It is nearly 5:00 A.M.  I stood for some minutes in my dark living room contemplating the valley.  The valley was in darkness but pockmarked with the lights of people's yard lights and the lights of Haines.  Nothing moved.  No one was even out checking their calving cows.  Everything is peaceful and still.

How long will it stay that way?  The COVID-19 pandemic is advancing around the world.  It isn't here yet, but it's coming.  Over 5,000 people have died from the disease already in the United States.  (2 April 2020).  The president is projecting that up to 240,000 Americans may die.  Will the disease soon be ravishing my peaceful valley?  Will the people who are living under the lights that I'm looking at soon be sick?

Doctrine and Covenants says that a "desolating sickness shall cover the land."  (D&C 45:31).  I haven't thought that the current disease will be that time, but who knows?

The missionaries are all being recalled to their own countries.  Is this the prophesied time when the missionaries are to be called home?

I came into the music room, and settled down to read the Book of Mormon.  I began where I left off last night.  I only got one verse read.  The very first line that I read was Samuel the Lamanite saying, "...and nothing can save this people save it be repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ who surely shall come into the world..."  (Helaman 13:6).

These are unsettling thoughts for so early in the morning.  General Conference is in two more days.  Everyone is very excited.  President Nelson told us six months ago to expect this conference to be unlike any previous conferences.  We're commemorating the 200th anniversary of the First Vision.  I don't know what President Nelson envisioned, but this upcoming conference is certainly going to be unique.  The Saints won't be gathering in the conference center.  The Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square won't even be present.  The music is all pre-recorded, and only the speakers will be present.  The Saints around the world will be listening to conference in their homes.

In such uncertain times it is hugely comforting to know that God is in control, and that we are being led by prophets.  My friends, neighbors, siblings, and family might soon be sick or dying.  I myself might be affected, but all is well.  The Lord's plan is playing out.  If we are right before God, and have repented of our sins, we have nothing to fear.  If we live or die it will be well with him who is right before God.

It is a privilege to be alive during this historic time.  I just wish that I could serve.  We're isolated in our homes to slow the spread of the disease.  We can't visit one another or meet together.  I'm not to give any patriarchal blessings.  We have no responsibilities.  I've never had a time in my membership in the Church when nothing is expected of me.

I'm trying to do some family history.  Yesterday I decided to tackle the family of William and Delilah Frizell, my 3rd great grandparents.  They lived in Jefferson County, in south central Illinois.    On 2 June 1849 their son-in-law died.  His wife, Matilda, the Frizell's 22-year-old daughter, died shortly thereafter.  Their 3-month-old baby followed.  On the 25th Delilah died, along with their 27-year-old son, Joseph.  William died the next day.  I've wondered before about the cause.  Yesterday I found it.  It was cholera.  Many others in the county died as well.  They were healthy, got sick, and died within three days of becoming ill, according to the mortality schedule that I found.  The Frizell's daughter, Nancy, had already married and moved to Missouri with her husband and the little boy that would become my great grandfather, so they avoided the disease.

Their situation has application to ours.

Do you suppose that in May 1849 William and Delilah similarly looked out on their farm, and took note of how peaceful their surroundings were?