This past week I have been thinking about our mortal existence and the knowledge that we have about this plan of happiness. A man that I have known since high school was taken from mortality this past week due to a 5 week bout with the corona virus. I worked with him for over 30 years and he was a great example to me as an educator and as a person. He was always positive, was a great family man, and was committed to the gospel with an understanding of the plan of salvation. My initial feeling about his passing was shock and sadness. What a tragedy! He was taken too quick and too soon I thought. It truly would be a tragedy in every sense of the word if this earth life was all there was. What a blessing it is to have the understanding that this life is just part of the plan – a testing period – a fleeting moment when compared to eternity. We have all sorts of experiences during this mortality and not all would be considered “happy” events for most of us. Without an understanding of the plan, we can understand why so many people feel troubled and hopeless. What a powerful blessing this knowledge can be for each of us as we struggle through the problems of everyday life.
The following quote is from Bruce R. McConkie (Ensign – May 1974):
“Earth life, though brief, is crucial to us in our quest for eternal life. Here we receive bodies of flesh and bones and are tested in all things. Those who learn obedience and gain self-mastery will return to live with God the Eternal Father. All of us are but a few years removed from the Eternal Presence, from Him whose children we are and in whose house we dwelt. All of us are separated by a thin veil only from the friends and fellow laborers with whom we served on the Lord’s errand before our eternal spirits took up their abodes in tabernacles of clay.”
I know my friend was prepared for his return to live again with our Heavenly Father. My hope is that each of us can think about & remember the plan of salvation and what purpose this mortality serves. That is a constant challenge for me as I get caught up in the day to day “stuff” of my mortal existence. I thank each of the good members of our ward and neighborhood for the great examples that you all set for me.
Curt Hanks