holding to hope

In His Glory by Del Parson (my neighbor)

I'm feeling a bit odd today. Sunday, I got a call from my mother. Apparently, my cousin's youngest son (20) was at a party and got shot in the head. Rushed to surgery, they removed the bullet from his brain. If he survives the swelling of the brain, he will certainly be blind and paralyzed. Thirteen years ago to the day, my little Katie lay in a hospital bed with the same prognosis after her tangle with a truck. Interestingly, if she had lived these two would have been about the same age. Now I know how it feels to be on the outside. Aching for Bob and Tara, I know how this waiting game feels. If he lives, he won't be the Adam they knew on September 4th. The alternative is even worse for the family, but the boy will be in a happier place. I've spent more than a few minutes praying for Adam and even more praying for the Pepitone family. 

Prayer and scripture are my comforts at times like these--holding to hope.


"For behold, he surely must die that salvation may come; yea, it behoveth him and becometh expedient that he dieth, to bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, that thereby men may be brought into the presence of the Lord. Yea, behold, this death bringeht to pass the resurrection,and redeemeth all mankind from the first death-that spiritual death; for all mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual. But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemth mankind, yea even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord. Yea, and it bringeth to pass the condition of repentance, that whosover repenteth the same is not hewn down and cast into the fire; but whosoever repenteth not is hewn down and cast into the fire; and there cometh upon them again a spiritual death, yea, a second death, ofr they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness. Therefore, repent ye, repent ye, lest by knowing these things and not doing them ye shall suffer yourselves to come under condemnation, and ye are brought down unto this second death." Helaman 14:15-19

Because Jesus chose to submit to death, He brought about salvation and the resurrection. This makes it possible for us to repent and be brought back into the presence of God. Some sadly do not believe this and fail the test. They do not repent and are once again separated from the presence of God.

Because Jesus was willing to condescend, it is possible for every man, woman, and child to overcome physical death and the first spiritual death, and none are punished for Adam's choice. Next with our freedom of choice, we decide whether or not we will suffer the second spiritual death or not. After death this choice is permanent.

Through the choices of Adam and Eve, we have free agency, because of our knowledge of good and evil. Additionally, we had the opportunity to be born and experience life and death (physical and spiritual.) Jesus' sacrifice overcame the effects of the Fall of Adam, making it possible for Children of God to be resurrected and brought back into His presence. We can remain in His Glory, because of the opportunity Jesus gave us. Or, we will feel a compulsion to leave the presence and light of Our Father, as a result of our actions during Earth life. Therein lies the choice. All can choose to accept life and light or eternal darkness and damnation.

"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." Mosiah 3:19