionally — on a really cheery and upbeat note.  So here, in case you haven’t already seen it, is a really funny spoof out of the United Kingdom.  I apologize in advance for the fact that it contains one implicit f-word.  Still, it’s very funny:

“Family recreates ‘One Day More’ from Les Misérables in hilarious quarantine spoof”

And you might find this inspiring, with its use of the colors of the Italian flag:

“Italian Air Force Reshares Inspiring Video During COVID-19 Lockdown”