Perspective and faith is such a huge thing in the gospel. The world can be falling apart (like it is now) and people who understand the gospel can continue to go about life in happiness and content. We just know that everything will be okay eventually. When you know God, you trust His plan. Nephi trusted Him in gaining the plates from Laban. President Nelson trusted Him in refusing a move across the country. Eve trusted Him in choosing the great fall. If you know Him, truly know Him, you will trust Him, even when you can’t see the vision, you will just know that everything will be okay.
There have been experiences in my life where I have been reminded that, even though life is bumpy and difficult, in the end, everything will be better than okay. One particular experience was in the St. George temple a few years ago.
My life, as I knew it, was falling apart. The contention in my marriage was unbearable. I felt like parenting had become dysfunctional. There was a constant tug-of-war between everyday living and my relationship with my Heavenly Father. It was a chaotic jumble of uncertainty, and I couldn’t get grasp on any of it. In efforts to heal the marriage, my spouse and I had been seeing a therapist and going to the temple monthly. The therapist part of the day was difficult and punishing, but the temple part was always uplifting.
This particular time in the temple we decided to do some sealings. As I kneeled there at the alter, I couldn’t suppress the happiness within me. You would have thought everything in my life was perfect, I was so happy. I can even remember the Sealer commenting about me radiating with joy. In that moment (and others I have had like it) God’s love and greatness lifted me beyond all suffering. It didn’t matter that my marriage was only months away from collapse. It didn’t matter that I was so incredibly confused in my life. I didn’t matter that I was terrified of scarring my children’s perspectives and ideas of family and truth and promises. It didn’t matter that I was there in the temple with a man who was hateful and horrible to me. None of it mattered because His mercy and love reached far beyond it and held me there with Him.
That is how I know that everything will be okay in the end. When we get those glimpses of the joy that really can and will be experienced in the spirit world, it makes everything mortal seem so small. We have nothing to fear. We have nothing to worry about. Yes, we have a responsibility to try and do our best at becoming and being the best people we know how to be, but even in failure of all of this, our Heavenly Father’s love stretches far beyond all of it and embraces us in His mercy. In the end, everything will be okay, I know this.
Forever grateful.
