Questions of the Soul.

This last week John and I honored two incredible individuals. Their battles with cancer ended within three days of each other. Both lived over a year longer than doctors projected... what a miracle. We miss them greatly. Their absence is becoming a reality, but we hope and believe in seeing them again. During one of the funerals, a question was asked,

"Why would God let this happen? Does He really love us?"

We feel like it's a question that's been asked by most of us during tragic moments of our lives. We see young families lose fathers and mothers, nations destroyed by natural disasters and innocent lives lost to cruelty.

Along with the speaker who answered these questions of the soul, we'd like to offer our perspective.

First of all, YES - God loves us. His love is perfect and always there. We are the only barrier keeping us from feeling that love. So, why does He let great people leave this world early? Why does He allow them to suffer? We don't know exactly, but we're all trying to become more Christlike. He's asked us to become like him. As we've spent time with our two friends, we know that physical suffering does not damage the spirit, if you don't let it.  Though the pains from the cancer grew worse with time, their kindness and love continued. Their spirits grew stronger while their physical bodies became weaker. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of this. He left our world physically tormented from suffering in Gethsemane and the Crucifixion, but the beauty of the Atonement is that He rose on the third day, to show us all that His spirit was strong and His body made whole...that is the greatest act of Love we can strive to comprehend.

Our perspective is limited. We cannot fully understand the enormity and grandeur of God's plan and purpose for each of us, but as we turn to Him, He blesses us and lets us feel of His love. He grants us hope that the sun will rise, the light will fill our hearts with peace and we can continue on. We feel blessed to have had these two great examples in our lives, to show us the importance of faith.

We invite all those who are reading - who have questions - who are seeking for answers - to listen to General Conference this weekend. Twice a year inspired men and women speak to the world and offer messages that answer many of these soul-searching questions... they speak to the "one". There are four sessions, Saturday and Sunday April 5 at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. (MDT). You can listen here.