DavidD, You have failed to understand that even infants promised exaltation still must and will learn much during the Millennium. Their early suffering is not wasted upon them nor without exalting benefit!
Adrea AndersonMay 27, 2020
DavidD- I have been pondering your exact question. I believe the answer has to do with the agency of the perpetrators of those crimes. God must allow everyone, including those who choose wickedness, to use their agency.
I'm reminded of the story of Alma and Amulek (Alma 14:9-11) who were forced to watch women and children be consumed by fire. They stated that those who were burned were innocent.
Alma explains to Amulek that the Lord would receive those innocents unto himself in glory (as you stated). And that he allowed that wickedness to occur at the hands of their enemies (who were acting out of agency) so that he, the Lord, could exercise a righteous judgment upon them at the last day.
I believe that Alma and Amulek were still heart broken for those who suffered and we can be too. But we can also hold on to the knowledge that God is just. Those who commit wicked acts will be brought to justice in the end.
DavidDMay 26, 2020
Of the 25% to 40% of all humans who have ever lived and who have died as children before the age of accountability, and who will go directly to the Celestial Kingdom (D&C 138:10), a high percentage of them suffer incredibly, often for years and in many ways, before actually dying. From starvation. Disease. Abuse. Physical, mental and emotional harms of all kinds.
What is the purpose of all of that suffering that does not actually cause the death of the child?
DavidDMay 26, 2020
That's the pretty typical response in our Church to the question of why do bad things happen to good people. It's necessary for our salvation and progression.
Except that it isn't. Not for everyone.
Over the history of mankind, scientists estimate that between 25% and 40% of all humans who have ever lived on earth have died before they reached the age of 5. Worldwide, even in 2020, that's not far off the mark. Our doctrine says that all of those spirits go directly to the Celestial Kingdom.
Question: what percentage of those who end up in the Celestial Kingdom do you believe will then be those who died in childhood? It's just a guess, of course. But might that be 60%? 75%? 90%? Pretty clearly, for most of those who end up in the Celestial Kingdom, suffering on this earth will have had no purpose whatsover -- other than to actually kill many of them off so that they automatically go to the Celestial Kingdom.
I'm just a little tired of people rationalizing or even glorifying suffering on earth, especially when it happens to innocents, when it really, truly doesn't make sense.
Comments | Return to Story
Andrew CurrieMay 31, 2020
DavidD, You have failed to understand that even infants promised exaltation still must and will learn much during the Millennium. Their early suffering is not wasted upon them nor without exalting benefit!
Adrea AndersonMay 27, 2020
DavidD- I have been pondering your exact question. I believe the answer has to do with the agency of the perpetrators of those crimes. God must allow everyone, including those who choose wickedness, to use their agency. I'm reminded of the story of Alma and Amulek (Alma 14:9-11) who were forced to watch women and children be consumed by fire. They stated that those who were burned were innocent. Alma explains to Amulek that the Lord would receive those innocents unto himself in glory (as you stated). And that he allowed that wickedness to occur at the hands of their enemies (who were acting out of agency) so that he, the Lord, could exercise a righteous judgment upon them at the last day. I believe that Alma and Amulek were still heart broken for those who suffered and we can be too. But we can also hold on to the knowledge that God is just. Those who commit wicked acts will be brought to justice in the end.
DavidDMay 26, 2020
Of the 25% to 40% of all humans who have ever lived and who have died as children before the age of accountability, and who will go directly to the Celestial Kingdom (D&C 138:10), a high percentage of them suffer incredibly, often for years and in many ways, before actually dying. From starvation. Disease. Abuse. Physical, mental and emotional harms of all kinds. What is the purpose of all of that suffering that does not actually cause the death of the child?
DavidDMay 26, 2020
That's the pretty typical response in our Church to the question of why do bad things happen to good people. It's necessary for our salvation and progression. Except that it isn't. Not for everyone. Over the history of mankind, scientists estimate that between 25% and 40% of all humans who have ever lived on earth have died before they reached the age of 5. Worldwide, even in 2020, that's not far off the mark. Our doctrine says that all of those spirits go directly to the Celestial Kingdom. Question: what percentage of those who end up in the Celestial Kingdom do you believe will then be those who died in childhood? It's just a guess, of course. But might that be 60%? 75%? 90%? Pretty clearly, for most of those who end up in the Celestial Kingdom, suffering on this earth will have had no purpose whatsover -- other than to actually kill many of them off so that they automatically go to the Celestial Kingdom. I'm just a little tired of people rationalizing or even glorifying suffering on earth, especially when it happens to innocents, when it really, truly doesn't make sense.
ADD A COMMENT