From: "Matthew Slyman" <ma...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: Re: why does God allow disease etc.
Date: 1998/04/02
Newsgroups: alt.religion.mormon.fellowship
God for the most part lets nature run its course. This means; because
of the
existence of good germs, there might arise bad germs too.
Allowing them to arise...
In his compassion for us; God gives us instruction from the prophets
to help
the righteous avoid these things. For example, the Word of Wisdom,
Noah
being instructed in a dream to build the Ark, Lehi being instructed
likewise
to leave Jerusalem before it being sacked by the Babylonians...
In his compassion he also delegates His divine authority to us to deal
with
these things. This is called the "Priesthood". If it were not for all
these
illnesses and natural disasters, there would be little opportunity for
us to
use this tool which he has given to us; and we would not grow
spiritually.
If there were not trials and setbacks in this life, there would be
little
need for exercising faith in our God, and it would be no test.
We came to earth to:
(i) Be tested,
(ii) Gain physical bodies,
(iii) Grow spiritually through tests of character; and the inspiration
of
the Holy Ghost.
Those germs are there for our good. Sometimes they overcome us and
even kill
us, but this is only a temporary victory for "Death" - our families
can be
reunited and our bodies will be resurrected without corruption. It is
to
serve our longer term good that He allows these things to happen to
us.
When we go camping in the hills with virtually nothing but ourselves,
a
tent, the sky above us; and then we come home again, we really
appreciate a
nice warm bed, shower, house...
Without the illness; we could never appreciate the blessing of good
health.
Without sadness and pain, ignorance and darkness; there is not
happiness and
comfort, knowledge and light. (See also 2 Nephi 2:)
Eventually the earth will be perfected and there will be no more
disease and
suffering, earthquakes or hurricanes; it will become as heaven. We
should
act as stewards over what God has blessed us with, and He will give us
stewardship in that heaven.
Matthew Slyman
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