Skip to main content

The Purpose of Life

2nd Nephi 2:25 tells us that men are that we might have joy.

Yet Jacob 7:26 reads as follows:

26 And it came to pass that I, Jacob, began to be old; and the record of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephi, wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers, cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our brethren, which caused wars and contentions; wherefore, we did mourn out our days.

How do we reconcile these seemingly incongruous passages?

The superficial, easy answer is that mortality is a time of pain and sorrow, a time of testing and proving, in anticipation of the final great reward. This is the hope of every soul who struggles or suffers in any way. And it is all very true.

But I also think that there is incredible joy and peace that can come to us in THIS life. That happiness need not be some kind of illusory or ethereal thing. Happiness IS the design and object of our existence. Many of the pitfalls we find ourselves in, many of the things that make us so full of sorrow, are the result of actions that are contrary to that which we know to be right. As a result, we find ourselves in situations in which we must struggle mightily to overcome the consequences of poor choices and actions. My thought is that even in these circumstances we can find peace and joy.

There is unspeakable peace in knowing that Christ has atoned for my sins.

There is unspeakable peace in knowing that I am a son of God. That He is mindful of me. And that He orders things for my ultimate benefit and progression.

There is unspeakable peace in knowing that I can repent. My sins and problems need not follow me around for the rest of my life. If I can learn to humble myself before Him, all things are possible.

There is unspeakable peace in the thought that families can be together forever. That the joys we experience here and now are just a taste of what can and will be if we are faithful.

There is unspeakable peace in the light that comes from friends and family who surround me with so much love. God did not send us here alone. He gave us our family and friends to support, comfort, lift burdens, and serve each other. In so doing, all of our burdens are lifted, and we find ourselves singing through life.

I know I've been musical lately, and I'm sorry if that offends anyone. And I know I've posted this one before. But I love it and I am going to post it again:

Lyrics:

My life flows on in endless song
Above earth's lamentation.
I hear the real though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.
No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that rock I'm clinging
It sounds an echo in my soul,
How can I keep from singing?

What though the tempest round me roars,
I know the truth, it liveth,
What though the darkness round me close,
Songs in the night it giveth
No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that rock I'm clinging
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?

I lift my eyes, the cloud grows thin;
I see the blue above it;
And day by day this pathway smooths,
Since first I learned to love it.
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
A fountain ever springing;
All things are mine since I am his,
How can I keep from singing?


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Other Art

I'm not sure we appreciate photography as much as we do other art forms. Part of this comes from the reality that surrounds and permeates a photograph - it's very, very real, and the photographer strives for clarity and crispness in the representations. Perhaps this is why black and white images continue to be relevant - they strip away extraneous information (color) and leave us with something that is at once familiar and also non-existent - for nothing exists in black and white. Nothing. I also think that pictures are becoming too common-place... Everyone has a camera in their pocket, and while that's a very democratic thing (everyone can express themselves in a picture easily and readily, and can find an audience for these images, which are casually taken and casually viewed, and perhaps just as casually forgotten) I think that we embrace that casual attitude, and it spills over to all aspects of the media, making it impotent. So I read this article this morning: h...
Post a Comment
Read more

Lucky!

So Tomorrow is Amie's birthday. The 12 th is Andy's. The 14 th is Alex's. And the 26 th is mom's. Happy birthday everyone. I recently found that a member of our ward has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer has a survivability rate of less than 5% and you never, ever kick it, even if you live. Once diagnosed, people are expected to live about six months. My wife and I were talking about this wonderful woman. There are very few (too few) people in this world who shine. Literally. This sister shines with a light that is perceptible and discernible . The world will literally be a darker place without her in it. Life is short, folks. Too short for hard feelings, too short for pain and misunderstanding. I love you all so much. Sorry this one is such a downer... I don't mean to be lugubrious on your birthdays... I consider myself lucky to be your brother. You have and continue to bless me and my family in many ways, for which I will be eternally gra...
4 comments
Read more

Excommunication

My heart is heavy this morning. I read that Kate Kelly and others are being brought up on Church disciplinary action. For those who are unfamiliar with the process/proceedings of LDS Church discipline, it can be a bit mystifying. There are several levels of censure that the Church may impose. These range from a simple removal of some privileges for a short period of time to the most severe action - excommunication. When one is excommunicated, the person's membership in the Church is terminated. It is a very extreme measure, and for the faithful it can be a very difficult thing to consider. What people don't understand - what is nearly impossible for someone outside the proceedings to understand - is the amount of love felt. It's discipline. It's intended to be harsh (at times). And it's intended to be unpleasant. But it is done with love and care for the person. Since excommunication is such an extreme measure, it is really only very rarely applied. There are ...
18 comments
Read more