Katzpur
Not your average Mormon
D&C 130:20-21 "There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundation of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated -- And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated."
I have a very close friend, who is in the middle of the ugliest divorce imaginable. She has been married for probably about 40 years, and has been physically and emotionally abusive for most of that time. Even though her husband has a good job, she has had to rely on Church welfare at various times, because of choices he has made. She grew up in a dysfunctional home with an alcoholic father and a mother who made her clean up after him when he came home drunk, late at night, and wet his bed. Both of her parents are now dead and she has no siblings. She has pretty much single-handedly raised five good children, including one daughter with severe heart problems. She suffers from arthritis which, at times, is almost debilitating.
I was raised by two LDS parents in a home that couldn't have been much more perfect. I have a sister to whom I'm very close. I married the most incredible man imaginable and had two beautiful children. I have a good job, as does my husband. We're not rolling in money by any means, but we are definitely "comfortable" financially. All of us are well. My father lived to be 82 and my mother is now 94. It is inconceivable to me how I could have been more greatly blessed.
Do you see all of your blessings as being a result of your obedience to God's commandments? How do you reconcile your blessings -- provided you consider yourself to be blessed -- with the seeming lack of blessings in the lives of people you believe to be every bit as obedient and faithful as you are?
I have a very close friend, who is in the middle of the ugliest divorce imaginable. She has been married for probably about 40 years, and has been physically and emotionally abusive for most of that time. Even though her husband has a good job, she has had to rely on Church welfare at various times, because of choices he has made. She grew up in a dysfunctional home with an alcoholic father and a mother who made her clean up after him when he came home drunk, late at night, and wet his bed. Both of her parents are now dead and she has no siblings. She has pretty much single-handedly raised five good children, including one daughter with severe heart problems. She suffers from arthritis which, at times, is almost debilitating.
I was raised by two LDS parents in a home that couldn't have been much more perfect. I have a sister to whom I'm very close. I married the most incredible man imaginable and had two beautiful children. I have a good job, as does my husband. We're not rolling in money by any means, but we are definitely "comfortable" financially. All of us are well. My father lived to be 82 and my mother is now 94. It is inconceivable to me how I could have been more greatly blessed.
Do you see all of your blessings as being a result of your obedience to God's commandments? How do you reconcile your blessings -- provided you consider yourself to be blessed -- with the seeming lack of blessings in the lives of people you believe to be every bit as obedient and faithful as you are?
All I can say is that I'm glad this is a same-faith debate. If you had said this "in public," you'd have been chewed up and spit out. If you can find this anywhere in the official teachings of the Church, please let me know, and I'll gladly eat my words. Meanwhile, about all I can say is that if I were the parent of a mentally challenged child, it would be very comforting to believe this. But "comforting" and "true" are not necessarily the same thing.