On Friday morning all across the United States, we woke up to heart-breaking news. A lone gunman, possibly (hopefully?) mentally ill, had murdered 12 innocent people, and injured dozens more. It is a senseless, terrible, random act of violence, that our nation now grieves.
By Saturday morning questions began to arise in the media, shouted from devastated individuals who struggle to understand this despicable act. How can God let this happen? How can God let such horrible things be done to His children? Is there even a God?
Preachers, pastors, evangelists, and therapists took to the airwaves to remind the world to focus on the victims, and not celebritize the name of the accused. Others reminded us that we must forgive the killer, and not hold his sins against his family, who need the love and forgiveness of the world.
It is natural to ask how can a loving Father allow such tragedy to befall His children. But we are here upon this earth to overcome the natural man, and to ascend to something higher- and that includes accepting and understanding the horrors of the world without delivering our own form of vigilante justice, or turning our backs on the Lord.
Recently, here in Meridian, we ran a cover story about the wildfire that threatened the town of Alpine, Utah. It was a beautiful and heartbreaking photo story. A comment was left in response to the article that broke my heart. “What kind of father intervenes to save on child but let’s another child’s home burn to the ground? Face it folks, this wasn’t a miracle but a fortunate shift in weather patterns that saved some of Alpine. A God that intervenes for his favorite kids is just sick and twisted.”
I will not address the assumption that somehow Utahans are preferred by the Lord. But the rest of the comment presents a question that at times can be hard to stomach. Why do some people get saved and others do not? Today in Meridian we are running a story about a woman who gave her life to serving others, and yet died at a young age from cancer. Her story also begs the same questions- why must some die, and others live?
Why do bad things happen to good people?
I do not presume to be the great scriptorian or theologian that many of our Meridian writers are. And so I turn to the General Authorities and the scriptures for answers. In a General Conference talk given in April 2010, Elder Donald Hallstrom addressed the subject. He subtitled his talk, “Never let an earthly circumstance disable you spiritually.” He shared several personal stories of deaths in his immediate family, and yet how instead of turning their backs on the Lord, they turned to Him for comfort.
Excerpts from his talk:
In the most difficult circumstances of life, there is often only one source of peace. The Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, extends His grace with the invitation “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). He further promises, “My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you” (John 14:27).
Throughout the world and among the membership of the Church, there is great joy and great pain. Both are part of the plan. Without one, we cannot know the other. “Men are, that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25) and “for it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things” (2 Nephi 2:11) are not contradictory; they are complementary. In describing how he felt when he turned to the Lord, Alma the Younger said, “My soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain” (Alma 36:20).
The Prophet Joseph Smith provided a model in handling personal tragedy and opposition. Revealed to him while in the inhumane surroundings of the Liberty Jail was this divine direction (which, in part, was a description of Joseph’s life to that point and also a forewarning): If “fools shall have thee in derision, … if thou art called to pass through tribulation; … if thine enemies fall upon thee; … if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, … and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good” (D&C 122:1, 5-7). Then the profound statement: “The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?” (verse 8). This is followed by clear direction and great promises. “Therefore, hold on thy way, and … fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever” (verse 9).
If you feel you have been wronged-by anyone (a family member, a friend, another member of the Church, a Church leader, a business associate) or by anything (the death of a loved one, health problems, a financial reversal, abuse, addictions)-deal with the matter directly and with all the strength you have. “Hold on thy way” (D&C 122:9); giving up is not an option. And, without delay, turn to the Lord. Exercise all of the faith you have in Him. Let Him share your burden. Allow His grace to lighten your load. We are promised that we will “suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ” (Alma 31:38). Never let an earthly circumstance disable you spiritually.
His most exemplary act, the Atonement, required Jesus to descend “below all things” (D&C 88:6) and suffer “the pains of all men” (2 Nephi 9:21). Thus we understand the Atonement has broader purpose than providing a means to overcome sin. This greatest of all earthly accomplishments gives the Savior the power to fulfill this promise: “If ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence … , if ye do this, he will … deliver you out of bondage” (Mosiah 7:33).
Merciful Justice
As Americans we also put a great deal of trust in the due process of law. Beyond our faith in the Gospel, we put our faith in justice.
“Due process?” you ask. “The killer did not offer his victims due process.”
Do we as a faithful people believe that we will be offered a more heavenly version of due process before the great and final judgment? (Yes, we do.) We want to be fair and merciful. We do not resort to vigilante justice, and haul the accused off to a big oak tree to deliver our own form of vengeance. When we sin, does our Father immediately smite us? Our we punished instantly for our transgressions? No. We must remember to offer the same merciful justice to those who have wronged us.
If you have ever been the accused in a courtroom (particularly if you have been wrongfully accused), you understand the awesome power of “due process” and “innocent until provden guilty.” They may be the most Christlike attributes of the American justice system.
Due process – the Christlike ability to treat an offender, even a killer, with the respect he did not offer his victims is one of the greatest gifts and abilities we can choose to offer others. We show our true moral character when we lay down our anger, and trust in the Lord, and in the laws of the land, to be the judge.
A Lesson Learned From Batman
I hate to make the jump from spiritual to Batman, but there is an ironic lesson to be learned from the story.
Bruce Wayne, as a child, and years before he would become the vigilante Batman, witnesses the brutal murders of his parents. He grows up and joins (in the film “Batman Begins”) a vigilante group known as the League of Shadows. They deliver justice without mercy, killing criminals without a trial or defense. But Bruce Wayne, after training with the group, chooses not to be one of them. He chooses compassion instead.
“I will go back to Gotham and I will fight men like this, but I will not become an executioner,” Bruce Wayne says.
“Your compassion is a weakness your enemies will not share,” Ra’s al Ghul responds.
“That’s why it’s so important,” he says. “It separates us from them.”
If we do not show compassion or forgiveness to those who have wronged us, we are no better than the criminal.
Erin Ann McBride is a writer, dreamer, and blogger. Check out her new novella, The Agency, on Amazon and Barnes and Noble for just 99 cents! You can find her daily at The Story of a Nice Mormon Girl and at SwingStateVoter.com.
I am not a robotMay 22, 2016
Thank you for your article. I was searching for something to help me have faith that God knows what he's doing allowing us to have free agency. I broke down in tears reading a horrible news story today. It left me wondering why God allows these disgusting things to happen. Sometimes I just want off this planet. Nice tie in to batman ;)