Are You Watching?

In 1989, we witnessed two very historical events. The first was the Tiananmen Square protests. Though the outcome of these peaceful student protests ended in a violent massacre with the number of victims still unknown, the event stuck in my mind as being significant in our world history.
Twenty plus years later, though China is still technically a Communist state, we see capitalism infiltrating at a rapid rate. Because of a rare chain of events which saw Great Britain handing Hong Kong over to China in 1997, we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints saw history. A temple, which was only dedicated the year before, now existed in a Communist country. Were you watching?

The second was the fall of the Berlin Wall. My teachers pointed out the significance of this event telling us that the world was beginning to change and we were eye witnesses. I remember feeling very impressed that their words were true and began paying closer attention to world events.
The following year an exchange student from the former East Germany came to school in my home town. Her story fascinated me. It was if overnight the political scene changed. The wall literally came down and freedoms she had never known came flooding her way. Now Germany is considered one of the strongest economic European powers. All of this happened in a matter of twenty years. Were you watching?

In 1990, the year following the fall of the Berlin Wall, many Eastern Bloc nations began protesting against Soviet and/or Communist power. Much like Germany, the terror that had gripped many countries for decades fell within moments. Some declared Soviet power illegal and announced independence. In Russia a failed coup sent the future of the Soviet Union into an unknown realm with Mikhail Gorbachev trying to hold together fragments of a once powerful nation. I remember Gorbachev's announcement on Christmas Day in 1991 and my dad commenting that he never thought he would see the breakup and demise of the Soviet Union. Once again history was happening all around us. And last year, a temple was dedicated in Kiev, Ukraine, a country held under the former Soviet Union. Were you watching?

All of this leads me to the past month. Students, workers, the people of Middle Eastern nations have been crowding the streets and public squares. They seek freedom from years of oppression. Some analysts fear the results will end similarly to the 1970s Iranian government overthrow but I disagree with them. We live in a differnt time with a different wind blowing. They have experienced what I like to call intellectual democracy: Freedom of Speech. Freedom of Press. Freedom of Assembly. All via the Internet. That taste of democracy and freedom will be the difference.
Egypt's protests for Mubarak's resignation came out of the blue to many. But change in these Middle Eastern countries could only come when the timing was right, when their voices could not be stopped. Through text messaging, facebook, cell phones, and other means of mass communication, the people were able to organize. Their voices were heard. And just like the fall of the Berlin wall, Egypt's successful protests have created a domino affect across two continents. Though some have not been as peaceful or seeing the same results as Egypt, major protests have occurred in Algeria, Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and Yemen with minor protests in Iraq, Kuwait, Mauritania, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Syria. I don't know whether the end result will be positive or negative for the United States, but I do know that whatever happens, it will have a tremendous impact on us. I wonder if we are seeing the beginnings of a new era where the way is being prepared for the gospel to be sent to those in these Middle Eastern countries. I sense a change and have a strong belief that worldly events occur to fulfill the plan and promises of the Lord. The question now is this: Are you watching?