One Angry Brahma Bull

 I once gave a Relief Society lesson on anger. It was a fun topic to teach. During that lesson, I shared a story from my childhood. Whenever I think about anger, I think about the Brahma bull that escaped the "Hurst Horse Palace" close to our home and ended up in our neighborhood. He was black and massive. These bulls are mean and aggressive. They are used in rodeos, so I'm sure that's why he was housed where he was at the Horse Palace. The escaped bull probably looked something like this one.

I'm sure my dad never forgot the day the bull got loose. He had just finished milking his cow in the barn next to our neighbor's house and on his way back to our house, while carrying the bucket of milk, he rounded the corner of the neighbor's house and saw to his horror the face of this big monstrous bull staring right at him! Dad dropped the bucket of milk, turned around, and ran quickly to safety through the back door of the neighbor's house before the bull could cause him any injury. Thank goodness the door to the house was unlocked! 

As it turns out, it became quite an ordeal to reacquire the bull. Men on horses were galloping through the neighborhood with ropes in hand in an attempt to capture and secure him. Finally they were able to lasso him and tie the rope to the back of their truck to try to lead him back safely to his pen. Unfortunately, the bull was not cooperating with their plan. He was hopping MAD at his capture and let them know it. He pulled, thrashed about, bucked, reared, and did everything he could to try to get way, breaking one of the ropes in the process.  The struggle went on and on for a lengthy period of time, but try as he might the bull couldn't get free. He actually ended up fighting to the death. His anger literally caused his demise! He fought so hard and so long that his heart gave out and he keeled over dead. The story didn't have to end that way if only the bull had tempered his anger.

Anger is a display of temper. Anger is a choice and we are cautioned in the scriptures to control our anger. Nothing positive can come from displaying anger. The bull story is a good example of that. 

One tool of Satan is to stir people up in anger one to another. There seems to be a lot of anger in the world today, especially among opposing political parties, religions, and races. It is not pretty what is happening today. Half of the country is "mad/angry" that Joe Biden and the Democrats stole the election from Donald Trump. There is overwhelming evidence that massive fraud took place, but they somehow got away with it and Joe Biden is now the new President. This doesn't sit well with many folks, including me, but I'm trying not to become angry at the injustice of it all. I am trying to focus on what's important and that is the building up of the Kingdom of God here on the earth.  It seems harder to do that with Covid-19 still preventing church congregations from meeting together on Sundays, but there are still things that can be done to help move the work forward - such as being of service and reaching out in sympathy and love through ministering to one another. These are the last days and that gathering is in full swing. The field is white already to harvest, as D&C 4 says. To love as Christ loved is the key.

Through Christ, I can feel peace in a very unpeaceful world. Through Christ I can feel love in a very unloving (or intolerant) world. Through Christ I can feel joy in a world where joy seems like a distant memory to many whose burdens overwhelm them with sorrow and stress. I'm so grateful for the sustaining power of Christ in my life. He is my rock and my greatest cheerleader. I can do all things through Christ!