Angels Among Us

by Steve Hughes

Friday, May 16, 1986 was a clear, crisp spring day in Cokeville, Wyoming. This small rural assemblage of fewer than 500 souls was, most assuredly, not prepared for the events about to unfold that fateful day. And on that infamous day, David and Doris Young took 136 children and 18 adults hostage at Cokeville Elementary School.

In late July of 2017, Beverly and I set out on our “Temple-trip”, an adventure that took us 2 months and 4,000 miles around parts of this great nation of ours to participate in ordinances in what turned out to be 22 temples of the Lord. Just a few days into our adventure we landed in Billings, Montana to attend the temple there. We decided to stay over on Sunday, Sept. 3rd, and to not travel that day. Desiring to attend a Sacrament meeting, we looked up a nearby meetinghouse and chose to attend the 9am Sacrament service.

After what we experienced, I am not entirely sure we made that decision, or perhaps we were directed to that Fast and Testimony meeting, it being the first Sunday in September. We were expecting a nice, Spriritual meeting, happy to meet with Brothers and Sisters, Sons and Daughters of God, being of like mind and temperament. What we experienced was a blessing beyond any we could imagine.

A sister arose and made her way to the podium. Being of our age, in her sixties, she told the story of the Cokeville Elementary School bombing from her perspective; that of a young mother, in her early thirties, and what she experienced on that horrific day.

You see, she was there. She had, to the best of our remembrance, 3 young children in that school. She spoke of the terror she and other parents felt as they were kept at a safe distance from the school by police. Feeling completely helpless to save their little babies, their only hope was to kneel in mighty prayer, petitioning the Lord for the protection of His innocent little ones. To those waiting to hold their children again, it seemed an eternity passed.

Then, the unthinkable happened; the bomb exploded. The ground and everything shook, and thick black smoke billowed from what was left of the building. Surely, thought everyone, all is lost.

But no!

Through the smoke and turmoil came their precious children. Their faces almost unrecognizable being covered with black soot. According to this Sister, the joy could not be contained. Parents burst through the barricades to scoop up their children and give thanks through so many tears of joy. Those who emerged from the building testified of seeing angels round-about them to protect and guide them.

The miracle: only 2 people perished that day, David and Doris Young. And only 79 people were injured, none with life-threatening injuries. We heard this from the mouth of a witness to these events, and know it to be true.

There are, indeed, angels among us, and the Lord does hear and answer our prayers. We experienced living proof of that.