As a mother who has raised a pack of youngsters and talked with even more youth that came and went in my life, many times I’ve heard and discussed the question. “Why does Heavenly Father allow bad things to happen to good people?” Quentin L. Cook made this idea the topic of his recent General Conference.
Suffering caused by our own disobedience to God’s commandments, the sins of others, and suffering caused by being part of the human race. Our bodies are intended to serve us in mortality. Only after death and resurrection, will they be immortal and no longer subject to vice, pain, sickness, and so forth. Some are claimed in war, accident, and natural disasters. Who is to say that it wasn’t the appointed time of these people?
“Adverse results in this mortal life are not evidence of lack of faith or of an imperfection in our Father in Heaven’s overall plan,” Quentin L. Cook. God’s ways are not our ways. We may not understand all things in this life. BUT if we choose to act with faith and charity, we will understand all things some day. We simply cannot become the person God wants us to become with out a few tumbles. Consider rocks in a rock tumbler. Before they go in they are rough and unspectacular. After being tossed, bumped, and abraded, they are polished to a fine luster. “The refiner’s fire is real, and qualities of character and righteousness that are forged in the furnace of affliction perfect and purify us and prepare us to meet God.”
Nevertheless, trials are difficult. Sometimes we forget to look to God for strength. Discouragement brings despair and fear. While this is understandable it is important to note that despair and fear are not of God. Allowing our countenances to fall, we subject ourselves to the Adversary. “It is better to look up.” Thomas S. Monson
Carl B. Cook made the idea of looking up the topic of his Conference address. “Why is it a challenge to consistently look up in our lives? Perhaps we lack the faith that such a simple act can solve our problems…Experience has taught me that if we, like President Monson, exercise our faith and look to God for help, we will not be overwhelmed with the burdens of life. We will not feel incapable of doing what we are called to do or need to do. We will be strengthened, and our lives will be filled with peace and joy. We will come to realize that most of what we worry about is not of eternal significance—and if it is, the Lord will help us. But we must have the faith to look up and the courage to follow His direction.”
But what happens when the suffering is caused by the sins of another? As we learn from Victor Frankel a Nazi Holocaust Concentration Camp survivor, we can choose how we deal with it. We can grow bitter, angry, despairing, frightened, etc. or we can choose faith, charity, generosity, joy, and hope. We can look to Jesus and the Father for solace and comfort. When I speak of charity, many misunderstand and think I mean welfare. To me they are very different things. One is how I act; the other is giving of physical means. The following is the best description of what I mean, when I say charity. "Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don’t judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn't handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another's weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other." Marvin J. Ashton
When Quentin L. Cook spoke about songs that will not be sung, it reminded me of my young daughter Katie. I think of the songs she didn’t get to sing; rather the songs she never played on her beloved piano. Even after all these years, even with my faith that all is right, thoughts of our Katie are tender and sometimes a little sad. “A unique challenge for those who have lost loved ones is to avoid dwelling on the lost opportunities in this life.” Quentin Cook I must change my attitude and wait for the day we will see one another again, when this little gift child will throw her arms around my neck and fiercely declare her love for me as in times of old.
“The only difference between the old and young dying is, one lives longer in heaven and eternal light and glory than the other, and is freed a little sooner from this miserable, wicked world. Notwithstanding all this glory, we for a moment lose sight of it, and mourn the loss, but we do not mourn as those without hope.” Joseph Smith
My little Katie is in the Spirit World doing what she always did best on earth; she is teaching and testifying about the Lord Jesus Christ. She is smiling and dancing. She is cheering all around her. To get ready for our reunion, I’m looking up to hear the singing.
