More than once, I have seen posts about them watching "The Madison", on Paramount. I've seen several who have found the actions on this show to be much like what they have experienced. So, I have been binge watching it the last couple of days. I can see what they have seen in it. Several things have resonated with me since I've been watching it.
On the first night, when the surviving wife goes into her husbands cabin and you can hear her screaming. Yep. Been there, done that.
Jeremiah 1:5: God tells the prophet, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee".
Job 38:4–7: The Lord asks Job, "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?" and notes that during creation, the "sons of God shouted for joy".
Ecclesiastes 12:7: States that at death, the "spirit shall return unto God who gave it," implying the spirit was with God before coming to Earth.
John 9:1–3: The disciples ask if a man was born blind because of his own sins, a question that presupposes he existed and could have sinned before birth.
Hebrews 12:9: Refers to God as the "Father of spirits".
These modern revelations provide the most explicit details about the "first estate":
Abraham 3:22–26: Describes a vision of "noble and great" spirits organized before the world was, including the Grand Council in Heaven.
Moses 3:5: Clarifies that God created all things spiritually before they were naturally upon the face of the earth.
Doctrine and Covenants 93:29: States that "Man was also in the beginning with God" and that "intelligence" is eternal.
Alma 13:3: Teaches that many were "called and prepared from the foundation of the world" based on their exceeding faith and good works in the pre-mortal life.
We came here to learn and grow. Jesus came to atone for our sins and to suffer everything any of us suffer. He knows exactly what we're feeling because He has felt it. This is one step in our eternal progression. Once we "go through the veil", we go on to the next stage of our eternal life. Our families, friends and most importantly, our spouses are there. Families are forever. The incredible sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ has ensured that we can all go back and move on to our next missions; with our families. With all those we have learned to love.
There's a plan. We know where we came from, we know why we're here and we know where we're going. The truth is available.
My concern is that, even with this knowledge, I still am pretty much a wreck, even halfway through my third year. Yes. Joann and I will be together again and, if she still wants me, we will be together Forever.
Those of you who are Christian but don't really believe in an eternal life and eternal families, I have an observation for you. So many times, on this group, I see men say they look forward to being with their wives again, even though very few denominations teach that simple truth. And it is really simple. So simple that I don't understand how there can be any argument. So simple that, instinctively, we feel that truth in our hearts. It's a shadow of a memory that we carry of the Plan of Happiness, that we all had a part in, long ago. Just like we all have an instinct that there is "something more". Even Atheists have this nagging suspicion that there just seems to be SOMEthing to it all. It's in our Spirit. Our conscious mind doesn't remember where we came from but our spiritual mind does and is trying to show us.
This is a learning time. It's a time to gain experience. Some of those experiences are hard; painful; even tragic. But, they aren't things "done to you" by a vengeful or uncaring God. They are part of the mortal experience. Something we WANTED to do, even begged to do.
Most religions struggle to explain why a baby is born with a disability or why some suffer more than others. The real answer—that we are in a customized "growth lab" we helped design—is much more satisfying than "God's ways are a mystery."
Laughing at the reactions of those rich city women to a Montana cabin, with an outhouse and a long ways from shopping is kind of funny.
But, what really struck me was the complete lack of any understanding of death. With no concept of God or spirituality or the afterlife or anything, they are so pitiable. What an awful way to face the facts of life. That death is just it. That it's over. I am so blessed to know what mortal death really is...just a transition to the Spirit World; the next stage of an eternal life. How terrible to not have any concept of that.
This isn't it, guys. This isn't the end. It isn't the beginning, either. We've been around for a long time and will be around for a lot longer. I'm sorry for those who don't have any concept of spirituality or God or the eternal nature of life. I'm also somewhat sorry for those who do believe in God and Jesus but who have never been told about the eternal nature of us all.
But, what really struck me was the complete lack of any understanding of death. With no concept of God or spirituality or the afterlife or anything, they are so pitiable. What an awful way to face the facts of life. That death is just it. That it's over. I am so blessed to know what mortal death really is...just a transition to the Spirit World; the next stage of an eternal life. How terrible to not have any concept of that.
This isn't it, guys. This isn't the end. It isn't the beginning, either. We've been around for a long time and will be around for a lot longer. I'm sorry for those who don't have any concept of spirituality or God or the eternal nature of life. I'm also somewhat sorry for those who do believe in God and Jesus but who have never been told about the eternal nature of us all.
Biblical References:
Jeremiah 1:5: God tells the prophet, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee".
Job 38:4–7: The Lord asks Job, "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?" and notes that during creation, the "sons of God shouted for joy".
Ecclesiastes 12:7: States that at death, the "spirit shall return unto God who gave it," implying the spirit was with God before coming to Earth.
John 9:1–3: The disciples ask if a man was born blind because of his own sins, a question that presupposes he existed and could have sinned before birth.
Hebrews 12:9: Refers to God as the "Father of spirits".
Unique Latter-day Saint Scriptures:
These modern revelations provide the most explicit details about the "first estate":
Abraham 3:22–26: Describes a vision of "noble and great" spirits organized before the world was, including the Grand Council in Heaven.
Moses 3:5: Clarifies that God created all things spiritually before they were naturally upon the face of the earth.
Doctrine and Covenants 93:29: States that "Man was also in the beginning with God" and that "intelligence" is eternal.
Alma 13:3: Teaches that many were "called and prepared from the foundation of the world" based on their exceeding faith and good works in the pre-mortal life.
We came here to learn and grow. Jesus came to atone for our sins and to suffer everything any of us suffer. He knows exactly what we're feeling because He has felt it. This is one step in our eternal progression. Once we "go through the veil", we go on to the next stage of our eternal life. Our families, friends and most importantly, our spouses are there. Families are forever. The incredible sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ has ensured that we can all go back and move on to our next missions; with our families. With all those we have learned to love.
This meme with the rope is an idea of how to envision Eternity. The rope stretches from out of sight behind and out of sight ahead. The ribbon indicates the amount of that Eternity that we have spent here on a Mortal Earth.
There's a plan. We know where we came from, we know why we're here and we know where we're going. The truth is available.
My concern is that, even with this knowledge, I still am pretty much a wreck, even halfway through my third year. Yes. Joann and I will be together again and, if she still wants me, we will be together Forever.
Those of you who are Christian but don't really believe in an eternal life and eternal families, I have an observation for you. So many times, on this group, I see men say they look forward to being with their wives again, even though very few denominations teach that simple truth. And it is really simple. So simple that I don't understand how there can be any argument. So simple that, instinctively, we feel that truth in our hearts. It's a shadow of a memory that we carry of the Plan of Happiness, that we all had a part in, long ago. Just like we all have an instinct that there is "something more". Even Atheists have this nagging suspicion that there just seems to be SOMEthing to it all. It's in our Spirit. Our conscious mind doesn't remember where we came from but our spiritual mind does and is trying to show us.
This is a learning time. It's a time to gain experience. Some of those experiences are hard; painful; even tragic. But, they aren't things "done to you" by a vengeful or uncaring God. They are part of the mortal experience. Something we WANTED to do, even begged to do.
One of my favorite scriptures and one that I mutter to myself often is: Doctrine and Covenants, Section 122, the end of verse 7 and all of verse 8: "know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?"
8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?"
Most religions struggle to explain why a baby is born with a disability or why some suffer more than others. The real answer—that we are in a customized "growth lab" we helped design—is much more satisfying than "God's ways are a mystery."
Families are Forever! Now that we have the Priesthood again on the Earth, we no longer have to accept "'til death do you part". Now, the possibility exists for "For time and all eternity"
This is true. This is real. This is some of the best news we've had here on the Earth since the Savior freed us from death and sin.
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