Man is that he might have joy!

My mom tells a story about a family home evening years ago when we were discussing The Plan of Salvation. Kellie and I were just little girls and my mom recalls Kellie getting very upset at the fact that Heavenly Father allows bad things to happen to people especially little babies. Wise little Krissy piped up and said, "Well Kellie, I guess you want to follow Satan's plan." Yikes. Some days I have to remember the things I knew as a child. As I see suffering around me, I just want to somehow change the will of God. I understand why when we heard the Lord's plan and Satan's plan, 1/3 of the host of heaven followed Satan. They were short-sighted cowards. They wanted everything to be perfect, no suffering, no difficulties, just easy. They were willing to give up eternal peace and happiness for what is just a moment in the grand scheme of the eternities. Our earthly lives. They heard that we would spend a short time on earth and that we would bear children and love them more than words can explain. Then they heard those children would be mortal and they might get sick, hurt or even die. They heard that we would be forced to work hard and provide for ourselves and that sometimes that would be difficult, even impossible. They heard that we would give our whole heart to another, risking having our heart broken. They heard that others would make bad choices that would affect the innocent. They heard our bodies will get sick. They heard that we would die. That's all they heard. It sounded awful. They stopped listening. They missed the part about a Savior who would come and redeem the world. A Savior who would make it possible for us all to live together with our families in happiness forever. Forever! They missed the part about the unbelievable joy we would have through going to the earth, obtaining a body and choosing the right. They missed the part about the joy bearing children would bring. They missed the part about the great bounty we would experience as mortals. They missed the part about the joy felt when one repents. They missed the part about the laughter, fun and excitement we would experience as mortals here on this earth. They missed the part about enduring well, trying hard, repenting when necessary and being able to keep our bodies forever. Yes, we will die. They missed the part about the glorious reunion with our Father, our Savior, our families and even our own bodies. Did I mention that body will be perfected? Oh, yes it will be perfect! That's a pretty big part to miss. They had no faith. They were willing to give up an eternity of joy to escape a mere moment of sorrow. Yes, they were cowards. I hate to admit it, but some days I am a short-sighted coward too. I want only joy and happiness. I long for the sorrow around me to disappear. Then I remember the kind of spirit I am - the kind of spirit we all are. We are not cowards! We are here being tried and blessed, experiencing the bitter with the sweet. It is hard! We knew it would be. We also knew we would have a Savior, a Comforter and a loving Father in Heaven who knows us, loves us and is in charge. I am so blessed to have the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation. To know who I am and what I am destined for. To feel love and to give love. We are so blessed to be here! Sweet baby James