Grateful Sunday

This week, I've had a lot of time to think about and be extremely grateful for the knowledge and beliefs I have about our Heavenly Father's Plan of Salvation. Friends of my sister lost their new baby unexpectedly, we remembered Neal's mother on her birthday, and two friends of mine here are suffering with serious illness. It's during times like these that I am grateful that I know that this life is temporary and short in the eternal scheme of things, that I will be with my family after we die, that heaven is organized by families, that our hardships will be removed from us, that our bodies will be perfect, and that our personalities will remain the same. I'm grateful to know that children who die are brought to live with their Father in Heaven, that they are welcomed back into that place by people who love them and are connected to them by eternal bonds.

These are just some of the beautiful beliefs that have been confirmed to me throughout my life, and that have made my week better than it otherwise would have been. I know they're true. I hope these truths have helped ease the burden of those whom we know who are suffering and grieving.

This is one of the quotes that Neal's mom loved. I remember her talking about it when she was sick. I think it gave her hope and brought her spirits up, and it does the same for me:
“This life is a part of eternity. This is one stage of our eternal lives. When we die, we will go on to purposeful, active, challenging living. The life on the other side of the veil will be somewhat like the life here. If we have been clean and decent and good here, we will go on in that same spirit. If we have been rascals, we will go in that same spirit. I believe that. I believe in the eternity of life. It is as much a part of my belief as anything that I know of, that this is not the end, that there will be another life, that we will be accountable to God our Father and to our Lord Jesus Christ, that we will have work to do, and that sometime we will all participate in the resurrection. That is my hope, my faith, my testimony” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, in an interview with Ignacio Carrión, El País newspaper, 7 Nov. 1997).

Have a great week. I have some fun news tomorrow, so be sure to check in.