Doctrine and Covenants 138:50-52 -- On A Meaningful Future

"For the dead had looked upon the long absence of their spirits from their bodies as a bondage.
These the Lord taught, and gave them power to come forth, after his resurrection from the dead, to enter into his Father’s kingdom, there to be crowned with immortality and eternal life,
And continue thenceforth their labor as had been promised by the Lord, and be partakers of all blessings which were held in reserve for them that love him."
Doctrine and Covenants 138:50-52


This whole topic is interesting I think. Maybe anything that talks about life before we were born or after death seems like a big revelation because knowledge about that is definitely out of reach through other means. Specifically for this selection though, I love the idea that Christ organized things in the spirit world and taught the spirits of the dead, and that part of what he taught them was not just about eternal reward/eternal rest, but about eternal labor... not in a never-ending slave work camp way, though "eternal labor" sounds a little like that when you first say it, but more in a "meaningful future" way, where there is always something to occupy your mind and heart... no sitting around getting bored playing a harp on a cloud (although if you find joy in playing the harp, maybe you *will* get that job?). :)

I think that afterlife work makes sense, because God has a work that he does, and that obviously gives his existence meaning, and so when we are resurrected then we will also be able to engage in meaningful work that isn't just busywork, but that also brings us joy... and I actually love that idea. Something we work at and need to rest from, just like God rested after he made the earth. :) I would almost think of it as a hobby, because it doesn't seem like something obligatory in order to earn heavenly rent (no such thing, surely), but more of something that we do because we love it. Although, for God all of this is way more than hobby in terms of how seriously he takes it, so maybe that isn't the perfect word either. Work that you love, in any case. And who knows if we will also get planet-making classes and/or duties, but whatever it is, I think it will be cool to do something that matters with all that eternity that we are getting. :)

Today, let's look forward to a non-boring future of interesting and meaningful work rather than expecting to be bored out of our skulls. :)