A Plan of Happiness

I attended a funeral yesterday of an amazing man. This man was a father, a husband, a brother, a son, a bishop, a missionary, and a friend. He was an enduring example of Christlike love and service. The chapel where his funeral was held was full of people who had felt the influence of this mans love and kindness in their life. For such a fulfilling life, one might think that he must have been very old, but to the contrary, he was only 66. He was in good health, as far as anyone knew, and died unexpectedly in about a peaceful 10 minutes time.

To most, this seems much too soon to be taken from this earth and while most also might expect his funeral to be full of mourning and confusion, his was not. The messages shared at his funeral were ones of hope and peace. A dear mutual friend of ours and influential leader of the local congregation of our faith in the southern Milwaukee area (a counselor in what we call the stake presidency) gave a eulogy which highlighted the blessings of what many refer to as the plan of happiness. This is a well known doctrine in our church, and one that provides clarity, hope and purpose to life. As a part of this plan, which was laid out by our loving Father in Heaven, we are able to return to live with our families in the presence of God for eternity after we die. I have heard that this is a rather unique concept among religions, and one that brings many to the gospel of Jesus Christ that I believe to be true.

This plan not only provides me with the hope of reuniting with my lost relatives and friends like the one that passed this week, but it clarifies the importance of families on the earth. It is the same plan the Jesus Christ presented in his gospel while on the earth. After time had past when Christ was no longer on the earth, many important parts of this plan were lost and forgotten. People became confused and followed after their own ideas. My church believes that this doctrine was restored through the revelation of a modern day prophet, Joseph Smith. This doctrine emphasizes 3 important "pillars" in the plan of happiness. The creation of the earth and man, the fall of Adam and Eve, and the atonement of Jesus Christ. These three vital occurrences are what allow us to live in families now and forever. Let me explain...

The creation  provided us with a place to live with earthy parents and physical bodies. The fall allowed us all to be born into this world and to experience life at its fullest. Complete with ups and downs, happiness and tears, the gift of agency in our mortal life enables us to create our own families and destinies. Last, the atonement makes our lives worthwhile. It provides us with the gift of being able to return back into the presence of our Heavenly parents, even though we may sin and stumble. We repeat this pattern regularly throughout our own lives. We experience our own creations of children, new jobs and other opportunities. We experience falls as we may stumble, confront failures, challenges and opposition. We then turn to the power of the atonement as we seek for comfort and healing.

I am so grateful to understand a plan that provides clarity and purpose to my earthly life and relationships, and peace and comfort that death is not the end. I have experienced the loss of many loved ones in my life. The most significant was my own mother, who died when I was only 12 years old. I look forward to the day when we can be reunited as an eternal family, along with others who have passed including grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, a sister and cousins. The plan that allows this to happen is a plan of salvation, and it truly does bring me happiness in my life.