LL: The "testing" idea is one I had a problem with as a Catholic though. If God is omniscient, then he would know what the result of any test would be. Some pretty awful stuff happened to Job and Abraham. How did they feel when they were told God was testing them, even though he knew the outcome anyway? "Gee thanks God, for giving me a horrible life/making me think I had to kill my son"? What do you think, personally, such tests would achieve? People often explain adverse events in this way but it implies a bit of a sadistic streak on the part of the tester if you ask me.

Jeanie: I can see how you would feel that way. My problems when I was struggling with my own faith early on (before becoming LDS) were that no one could give me any real feedback on what heaven was about. From what I was being told we would just praise God all day there. I use to think, well that would make him quite the egomaniac!! (Which I could not accept - I DO worship Him but believe my purpose is more than that). I asked this guy from church and he said "don't worry about it, just make sure you get there." (I was just an irritating teen ager to him).

But in answer to what you said, all I can say is that its about obedience and faith. But we are not proving ourselves to God, even, as much as we are to ourselves. I know in the case of Abraham he was taught a lot about the sacrifice God was going to be making of his own son so it was also an object lesson. He trusted in the Lord, though, so went along with it. Some people as in prophets, etc, have been shown such revelations and visions, etc. that they cannot deny...they have been shown more and as a result have a capacity to deal with a lot more than the average person. Even Christ had to learn who he really was to be able to endure what he had to suffer. He was ministered to by angels other than when he had to be left alone for a time. He was half human.

Some things most definitely don't seem fair in this life. I honestly think, though, that we knew before we came into our various situations that we had an idea, at least, what we would have to go through in our lives. Coming to the earth to get a body was a good thing no matter what, albeit, scary.

One author put it into analogy form in a fictional story about a person born very crippled. This poem from the book is simplistic, but kind of puts it in perspective.

The Monument

God
Before He sent His children to earth
Gave each of them
A very carefully selected package

These:
He promised, smiling
Are yours alone. No one
Else may have the blessings
These problems will bring you

And only you
Have the special talents and abilities
That will be needed
To make these problems
Your servants

Now go down to your birth
And to your forgetfulness. Know that
I love you beyond measure.
These problems that I give you
Are a symbol of that love.

The monument you make of your life
With the help of your problems
Will be a symbol of your
love for me,

Your Father
- Blaine M. Yorgason

Its a children's book, but it meant a lot to me when I read it. It helped me quit questioning why everything in my life had to be so hard. I did not have an easy childhood nor an easy time becoming a member of the church, but became strong from what I dealt with. Mostly I learned myself how strong I am. But, of course, we have to endure to the end. I've had one of the hardest times of testing in my life this past few years. Losing my brother was one of those tests not even a year after my beloved grandmother died. Its part of life, and I know I will see them again, but now at the same time my mother is not well. These 2 last blows at 76 now, for her, with all the other losses she has suffered have sent her into a mental state. She couldn't even dress herself for my brother's funeral. I went by to pick her up and she hadn't even bathed. She couldn't face reality. And she wasn't like that till she saw how bad off he was when she saw him in the hospital before he died. There are sad things in this life. (She doesn't have the gospel so doesn't have it in perspective). I have felt both my grandmother and brother's presence... I even use to be told we would not know each other in the next life!! I don't believe that! We believe families and relationships can endure through the eternities.

There is hardship all over the world above and beyond anything I can comprehend, but this earth is only a temporary realm in the perspective of eternity. People's traumas will be healed and things lost restored. Remember, too, the great rewards that Abraham was promised and given. After the trial of his faith.....