For years
now I have tried to understand fully the necessity for suffering in mortality.
From time to time different insights and portions of understanding have been
given to me but recently I received what I consider an adequate and favourable
theory of the same.
What came
to me first is the reason for our lack of understanding of this subject. It is
simply this: it is easy not to understand the here and now because we cannot
see beyond this life to the rewards of the splendour of eternity and our
eternal place within it.
There are three
things I am very convinced of and the first is this. We could see the reward in
our pre-earth life and we chose which level of the splendour we wanted to live in for all eons of time. In other
words, we chose there and then where we wanted to end up.
The second
is that not everyone wanted godhood. We could see it when we made the choice
but we could also see the responsibility of such a state of being and the high
price attached to it. Some of us were more spiritually inclined than others and
as such we sought for higher spiritual levels of intelligence and power that
godhood could give us.
The third
is this. Since we are not here to choose our eternal destiny, we are here to
prove ourselves worthy of the choice we have already made. All kingdoms are
kingdoms of glory and they all have degrees of splendour of eternity.
And here is the wonder of eternity. The
telestial kingdom, being the lowest, is a kingdom of glory that passes all
understanding even though it is a kingdom where murderers, rapists, liars, adulterers
and all manner of wicked people will go (D&C 76:89). It is also worth
noticing that the inhabitants of only this kingdom will be as innumerable as
the sand of the seashore (v 109). This is the kingdom for those who sought the
ease and glory of earthly life. This is the kingdom that comes with the lowest
price. But a price has to be paid even for this kingdom…..the souls who will
inherit it will pass through hell to earn their place therein. This is outer
darkness where they suffer torments of hell until their resurrection day
following the Millenium (Alma 40:11-14; D&C 76:103-106; see also Bruce R.
McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp 349-50)
And now the
necessity for suffering. This life offers us something valuable that helps us
prove we deserve the outcome we have chosen: our moral agency. Suffering reveals
to us our true nature and refines within us the attributes needed through the
exercise of our agency to become worthy of the splendour of our eternal reward.
If we wanted godhood, our agency has to develop within us a godly character.
Water meets its own level.
For years I
have felt my life has been unjust. I have had to live through some major trials
and the suffering has been acute. This week I made a list of all the growth I
have experienced throughout my life and the qualities I have acquired through
my choices to endure, trust, overcome, forgive…..qualities like compassion,
love and tolerance. I have learnt mercy and even humility as I was brought down
to the dust of the earth. One day I will kneel at the throne of my God and present
these gifts as the greatest treasures I have come to own.
Herein is
the mercy of two Gods: God the Father who sacrificed His best child for the lowest
of His children, and God the Son who willingly submitted to that sacrifice.
Honour and glory be theirs forever for the joy that awaits us…..
"In my Father's house are many mansions....I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:2)
I pledged my life into thy hands
When by example you showed me how;
I promised my trials to endure
When I was with You and do so even
now.
You dried my tears when I barely
coped
And carried me when I could walk no
more;
You fed me truths I needed to know
And nurtured my flight into the
unknown.
As I promised to obey,
You promised we’d never part;
I remember, I remember
And carry it all
In the shadow of my heart.
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
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