Plenary,

Meeting date: Wednesday, May 2, 2001

Official Report 366KB pdf

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Time for Reflection

We welcome Stephen Kerr of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to lead our time for reflection.

Thank you.

I do not think that we can underestimate the value of the census just taken. I find the idea of counting every single person by name quite inspiring. It brings to mind the earnest enquiry of the psalmist.

"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

What is man that thou art mindful of him? …

Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet."

Who among us can say that there have not been times in our lives when we have wondered who we are and why we are here on earth? There are answers in the words of a child's song:

"I am a child of God,
And he has sent me here.
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear.

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday."

Today, I wish to testify to a God who declares to us that, in his sight,

"the worth of souls is great."

God is our heavenly father. We are his children. He knows us individually by name and we are brothers and sisters.

Says the Apostle Paul:

"The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ".

May God—our father in heaven—bless us all to dignify, respect and treat kindly every brother or sister that we see. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

May I invite you to pray.

Dear Father in Heaven,

We thank thee for thy beloved and only begotten son, even Jesus Christ. We thank thee for his infinite and eternal sacrifice, for the atonement that hath been made for all mankind.

We ask thee to bless the individuals and families of our country. Bless every father and mother and child with love at home. We ask thee to bless the lonely and the sick and the despairing. Comfort those that mourn.

We ask thee to confirm to our spirits by thy spirit that we are indeed thine and that thou art there and also that thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever.

We ask thee to bless our dear land with healing, love and unity, that we might embrace one another as brothers and sisters and celebrate our differences—of race or colour or creed or party—and became enriched through friendship and fellowship.

I ask thy blessing upon these men and women who are here to do the business of the people of Scotland, that they may be filled with a spirit of fairness, understanding and wisdom; that they may blessed accordingly to their desires.

This I say in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.