Our Circumstances in this Life

Today I read Alma 13, another one of my favorite chapters. This chapter talks about foreordination and answers the question that many people ask themselves about their circumstances in this life, "why me?".

Many people have asked themselves why they were born with certain privileges while others suffer or why they must suffer and why others seem born to lives of luxury. Alma teaches the people of Ammonihah in this chapter exactly why.

There is a scripture in the Bible where the apostles ask the Savior who sinned to have the result of a man born blind, himself or his parents. The Savior answered that the particular man in question was actually born blind in order that the Savior may heal him and covert those who would see it. However, the question asked by the apostles shows their understanding of a principle that most people have a real problem with in today's world. For some reason a lot of people have a real problem with the idea that their circumstances in this life are based on their performance in the previous one.

The irony is that they have no problem whatsoever accepting the fact that their circumstances in the next life are going to be based on their performance in this one. Quite odd to me that people have a problem with this, but I understand that they do. However, Alma in chapter 13 teaches us this exact principle. Alma 13:3 - 5 teaches us that all men in the pre-earth life had the exact same opportunity, to be ordained to the higher priesthood in this life. But some rejected it through their lack of faith and through the hardening of their hearts.

Which lends itself to the next thought that in our past life we were not all obedient to God's commandments even then. One then is led to the question of how could we be disobedient to God's commandments and yet remain in his presence? The answer is I don't know. I will find out someday I hope, but it is honestly not important to me. The point I am trying to make is that this is doctrine and has been taught by the prophets.

Now, I would be remiss if I did not point out that some people's circumstances in this life are also dictated by the needs of the person in question. Everyone has trials in this life and they are all unique to that person. Heavenly Father knows what will help us grow the most in this life and He has prepared those trials for us. It would do 90% of you no good to have my particular trials in life, they are meant to help me grow and rely on Heavenly Father.

And so we are left with eternal truths, our circumstances in this life are determined by our obedience to God's commandments in the past life, as well as by our needs to progress and continue on our way to eternal life. We cannot do it without the trials of this life, and if you really think about it, I think we will find that our trials in this life when examined in hind sight were the exact things we struggled with in the past life. Or so it seems to me to make the most sense. Whatever it is, I find comfort in knowing that God knows and has chosen these trials for me and that they will be for my benefit. Until tomorrow.