Hinges

A couple of weeks ago I was reminded of the message President Nelson sent via social media on January 1st of this year. He said:

When I spoke during last October’s general conference, I designated 2020 as a bicentennial period commemorating 200 years since God the Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith in a vision. That singular event in human history initiated the Restoration of the Lord’s gospel—an unfolding Restoration that continues today.

God loves all of His children and has a vision for each of us. Just as He listened to Joseph’s prayer in 1820, He listens to you and yearns to speak with you through the Spirit. We invite you to be a major part of sharing the message of the ongoing restoration of the Savior’s gospel. We will share more about this soon, but you can start today by acting on the invitations I extended to you at last general conference to immerse yourself in the glorious light of the Restoration.

You may wish to begin your preparation by reading afresh Joseph Smith’s account of the First Vision as recorded in the Pearl of Great Price. Or ponder important questions such as, “How would my life be different if my knowledge gained from the Book of Mormon were suddenly taken away?” or “How have the events that followed the First Vision made a difference for me and my loved ones?”

Select your own questions. Design your own plan. Act on any of these invitations to prepare yourself for sharing the important messages of the ongoing Restoration. It is your personal preparation that will help April’s general conference become for you not only memorable but also unforgettable. The time to act is now. This is a hinge point in the history of the Church, and your part is vital.

I was struck by the phrase hinge point.  What is a hinge point? Think of your elbow or knee. Think of a door or a gate, of a stroller or an umbrella. I found this explanation of the term:

The phrase has several applications in the technical language of engineering, construction, anatomy, even orthopedic reconstructive surgery. Generally, it’s the point where a mechanism pivots.

A hinge point can be used literally or metaphorically to indicate a turning point or a point at which a significant change takes place.

While pondering this, I noticed that a hinge always connects two pieces, and is a way of providing some flexibility between two immovable objects, so that they won’t break.

Hinges are useful. They conserve space when storing a ladder. They help adjust a light so it shines where you want it. They help hide things. They keep cold air out or in, depending upon whether it’s winter or summer.

Remember the parable of the ten virgins. Those that were wise were there when the door to the wedding supper opened. It seems to me that often what is on the other side of the hinge is something desirable, even a treasure. Open the trunk to get groceries. Open the oven to remove freshly baked cookies. Open the jewelry box for a special ring or necklace. Open the mail box for a letter. Open the front door to welcome a friend.

I really enjoyed reading a piece (link) that came up in my search for hinge point. It’s a bit lengthy, but this sentence caught my attention:

Hinge points are like assessment questions, like a pause in the curriculum to discern who is ready to move on and who is not.

Significant changes seem to be coming fast and furiously. We’re in the midst of a world-wide pandemic, a true hinge point in history. This is a perfect time to cast out fear and cling to faith, and I’m looking forward to hearing from living prophets and apostles this weekend.

What treasures will general conference bring? Let’s walk through that door to find out, moving on into a wonderful future!

I spent just a few minutes looking for hinges in my home and discovered way more than I expected. They seemed to be everywhere! How many can you identify?