# PonderIt

## Wednesday, January 18, 2006

### Faith enough for children

While I was watching the new Joseph Smith movie, I experienced an emotion that I am noticing more and more.
Fear.
It is something I feel when I watch movies, TV shows, or newscasts which show children in danger or pain. Often I can shove it aside--after all, what are the chances that my children will be threatened by aliens (War of the Worlds), see ghosts (Sixth Sense), or be inflicted with a debilitating disease (House)?
But I couldn't dismiss the dangers I saw in the story of the Prophet. It is true that we have the wonder of modern medicine, and it's not likely that the horrible lawless persecutions of the early Saints will occur again.
But we know that it is the last days. We know that the world will get more and more evil and frightening. Sometimes I don't think I bear the thought of anything bad happening to my precious babies. I don't know if I could have survived the trials of the early Saints. Not for myself--I like to think I could deal with anything, if it is only me--but for my children. How can you watch your children suffer and make decisions that will lead to more suffering? All for the sake of a religion? I don't know if I could have endured to the end.
I guess this means I have a lot of work to do. I've always thought that my faith was sufficient for whatever is ahead of me--hopefully not in a prideful way, but my faith has always been enough (if even with tears and pleadings) to make it through my trials. I need to be more diligent at keeping the commandments, making my worship more meaningful, keeping a prayer in my heart. So that if I have to make choices similar to the early Saints, I can make the right one.

#### 2 Comments:

- "How can you watch your children suffer and make decisions that will lead to more suffering?"
  You should get used to it, I'm afraid.
  If you achieve the ultimate level of glory, you'll spend the rest of eternity watching your spirit children be led astray, suffer and deal with horrors...
  It's kind of sad, really. You work so hard and stay so obedient to the word of God and in the end you end up with a whole world of suffering of your own.

  By rick, at 1/19/2006 2:01 PM

- Rick, That is an interesting, if depressing, thought. I wonder if that doesn't overemphasize the importance and duration of mortal existence--either our own or the one that we would presumably preside over should we be exalted.

  By Bradley, at 1/19/2006 10:37 PM

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