Our Heavenly First Responder
In remembrance of 9/11, Michael McGinn, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shares his thoughts on evil in this world, sacrifice, duty and the atonement of Jesus Christ.
By Michael McGinn
Michael McGinn. Photo courtesy of Debby Adair.
As we observe another year in remembrance of 9/11, it is incumbent on us to reflect on the facts and actions that changed the world as we knew it…forever.
On Sept. 11, 2001, nineteen terrorists conducted four coordinated suicide attacks by the militant Islamic extremist network al-Qaeda directed by Osama bin Laden. They hijacked four commercial airliners mid-flight in the northeastern United States. American flight 11, crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. Seventeen minutes later United flight 175 crashed into the South Tower. Both 110 story buildings collapsed within one hour and forty-two minutes leading to the collapse of other World Trade Center buildings and significantly damaging surrounding buildings. There was more to come. A third hijacked plane, American flight 77 crashed into the west side of the Pentagon, headquarters of our American military in Arlington, Virginia. The fourth plane, United flight 93, was believed to be targeting the U.S. Capitol or White House, but a struggle broke out as courageous passengers tried to overtake the hijackers and the plane crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The attacks resulted in 2,977 fatalities, over 25,000 injuries and substantial long-term health consequences, and more than $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage. This remains the deadliest terrorist attack in human history and the single deadliest attack for firefighters and law enforcement officers in U.S. history with 340 firefighters and 72 law enforcement officers killed.
Evil in This World
There has always been evil in this world and that will continue until the second coming of Jesus Christ. War, contention, hatred, suffering of the worst kind are not new. The conflicts we see today are an expression of the conflict that began with the War in Heaven influenced by Satan.
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ” (Rev. 12:7-10).
Murder and the shedding of innocent blood began when Cain slew his brother Abel and has continued ever since with secret combinations, groups who take oaths to work evil in the world, influenced by Satan. The history of the world is filled with wars and murder. Prophets have given us a response to evil. President Gordon B. Hinckley said “We are a people of peace. We are followers of the Christ who was and is the Prince of Peace. But there are times when we must stand up for right and decency, for freedom and civilization, just as Moroni, [an ancient prophet and military commander from the Book of Mormon] rallied his people in his day to the defense of their wives, their children, and the cause of liberty.”
The land of America is a choice land. The constitution under which we live has blessed us and has become a model for other nations. It is God inspired and ensures freedom and liberty, justice and equality before the law.
President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Our safety lies in the virtue of our lives. Our strength lies in our righteousness. God has made it clear that if we will not forsake Him, He will not forsake us. He watches over Israel, slumbers not nor sleeps.”
Sacrifice and Duty
The first responders rushed into those burning towers because of a commitment to their professional training and duty to save lives knowing that they might lose their own lives. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for friends” (John 15:13). To all first responders who make sacrifices daily, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Doctors, nurses, medics, firefighters, law enforcement, national guard and military. Thanks to each of you and the millions of honorable, hardworking American taxpayers that fund our government and make it possible to have first responders and military.
We may not be asked to rush into a burning building to rescue someone from physical harm or death. But we do have a duty as followers of Jesus Christ to rescue those that are struggling with faith and could suffer spiritual harm. In this sense we are all first responders. We are spiritual first responders for our families, our church responsibilities, our ministering assignments, our temple work and for those in our communities that are receptive to the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Resurrected Christ, by Wilson J. Ong
The Atonement of Jesus Christ
All of us need to be rescued from physical death and sin as a condition of mortal life. The only way we can be saved is for someone else to rescue us. Jesus Christ is the only one capable of making a sacrifice to satisfy the demands of justice, assuming the burden of the Fall of Adam and Eve and paying the price for our sins. The Savior has always been our only hope for “peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” (D&C 59:23).
Jesus’s atoning sacrifice took place in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross of Calvary. In Gethsemane He submitted to the will of the Father and began to take upon Himself the sins of all humanity. He continued to suffer for our sins when he allowed Himself to be crucified. While we are redeemed from physical death, we are accountable for our own sins. But we can be forgiven and cleansed from sin. We must exercise faith in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized for the remission of sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Then as we keep the commandments of God, we can truly be rescued by the greatest first responder the world has ever known, even Jesus Christ.
Originally presented as a talk during Sunday services in 2022.
Please join us in remembrance of 9/11 and participate in the National Day of Service, click here.
Michael serves as a Young Single Adult advisor in the Hurst Stake and spends each school day from 6–7a.m. teaching the New Testament to high school students as part of the Church seminary program. Michael is a retired American Airlines finance and tax manager. He enjoys tennis, pickle ball and walks with his wife (Judy) during his free time. He and his wife also love to spend time with their three sons, daughters-in-law and six grandchildren.