God’s happiness is not associated with His children’s behavior. His happiness is that He provides all of his children with the ability to come back into His presence.
Each of us are tried for our own good that we may know our own selves. By knowing who we are, God may provide us with exaltation.
So why do bad things happen to good people? Research has shown that there are 13 reasons in scripture: only 1 of the reasons is because good people behave badly.
2 Nephi 9:48
Behold, if ye were holy I would speak unto you of holiness; but as ye are not holy, and ye look upon me as a teacher, it must needs be expedient that I teach you the consequence of sin.
D&C 101:1 -5
Verily I say unto you, concerning your brethren who have been afflicted and persecuted, and cast out from the land of their inheritance. I the Lord, have suffered the affliction to come upon them, wherewith they have been afflicted, in consequence of their transgressions.
The other 12 reasons are because they are good.
Mosiah 3:19 (1st notice the absence of sin or Satan. 2nd notice Who is acting upon whom.)
For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
Mosiah 23:21
Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.
Satan is not involved, and neither is any reference to sin or the consequences of sin.
Abraham 3:25
And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them.
An interesting note is that the Gods are doing the testing, not Lucifer.
Since our purpose in life is to be tested so that we may return to the presence of our Father in Heaven, it stands to reason that we must go through the necessary steps to qualify.
Taking Abraham as an example, here are 4 trials in order to pass the Abrahamic test.
1. Abraham was asked to sacrifice something he loved very much.
a. He was commanded to sacrifice Isaac, his only son through Sariah.
b. What do we love very much?
i. Money
ii. Time
iii. Career
iv. Calling
v. Socializing
vi. Playing
vii. Sports
viii. Toys
ix. Prestige
x. Mediocrity
2. Abraham was asked to do something he didn’t want to.
a. He didn’t want to give up his long awaited son. He knew it would break his wife’s heart. It weighed heavy upon him for the perceived loss of his loved one.
b. What don’t we want to do?
i. Serve
ii. Think
iii. Work
iv. Obey
v. Submit
vi. Conform
vii. Endure
viii. Accept
ix. Follow
x. Lead
xi. Be held accountable
3. Abraham was asked to do something he did not understand.
a. Sacrificing Isaac made no sense. He was promised seed as numerous as the sands of the see.
b. What don’t we understand?
i. Certain commandments
ii. The positions of our leaders
iii. Why our leaders make certain decisions
iv. Why we are not called to certain positions
v. Why we are called to certain positions
vi. The scriptures
vii. The temple
viii. Why we don’t get answers to prayer
ix. Why we suffer
x. Why our business went bankrupt
xi. Why our spouse violated temple covenants and we are asked to forgive
xii. Why our children go astray
xiii. Why members of the church do this or do that
4. Abraham was asked to do something against his value system. (This one is not required.)
a. Human sacrifice was abhorrent to God.
b. Are we ever commanded to act contrary to our value system?
c. Heber C. Kimball commanded to give up his wife to Joseph. God tested Heber and he passed. Heber C. Kimball’s Wife, Vilate
“During the summer of 1841, shortly after Heber’s return from England, he was introduced to the doctrine of plural marriage directly through a startling test-a sacrifice which shook his very being and challenged his faith to the ultimate. He had already sacrificed homes, possessions, friends, relatives, all worldly rewards, peace, and tranquility for the Restoration. Nothing was left to place on the altar save his life, his children, and his wife. Joseph demanded for himself what to Heber was the unthinkable, his Vilate. Totally crushed spiritually and emotionally, Heber touched neither food nor water for three days and three nights and continually sought confirmation and comfort from God.” Finally, after “some kind of assurance,” Heber took Vilate to the upper room of Joseph’s store on Water Street. The Prophet wept at this act of faith, devotion, and obedience. Joseph had never intended to take Vilate. It was all a test.”
– Biography of Heber C. Kimball, “Heber C. Kimball, Mormon Patriarch and Pioneer.” By Stanley B. Kimball, page 93.
i. Join a church that didn’t allow the priesthood to all men.
ii. Join a church that once promoted polygamy
In the Journal of Discourses we read that God will have a tried people. (JD vol. 10, ppg 335-6.)
The crucial test in life is not between fame and obscurity. It is not between wealthy and poor. It is between GOOD and EVIL. Some folks are tested by being good looking, some are tested by not being good looking. Others are tested with poor health, and others by an unfaithful spouse.
The test of Abraham is drinking from the bitter cup and not becoming bitter. One cannot make a tri-lateral covenant (husband-wife-God), bi-laterally (omission of one person.)
