God's Plan of Happiness - Part 1

First off, I’d like to give a shout out to my grandpa, Don Hunt, who – if he were still living – would be turning 88 today. I still miss him a great deal, but there is some comfort in knowing that this year, my grandmother – Billie Hunt – is with him. They’re together, just as it should be. It’s a bitter-sweet, but very beautiful, thing.

I’m very grateful for God’s Plan of Happiness, which assures me that they are together, and that I will see them again. It’s that plan I want to talk about today – or, at least, the first part of it.

(If you’re LDS and think you know this story well enough, I give you free reign to skim this little section here, but – in my opinion – a refresher can’t hurt anybody!)

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I believe in a premortal life – in the eternities before, as well as the eternities we’ll experience later. If you’re not of my religion, bear with me, and I’ll try to make this as simple as I can.

Before we were born on earth, we lived with our Father in Heaven. We were his spirit children, and – literally – the light of truth. We were born for something great – every one of us. But we couldn’t go straight to it. We had to make a journey, wherein we would get bodies and become more like God.

It was in that premortal life, in what we call the War in Heaven, that we decided just how this journey would take place.

Two plans were set before us – one by God, and the other by Lucifer (Satan). Lucifer’s plan was simple: We would go to Earth, he would control us, and he would bring everyone back – and, of course, take all of the glory for himself. I suppose we could see reason in this, since none of us would want to go to Earth unless we knew that we could come back.

In God’s plan, we would go to Earth, and we would choose our own paths. This we called agency. Of course, with this agency, there was the factor of sin – something that would keep us from returning to God, since we wouldn’t be perfect. This is the reason that a Redeemer was necessary. It was Jehovah – Jesus Christ – who willingly volunteered and was chosen as our Savior. He vowed to save the children, and let all of the glory go to his Father.

Most of us agreed to God’s plan, while others – followers of Satan – did not. One third of God’s children were amongst those followers, and it was they who were cast out and denied mortality. And the others, who remained with our Father and Christ, proceeded with this plan. All who have come to this world, are here now, and will ever be here, were among those righteous believers.

So, the question is – why was agency so important, that Christ was willing to sacrifice himself for it?

Earth was vital. As children of God, we were prepared to grow and become like Him, but we needed bodies – just as He had. This we would get through our lives here now. But in the long run, bodies still wouldn’t be enough. If God wanted to make us like Him – rulers of other worlds – we’d need to be worthy.

This is why Satan and his followers were cast down to Earth, and why they’re still here today. They are the necessary opposition. They are the temptation, and the trials we must have to grow, as well as to prove ourselves.

Doctrine and Covenants 29:39

And it must needs be that the devil should tempt the children of men, or they could not be agents unto themselves; for if they never should have bitter they could not know the sweet.

When Satan tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, he wanted them to partake of the tree of Good and Evil.

Satan doesn’t mind if we know a little good, as long as we know the evil and like it. But God wants something very different: for us to know Good from Evil, and to choose the good.

Choose. Because of the plan, indeed, it is a choice. And that choice is vital, because in order to gain what God has set out for us, we must want it. The desire for good must drive our actions, and prove our worthiness for that unfathomable – but amazing – future.

I hope to cover more of the plan tomorrow, but for now, here’s my piece of advice.

Right now, we are here – on Earth, at that time where Satan is very strong. His temptations meet us every day. Whether they knock us on the head, or we barely notice them, they’re still there. I hope that we all strive to choose good.

I know that, being human, we all sin. That’s what happens. But we shouldn’t let it get us down. What happened today will soon be yesterday, and yesterday will disappear into the years of eternity. So look ahead. It’s tomorrow that’s in front of us, and it’s tomorrow that truly matters. If you’ve made the wrong choices, repent of them, and forget them. Make today the day you choose good. Make today the day you change, and make today the day you listen to the promptings of God.

May our Father bless you!

Bonnie Gwyn