"And the bodies of many thousands are laid low in the earth, while the bodies of many thousands are moldering in heaps upon the face of the earth; yea, and many thousands are mourning for the loss of their kindred, because they have reason to fear, according to the promises of the Lord, that they are consigned to a state of endless wo.
While many thousands of others truly mourn for the loss of their kindred, yet they rejoice and exult in the hope, and even know, according to the promises of the Lord, that they are raised to dwell at the right hand of God, in a state of never-ending happiness."
Alma 28:11-12
These are very different ways to mourn. One group is full of sadness, not only because they don't get daily contact anymore, but because they are also thinking that their loved ones are probably suffering. The other group is sad in missing daily contact, but is happy in other ways because they are thinking that their loved ones are in a better place. The chapter goes on to say that this illustrates the inequality of man, and the reasons for sorrow and rejoicing... and although while we live, I think that we all have a fairly equal chance... knowledge of good and evil, and access to the Lord, when we die, that changes. It kind of cements our life into what it has been, and you lose some of those possibilities for changing and doing better. This life is a test, and the test gets graded based on that life that you have when you die. So, if we die doing something evil, or just in a freak (picnic, lightning) accident, having not repented, then our state is lamentable. Not to say that people don't continue to have possibilities beyond the grave... just to say that, even if we all see the light and have all the ordinances eventually, our one static, unchangeable life is still there, and as far as I know, that's what our final grade depends on... so, let's get out there, repent, and do some good while we still have a chance to improve our grades. :)
While many thousands of others truly mourn for the loss of their kindred, yet they rejoice and exult in the hope, and even know, according to the promises of the Lord, that they are raised to dwell at the right hand of God, in a state of never-ending happiness."
Alma 28:11-12
These are very different ways to mourn. One group is full of sadness, not only because they don't get daily contact anymore, but because they are also thinking that their loved ones are probably suffering. The other group is sad in missing daily contact, but is happy in other ways because they are thinking that their loved ones are in a better place. The chapter goes on to say that this illustrates the inequality of man, and the reasons for sorrow and rejoicing... and although while we live, I think that we all have a fairly equal chance... knowledge of good and evil, and access to the Lord, when we die, that changes. It kind of cements our life into what it has been, and you lose some of those possibilities for changing and doing better. This life is a test, and the test gets graded based on that life that you have when you die. So, if we die doing something evil, or just in a freak (picnic, lightning) accident, having not repented, then our state is lamentable. Not to say that people don't continue to have possibilities beyond the grave... just to say that, even if we all see the light and have all the ordinances eventually, our one static, unchangeable life is still there, and as far as I know, that's what our final grade depends on... so, let's get out there, repent, and do some good while we still have a chance to improve our grades. :)
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