jo1952 wrote:We are here to learn. Life is not easy - wasn't meant to be. Lots to experience and lots of choices to help us prepare for the next phase of our eternal existence.
Hi jo,
Here is the problem I see with this (I was actually considering a thread on the topic prior to reading your comment), not everyone can learn and not everyone can make choices.
Do you have a scripture that teaches that life was not meant to be easy or is that something of your personal belief based on something other than scripture?
Hi Just Me,
You are probably already familiar with the Church's beliefs concerning those who are unable to learn. These individuals will still have received the step in their eternal progression which, even though they were limited in its use, they received a physical body. Many people are very limited (at least from our pov) in making choices; some are the same people who are unable to learn. For others, many choices can be difficult if not impossible to be made due to the actions of others. So these people who had limited opportunities to make choices still receive their physical body, and are then judged according to the intent of their heart.
I don't have any particular scripture in mind when stating that life was not meant to be easy. I say this because there is quite a bit of scripture which deals with the hardships mankind goes through, in addition to my own personal experiences and observations. With both good and evil abounding, it is impossible to not be effected by either - even when we personally never had a choice, but are rather victims or beneficiaries of the choices of others. Of course, many of us learn from our own choices. Our choices don't have to be choices of physical action. So, even if our circumstances are limited for whatever reason, we do still have mental choices which we can control (with the exceptions already mentioned above).
My mother used to teach me that if I was a good girl, then I would only have good things happen to me. As a child, I took her at her word because I didn't know anything else. Boy, was she wrong!!
Best regards,
jo
So it seems to me that we aren't all here to learn and that not everyone has the opportunity to make choices that will prepare them for the next life. The purpose of life is only extended to some, not the whole of humanity.
I guess it only makes sense to me...in my personal journey I decided that a just and merciful god would not set up an unfair "test." Therefore, in my mind, the purpose of life or the way to salvation must be accessible to every man, woman and child who has every graced this earth.
Since I can't think of any test that everyone can pass I decided life can't be a test afterall. The church certainly does teach that life is a test. I can't agree with that.