Our Plan of Salvation - trials

I have mentioned the Plan of Salvation before but given some recent and some not so recent events, I wanted to share some feelings and thoughts I have about the Plan. While there is one main Plan of Salvation that can be broken into its main components; pre-mortal life, the creation, the fall (of Adam), mortal life, Christ's Atonement, death, resurrection, and judgment, I also believe that each of us lives by our own Plan of Happiness that follows this same pattern.

I believe in our pre-mortal life we learned and lived as spirits. I believe part of our learning included what we would need to know to come to Earth and live here in order to return to our Father. During this time we were given agency, the ability to choose and act for ourselves. While we could learn about what this life might hold for us, we would not truly understand how hard the trials could be, how difficult temptations would be, and how that would affect our determination and resolve to return to our Heavenly Father. I also believe that as part of this learning, we were told about some trials and how they could help us and those around us. We knew that although some of these trials would cause something called hurt and pain, we knew this could secure the faith and knowledge of those surrounding us. Certain people choose to accept these challenges because they had so much love for the rest of us that they would sacrifice certain experiences in life so that we could be stronger.

Why do I believe this? Isn't that what both Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ did? "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." -John 3:16  and ..."O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." - Matt 26:39. It appears that Christ knew what he had to do, but didn't truly understand the magnitude of what would happen to his physical body until he started to experience it and then because he wanted to be obedient and because he loved us and knew there was no other way, he continued to suffer in the Garden and the again on the cross.

People often question why would God allow these things to happen; someone so young and innocent to die, someone so loving to contract cancer, someone to survive accidents only to be handicapped. My answer to this is, they accepted the challenge to help those around them to learn the lessons they would need to grow into the people they need to become.

Because of the trials different family, friends and even I have faced, I have learned things that may have taken a lot longer for me to grasp. I have learned that children take their cues in life from the people who take care of them. They will stand tall and be brave when people treat them that way or they will act weak and not want to do anything for themselves when treated like that. I have learned that as a society we aren't paying enough attention to the people around us. How well do we know our neighbors, our cousins, nieces, school or work associates, etc? When do we start paying attention to them? I have learned that you don't need to talk every day, every week or even every year with someone to know they are a true friend and will stand by you and help you when you need it most.

 Trials cause us to focus on something and see things we might not have seen otherwise. Please look at your trials and difficult situations as a learning experience that will help you focus on what really matters in life. Sometimes we may not immediately see why we or others have passed through trials but I know I would hug and thank many people for allowing me to learn and grow because they accepted a tough trial.

Faith, not a belief or a religion but hope.

I hear many people refer to their religion as a faith. I have even posted things about faith on Facebook and had people comment about how they agree but don't subscribe to a faith. I generally don't use faith to describe a belief or a religion.

Recently, I was studying for a lesson that I was to teach about faith. Most of my studies provide me with a bunch of information for me, which I somehow manage to convert into child speak and understanding. Currently in the Church, I teach children ranging in ages from 3 - 12. But I believe that the better I understand something, the easier it is to teach in a way that others might understand. I want to share what I learned in my recent study about faith. 

Faith is a "hope for things which are not seen, which are true." (Alma 32:21, Hebrews 11:1) However, the way hope is used here is not the same way we use hope now. This hope has a level of certainty behind it, not "I hope my friend comes over." or "I hope I pass the test." This hope is something we truly believe in and something that we really want to happen so much that we use faith and do whatever it takes to obtain or achieve the thing we hope for.

A recent example. Once a year, the children ages 3-12 present a program in the Church and share what they have learned or things they were taught over the course of the year. It includes speaking parts and songs. Being one of the leaders of the children's group for our congregation, I was in charge of this program. One week before, we had our first run through practice with all the kids, their speaking parts, and the songs. The nicest way to describe it is chaotic. Over the next week, we bribed the kids to memorize their parts and held another practice the Saturday before the performance. This one was slightly better although we had just feed the kids pizza and allowed them to run around while everyone finished eating. I can say with this practice, at least the kids had their parts memorized and half of them sang the songs.

At this point, the other leaders and I had done what we could to prepare. We hoped things would work out but with kids, you never know. We had to trust that since we had worked to prepare and that we had seen other program work out in the past, our would too and the audience would be able to feel and understand the ideas presented in the program. I can tell you, somehow and I don't know how, the program went wonderful.

This is a small example of faith and an easier example of how to show faith. Many times we are asked to do things that are seemingly harder than we can handle. We have to remember that what may be hard for you may be easier for someone else, based on your talents, abilities, and past experiences.

I have faith that this life can be amazing even with its challenges and difficulties. I have faith that although this life may be hard, there is a life after we die that will more than make up for what we go through. So what do I do with my faith? I work hard to make sure life is amazing even with its challenges and then hope that amazing things happen. I work hard to follow what I believe will make the next life wonderful and hope that it will be enough for me to enjoy. Like all things, my faith will be tried and tested. Just because I want it won't make it so. Sometimes this amazing life hurts and I stumble but doesn't one bad moment, memory or choice make the rest of life not amazing? That's where faith is.