Mortality Is a Mess

I just finished watching a series all about the Mormon Pioneer's trek west.  It's called "History of the Saints: Gathering to the West."  I despise history but I actually enjoyed this series.  I would highly recommend it.

Anyway, in watching it yesterday Doctrine and Covenants 136 was mentioned.  A certain Scripture stood out to me.  Just as a background, Doctrine and Covenants 136 is revelation given to the Prophet Brigham Young at Winter Quarters on the banks of the Missouri River near Council Bluffs Iowa.  This is where the Saints set up camp during the winter before they continued on their trek west in the spring.

Here are the words of the Lord, Jesus Christ, given to the Prophet Brigham Young:

Doctrine and Covenants 136:31

"My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom."

I guess that Scripture stood out to me because we've had quite a few trials recently.  Lots of things going wrong around here.  Expensive tractor engines needing to be replaced, my overhead lift for transferring conking out, lawnmower parts falling off needing to be special ordered and replaced, gate clickers and receivers not working, mom's recalcitrant wound -- just to name a few of the more mundane things we've faced recently.

Mortality is a mess.  But that's why we're here.  We are here to progress towards becoming more like our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.  The way we do that is by learning and growing through our trials.

So when I hear people complaining about why bad things happen to good people -- the answer is easy.  The simple answer is that bad things happen to good people to help them progress.  The Lord himself said, "My people must be tried in all things...".

If life were easy, we would not learn and grow.  We would not progress.  We must be "tried in all things" to progress so that we "may be prepared to receive the glory" that is awaiting us in the Kingdom of God.

Even though trials may be overwhelming and seem unbearable and even unfair at times, just remember "... that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."  (Doctrine and Covenants 122:7).

Our time here in this mortal life is extremely short.  The Lord has given us the marvelous opportunity to come to earth, to gain a body, and to learn and grow through our trials.

Alma 12:24

"... therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead."

Yes, mortality is a mess.  Mortality or probation is full of hardships that must be endured.  Most likely we don't understand how we're progressing by enduring our trials.  But if we trust in the Lord and trust in His infinite wisdom and endure to the end without wavering -- we will one day understand it and thank Him for the opportunity to progress.

A word of warning to those who waste their short time in mortality.

2 Nephi 9:27 

"But wo unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation, for awful is his state!"

Mortality is a mess.  Endure it well.  Trials, as part of our probation, help us prepare to meet God by learning and by growth.  As we learn from our trials, we progress toward becoming more like our Heavenly Father and Savior. Through our trials we are prepared to receive the glory They have for us.

Please don't waste the days of your probation.  Life is too short to throw away eternal happiness!

That's my two cents.