Section 136-137

To address a little of yesterday's topic, it was needed that Joseph Smith died because it sealed his testimony with his blood so he would be honored and the wicked condemned (136:39). I have never lost a loved one and wondered why they were taken from the earth because I know that the Lord has a plan for each of His children, and He knows where people are needed. Sometimes His people need to be tried in certain ways so that they will one day be prepared to receive the glory that He has waiting (136:31). 

This is a new prophet giving a revelation about leaving for a new land, but I still can hear the voice of the Lord being firm yet loving through all of it. I have hear that firm and loving voice my whole life actually, because it is given in General Conference two times a year and everywhere in the scriptures! That must be why I can always feel the spirit when I am reading the scriptures, and why I enjoy listening to General Conference (which is this weekend!!! woohoo). 

But back to seriousness with section 137, I cannot begin to understand the ways that the Lord judges those who were not given the chance to learn of the gospel, but He is the only one who is able. He knows the real intents of a man's heart in order to properly judge all, and that means He judges members of the church who say they have accepted it wholeheartedly but haven't really. I am glad that He knows my heart and desires because I know that I am weak and need to be tried so that I can prove that I want to be saved in the celestial kingdom.