WHY BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE

June 17, 2012

We gave this talk in Sacrament meeting today. It is always a blessing for me to be able to share parts of my life with Jean. We obviously didn’t get through because we had enough material for a three-semester course, but we had fun and perhaps gave focus to a point or two that might have helped someone.

Sister Jacobs has just shared a sketch of our lives together.  Note: Jean shared a beautiful sketch of our life, telling about our children and our youthful ventures as students. What a blessing she has been.  We would like to share our testimonies and our questions and answers regarding our assigned topic in the same way we have lived our lives – as a team.

First, we were asked to share our feelings regarding the blessings of being fathers.

Sister Jacobs, would you share your understanding of what fathers do and how they bless our lives. Perhaps you could share some of the beautiful ways your father blessed the lives of your family in younger days and anything else you are inspired to tell. Jean shared some nice thoughts about what husbands, fathers, and Priesthood holders should do to strengthen their families. This was great information and I will use it in a subsequent weekly note.

Next, we have been asked to talk about a question that has been considered by billions of humans over human existence.

Two questions: Why do bad things happen to good people?

                                Why do blessings come to people like me that are too incomprehensible for the frail                                      human mind to begin to understand?

We discussed some of the blessings of living Christ-centered lives and how carefully listening to the promptings of the Holy Ghost can help us in our Mortal and eternal/immortal lives. For those of other faiths Moroni is the last book in the Book of Mormon. In this book, Moroni shares wonderful thoughts on how we can come unto Christ and be perfected in him through the atonement. Through  forgiveness and repentance.

Moroni 6:7 – 10

Moroni 7:11, 12

Moroni 7:31 – 36

Moroni 9:25, 26

Moroni 10:32 – 33

1 Nephi  7:15 – 21 the power of God, the blessing of forgiveness and repentance

Luke 23:23 – 26

 

We briefly noted some of the pernicious sins and crimes against humanity wrought by mortals, who in many cases used did so under a misguided understanding of “the purposes of God.” Why have the traditions of men stirred up the hearts of millions to plunder, maim and kill in the name of some difference in interpretations spawned by man? These travesties began early in the earthly span of man’s existence have never stopped. Caused by God as some proclaim? Certainly not! These are straight from the jaws of Hell and Satan. They can and will deprive us of all that is sacred and honorable if given half the chance. This is done by deceit and treachery by Satan’s minions who want what we have. Since they can’t get it they are determined to take us down to their level.

 

Why was Abel killed by his brother Cain?

·         Crusades

·         Protestants and Catholics in Ireland

·         Muslem/Islam dedication to forge ahead to the last days

·         Death and starvation in most of the world’s population

·         Cancer and heart diseases take the lives of millions

·         Bubonic plague killed millions

·         Influenza killed millions in the 1915 – 30 era

·         Countries and rulers maiming, enslaving, and killing their own all over the world.

 

As Christians are blessed with the “fullness of the Gospel” which provides us with resolution. It would be a gray day in our lives if we did not have scriptural and prophetic understanding and direction. For example:

• When a children die, we know that they have a place in the Celestial kingdom. How blessed we are to understand the nature of eternal life. These children can be part of our eternal family. The hard part is up to us. We must live and work and play according to the Gospel plan. We must remain on the strait and narrow path, holding ever fast to the Iron Rod (or the word of God)
• When someone is born with special needs such as a Down’s syndrome child, they become the teachers – we the learners. We were visiting the Gary and Kathrine Kunz family recently. Their wonderful son, Karl, was born with Down’s syndrome. He is one of the most amazing young men I have ever known. He can tell you all the temples he has gone through for baptisms for the dead, how many temples are currently active, and many, many more testimony building things which bless the Kunz family. While we were there he went to his room and brought back a true masterpiece of art. He had drawn the Denmark Temple and labeled it such at the bottom. Anyone that thinks that being in Karl’s presence is anything other than a glimpse of eternal life and exaltation is simply missing the point of life.
• When someone suffers from the big C, or croaks prematurely with a heart attack, or is killed by a drunk driver, or is slaughtered in some far away country through mindless acts of war, pestilence, or disease, we know that their lives are part of God’s great plan. We will eventually be able to assist them through temple covenants by providing what they were not able to get while in their earthly tabernacle. The blessings of the temple, provide us with more answers than all the historians, scriptoriums, and philosophers in history combined.
• When someone becomes unable to speak, or use their body functions through the ageing process, the ravages of Alzheimer’s, strokes, or other impairments, we ponder and pray for them and for ourselves, with the ever-constant prayer in our hearts that we can “endure to the end.” How sweet it is to know that our loved ones will reunite through the veil. One of the most amazing examples of eternal love is that of Jean’s parents. Jean, will you share this wonderful story with us. Note: again this is a beautiful story I will share for Jean at another time.
• Health and sickness; pleasure and pain; goodness and evil; God and Satan. Sister Vanderlaan spoke of the many illnesses and life challenging experiences in our beloved Toquerville Second Ward. We have witnessed mighty miracles in your midst in the few months we have been here.
• We have seen neighbors helping neighbors. Loving acts of kindness through everything from simple smiles, handshakes, and acknowledgement; to heavy labor, spiritual guidance, Priesthood blessings, and opportunities to serve.
• We have witnessed people willing to share their time and knowledge in assisting us and others in finding better ways to serve the Lord through:
• Spiritually uplifting sacrament meeting talks
• Wonderfully spiritual sacrament time from the priesthood
• Well organized and spiritually/factually correct Sunday school lessons
• Opportunities to serve and learn in priesthood and relief society activities
• Block parties aimed at friendship and love in each neighborhood

God bless each of you as you strive to serve God and your fellow beings.

 

Duane Jacobs, Friend, brother, uncle, cousin, and father