Keep the Faith and Come What May

On Sunday I was in Elder's Quorum (The third hour of our Sunday worship), the lesson came from "Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith" specifically "Chapter 21: The Second Coming and the Millennium". I recommend the lesson.

Our instructor began with the question, "When you think of the Millennium what are your thoughts?"

We had several comments and then I added

"To me the Millennium is so intangible, its like imagining Candyland. It's such a incredible idea. That prophets of old and Christ Himself will return, that the earth will return to a state of Pangaea, that Cubs will win the World Series. It seems unreal."

I got a good laugh about the Cubs.

In seriousness I don't doubt the Millennium, in fact I welcome it. I want to see what many see as impossible. It'll be an amazing time.

Now don't suppose that I'm some whack job that thinks that Adam rode on Dinosaurs. I am very practical in my belief in God and Heaven. I know that there is a God and I have 14 years of spiritual bruises to prove it.

What was interesting about our discussion was the immediacy of Joseph Smith in announcing the Second Coming. Our instructor felt that Joseph really believed it would happen in his, Joseph Smith's, lifetime.

This lead to a discussion about preparedness. Comments, strong comments were made about being ready for anything.

I've used it in the past and I used it on Sunday. I feel that whether we walk out of our home today and there it is Second Coming in all its glory or whether it's not there we need to be prepared. We could just as easily walk out of our home and be hit by a bus. Then where will be? Facing some sort of afterlife.

Our discussion moved a bit off center to why good things happen to bad people. Why when we are faithful we're rewarded but also when we're faithful we're tried.

That discussion brought me my blog post title "Keep the Faith and Come What May"

Good things happen to bad people, bad things happen to good people. Faithful God fearing people are rewarded for their faith, faithful people are also tried for their faith. And then there's things that just happen. A butterfly flaps its wings in Japan and your mom while holding your puppy gets hit by a boulder.

In all this I really feel the answer is keeping your faith.

If I know that I am doing my best to keep God's commandments, I can know why all these things happen.

I can know that a reward is a reward and not some lucky break. A trial is a trial and not some punishment. I can also reconcile the unexplained because ultimately there is such a larger part of our existence after this life. I know there is and it stretches eternally.

I really do know that the pains and hurts of this world are swallowed up in a reality of eternal life.

I know that there is so much happiness if we do what is right and let consequence follow. There is so much comfort in being a good person, doing good things. Saying sorry for our offenses and trying so hard to remain good.

I really enjoyed my lesson this week. I didn't become some doomsday fanatic. I just came a little closer to preparing myself.

And then there's this guy...