Probably based on a sermon of the same that explains that the Terrestrial kingdom is like the moon because it waxes and wanes as it fills and empties of those who are progressing through it.

“Christ makes no promises as to what we will experience or be spared in this life; all He promises is that He will be waiting for us on the other side of whatever we are called to pass through. And that He always keeps His promises.”

While this sounds like something I would hear in Gospel Doctrine class, I do take issue with your statement “all He promises is that He will be waiting for us on the other side.” Christ DOES make a promise to us in this life. It goes like this:

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

Those who teach that we can receive no comfort in this life negate the gospel. Christ taught ‘come unto me’ repeatedly:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

“For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.”

Christ does offer us more than just a ‘promise’ of something good after this life. He can make our burdens light just as he did for Alma and his people in Mosiah 24. That is the core purpose of the gospel; the message that we can ‘come onto Him’ with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and receive of Him comfort and a pure heart.

Compared to the orthodox Christian concept of the nature of life (which I see as astoundingly simple and lacking in the need for any kind of deep faith whatsoever), concepts of eternal progression – in their various manifestations – are so much more inspiring and edifying and stimulating and faith-based that it’s like comparing apples and green beans.

I have always been intrigued by the scripture. However, I think people stop reading too soon. Here is something that may point to the ‘rest of the story from Alma 34:’

“32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.”

Reading on into verse 33, one finds an interesting conditional clause:

“IF we do not improve our time while in this life, THEN comes the night wherein there can be no labor performed.”

Does this suggest the following – if we improve our time in this life we can perform labor following our ‘day?’ but if we don’t, we are ‘dammed’ as in stopped from progress?

I have a copy of the first edition of Talmadge’s Articles of Faith which includes a reference to progression from kingdom to kingdom. I guess it didn’t meet with the brethren’s approval at the time because it was removed in the second edition.

I suspect that there is more to the story. I emphatically support the idea that the gospel was intended to prepare us to become like Him. I doubt that any of us could reach that lofty goal in the span of a few decades. If I can use myself as an example, I didn’t really ‘wake up’ until my time was short…

As I analyze the alternatives, I can see at least two options. The first is that we do have the opportunity to progress after this life and continue to develop that characteristics of God as a spirit, the idea expressed by James Talmadge. The second would be the concept of multiple mortal probations, something found in places like the Journal of Discourses. In my opinion, either idea does not run counter to the compassion of a loving God.

Those of us who need the work, need the work and ought to pay attention to it and to avoiding going the other way.

Those who don’t need the work, obviously don’t need the work.

Perhaps something for another thread. As I pondered upon the story, I was struck by the contrast between the life experiences of the people in this story. David, Maria Elena and Kristiana with full faculties placed in an environment where the limits of compassion and perseverance are tested. On the other side, Rebekah, Jenny, Ryan, and Sean limited in their capacity to comprehend any of life’s glories or challenges move from day to day trapped in a body which offers little in the way of ‘spiritual processing capacity.’

Moroni teaches us the ‘little children are alive in Christ’ and do not need repentance nor baptism. He teaches that a little child that dies before they are able to comprehend the meaning of the gospel is saved. The question is: Does 21-year-old Sean represent a little child?

We are given experiences by which we can develop those attributes that God exhibits. David and Maria has been given the opportunity to demonstrate patience and compassion for decades as they raised four children who required much. Jenny, for her entire life remained ‘as a child’ and was not capable of experiencing the trials and tests that most of us are confronted with day by day.

Do Rebekah, Jenny, and Ryan simply ‘sail through’ to the Celestial kingdom? Will they stand next to those struggled and prevailed in life’s challenges? Will God bestow upon them the same glory and honor as those whose lives endured significant choices and consequences? Will they be raised during the Millennium absent of the temptor’s power and is that a reasonable substitute for a life of learning?

What does it mean in this context when the scriptures state that ‘this life is the time to prepare to meet God?’ That we work out our salvation with fear and trembling?

While, on the surface, the teachings of the Church are comforting relative to those who die without knowledge or experience, a deeper analysis leaves one questioning just what is expected. Our life experiences shape our soul. Joseph Smith taught that life’s bumps and bruises are intended to produce a polished shaft for the Lord’s quiver. Yes, I know the pat answer that we don’t know and that the Lord will provide. Perhaps it is that I am no longer satisfied with the sound byte response to deep questions.

Thank you for these thoughts. I just watched “Emma Smith: My Story” in the dollar theater in Provo today, and trials are thick on my mind.

Thank you, Ray and the Dahlquists.

I have learned that our deepest and most difficult trials can bring us closer to God than anything else can. I am profoundly grateful for that lesson; I just wish I had not had to learn it the way I did.

I wish I had arrived to where I am with much less heartache. That our marriage and family would be strong and vital without all we’ve been though. Yet, I don’t curse the personal growth and faith that has come in the wake. Neither would I give back to God if all it meant is that I wouldn’t have had to endure that pain. Maybe it is good I lived through so I could look back with these eyes. At the time I could see nothing better than to mourn my sadness and death and wish my life weren’t my own.

Thank you for touching post, Ray.