In my quest for deeper understanding of the
purpose of suffering, I opened one of my favourite books this morning to glean
some wisdom. I will first bear witness that God leads us to understanding when
we are ready for it and when we knock on heaven’s door seeking it.
So today I gained the perspective I longed for because
up to now all I have known of suffering did not amount to what I feel is
completion. I gained this perspective through the most simplest way I did not
expect. Here is the story that opened my greater understanding:
“A few years ago our family inherited a dog, a
friendly little pup who was all black except for two white paws and a splash of
white across his chest. For our three sons he became a real pal. One afternoon
I was interrupted at work by a call from home that told a sad story: “Dad! Dad!
Our dog is dead!”
“I have seldom seen such looks of gloom as
those that met me when I arrived home. A motorcycle had come out of nowhere,
nobody really knew how it had happened. We laid the rumpled little body to rest
in a corner of our backyard in a ceremony that was brief but mournful. I don’t
know when I’ve heard so many questions asked all at once about the meaning of
the Resurrection…..the boys were despondent beyond comfort.
“After that experience, my wife and I resisted
for a while our children’s repeated requests to get another dog. Among the
reasons why we were reluctant was our desire to spare our children the grief of
another event like losing the black puppy. But we also found ourselves
wondering whether the joy of companionship with a new puppy would not more than
offset that risk…..” (Elder Bruce C.
Hafen, “The Broken Heart” p 81-82)
My eyes opened wide as I read this last
sentence and I understood what Elder Hafen said next: “The gospel teaches, that
the presence of painful experiences is an important element in man’s capacity
ultimately to experience joy and not just because it feels good when the pain
stops.”
I came to see how essential is the willingness
to experience suffering in this life for the joy we will be able to experience
eternally. As spirits we would have never been able to gain this ability. What
we needed was the suffering of mortality…..the same suffering that we
constantly seek to dull, avoid and neutralize to the point of addiction to
drugs, alcohol, food, sex and all worldly pleasures.
Imagine if Jesus was drugged or tranquilized on
His way to Calvary so He could feel no pain. The Atonement would have been null
and void. His suffering was the greatest proof of the principle of needed
suffering for the capacity of joy (Hebrews 12:2). This he attested to following
His resurrection when He told the Nephites: “My joy is full” (3 Nephi 17:20).
Imagine the scope of His suffering and then the
corresponding scope of His joy: “…the fulness of joy for one such as He must be
richer, fuller, and more exquisite than we may ever know in mortality….That is
worth remembering when our own pain seems sore and exquisite (See Alma 36:21).”
(ibid p 86)
Mansions on high and riches of eternity have never
really been my motivation to strive for godhood. Things are not so important to
me…..but joy is……especially now that I have experienced and endured suffering. Now
I understand why the Father wants us to have eternal life….not for the mansions
but for the joy.
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