Once upon a time there was a young horse by the name of Morgan Morning. He was a beautiful little horse with a shiny coat of dark hair. Morgan love his mother, but he wanted to see what the world was like away from the safety of her voice. She would often have to go looking for him and encourage him to come home. One day Morgan noticed a curious little animal scurrying through the woods. Morgan remembered his mother telling him he was not to wonder far, but this little creature was calling to him. So Morgan followed. The furry little grey and white animal with rings around his eyes jumped across the stream, hitting the well placed rocks with his feet. Morgan tried, but he fell into the water. The water began to carry him down toward a very loud noise. Morgan then saw the waterfall. He tried to paddle upstream, but the current was too strong. Morgan went down, down, down the raging waters into the pool at the very bottom. He sputtered as he came up to the top and reluctantly made his way to the sand at the side the pool. His leg was hurt badly.
The curious little raccoon saw this happen, and ran to tell Morgan's mother in the meadow. She galloped to the cliff overlooking the pool. There was Morgan at the bottom. Morgan's mother choked back a sob as she realized nothing could be done. He could not climb up the cliff. And they could not go to the bottom to rescue him. Morgan neighed softly and said, "I love you mother and I understand."
He lay on the cold, damp sand dreaming of his family and his home. For three days he couldn't move. On the fourth day Morgan woke up to a beacon of light shining directly on him. Then a booming voice asked why he was sleeping on the cold, cold sand.
"My name is Morgan," he said. "I am here because I didn't listen to my mother and foolishly fell from the rocks. Now I am waiting to die, for no one can help me." With that he began to cry and cry.
"Morgan, we can help you. But there are conditions. You will never be able to go back to the green meadow where your mother and others like you live. You will be changed into something wonderful, but different than those living on this earth. We can and we will save you, but you must decide."
Morgan thought of a gentler time when he had played in the meadow and nuzzled his mother and others of his kind. But Morgan knew his only hope of continuing was to accept. Beams of light began to penetrate his wounded leg, soon he stood up. His leg was healed. Slowly he began to follow the river, but not before taking one more look at the waterfall. There at the top stood his mother. "Good-bye, mother. I'll always love you." (Adapted from Morgan Morning by Stephen Cosgrove)
Twice we have been to see Andy at the jail and both times we've been turned away because he was on restriction from any and all communication with those on the "outside." I thought of this children's story. I know mercy cannot rob justice, but I also know "mercy claimeth all which is her own, and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved." (Alma 42:24) I hope Andy decides to accept.
