Shall We Not Go On?

This post was not supposed to be the first post for this blog. I have an entirely different post, nearly complete, saved and waiting in the rafters. I don't even know that I planned for this to be the second post. It was just an idea that came to me after watching the new Joseph Smith movie with a friend of mine.

I honestly can't remember if this scripture was quoted in the film, but one of the scriptures I think of when I think of Joseph Smith is Doctrine and Covenants, Section 128, verse 22. It begins: "Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward..."  The scripture is in reference to gospel matters, which was the original inspiration for this post. Joseph Smith, as well as many others, went through unspeakable trials to bring this gospel to the earth. So many things happened, yet the call was simple: shall we not go on in so great a cause? There is no logical alternative. The gospel is true: it is the great cause that we are all involved in as members of the church. What on earth could persuade us to not go on?

But life is hard. Right now, a number of my closest friends are enduring trials that are heartbreaking to me as a mere bystander. I cannot even fathom that pain that comes from trials such as these. The world would expect these dear sisters to sit down on the side of the road and give up, to let the world just pass them by for at least a little while. Instead, I have been deeply inspired by the faith that my friends have shown. I know that they have shed tears, but each of them have been quick to mention the comfort and peace that comes to them from the gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether it's the ability to attend the temple, the testimony of the Plan of Salvation, or the ability to communicate with our Father through prayer, I have seen and felt the Spirit at work in the lives of my friends.

I know that life is a journey, but isn't that exactly what's implied in the scripture? Go forward and not backward. Behind us lay the trials and fears of yesterday; ahead lies the promise of healing and the hope of eternal life.  I hope my friends don't mind my mentioning of the struggles in their lives; I only do it because I am so honored to be their friends and hope that others can be inspired by their strength and faith.

Shall we not go on? How can we do anything but? Some days are gut-wrenchingly hard, and all we want to do is stay in bed and not do a thing, but that's not helping us any. Getting out of bed and facing the day, each day, is the first step in going forward, not backward. It is my prayer that we may all keep this simple challenge in our minds when things seem hard, because there's always something more just ahead.