By Sydney Crandall
Standing in the elevator going up to the box overlooking the fields at Southern Virginia University with a handful of other students brought from the crowd, I was shocked as the doors opened and we saw who was there. We were all welcomed into the warm and caring presence that exudes from Bonnie H Cordon, formerly the General Young Women’s President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We were brought up to meet her on a spiritual impression by Glade Knight, founding chairman of SVU, and were all grateful that he acted on that prompting. After visiting with her for a portion of time, we felt the genuine interest and care she took in getting to know our names and who we were as people. You could imagine the excitement that many of us felt as we learned she would be addressing us in our university forum that friday.
As college students, we are at such a critical time in our lives when decisions are being made to shape the entire rest of our live and there is no shortage of uncertainty and instability to be felt. However, in sharp contrast to that uncertainty, there was no hesitation in the student’s answers as Bonnie asked what it was that kittens would become when they were grown (the second time she asked). After being answered unanimously that a kitten would become a cat, she moved onto her second question, asking what would become of a puppy when it grew up. The audience’s answer was an emphatic, “Dog!” However, her final question sent the room into an uncomfortable and uncertain silence. “What becomes of a son or daughter of God when they are done progressing?”
Aren’t we all at some point wondering where we should go? Don’t we all struggle with who we are supposed to be? Sister Cordon spoke peace to a wondering crowd as she informed us of our divine destiny to become Gods and Goddesses in our own heavenly kingdoms one day, stressing the importance of the way in which we use our agency on that path to get there. But perhaps the most comfort was found in her invitation to lean on the Lord as we work our way through this mortal life to get there. There will be times when we don’t know how or where to steer, or find it hard to even think about starting, and in those times we have the Lord to surrender to, to chart our course for us.
Sister Cordon’s true care for the students of Southern Virginia University was shown as she provided a question and answer session for all those who desired to attend a few hours after her address had ended. Here, she continued to calm students’ worries and fears and deeply and personally address questions that students were able to ask in real time.
Bonnie H. Cordon was able to provide peace and direction to many who needed it at this forum and we look forward to this coming forum where we will be addressed with more wisdom and if we’re lucky, more Krispy Kreme donuts!
A Forum According to Cordon was originally published in The Herald on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
