Funeral of a Good Guy

I recently attended the funeral of a good man. He was always kind to me and my family, always very approachable and genuine. He had a fun sense of humor and was a character. I hope I can be like him in those qualities. 

Funerals are like that. I recently wrote in my journal that it is good for everyone to attend a funeral at least once a year, and to hold a newborn baby -- both for the same reason: It helps me evaluate and examine my life. Am I spending my time and energy doing just anything, or better things, or best things. And when I'm done with this life, what difference will I have made. 

At this funeral I noted the many references and prayers to God. While this person was a good individual and was kind to everyone, I don't know how much God was a part of his life. I don't know if he ever asked himself WWJD. So the dichotomy was interesting how you could do whatever you wanted in life for fun and return to God in the afterlife. It got me thinking about two scriptures. One I have already written about: Alma 18:5, which says the Lamanites believed in God but they assumed everything they did was right. The other scripture is 2 Ne 28:7-8, 

" And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God."

That was the feeling that I received from the funeral. Then I started thinking about how much I ask myself WWJD, and how much I change my behavior based on something that God wants or has commanded. That is an interesting line of thought also. I decided that doing something because God wants it is better than doing whatever you want, but it isn't the best. The best thing would be wanting the same thing that God wants. 

I like to break things down into nice little categories, so how about these: 

• Telestial people do whatever they want regardless of God's will. 
• Terrestial people try to do God's will. 
• Celestial people do their own will, which has become one with God's will. 

Now I'm stretching a little, I know, because of Christ's statement, "...nevertheless not my will but thine." But I think I can justify the position with Mosiah 15:7 which states that the will of the son was swallowed up in the will of the father. And the Savior in the intercessory prayer in John 17 pleaded with God that we as individuals would become one with God as He is.  Being born again is a two step process: First we yield our hearts to God, and then align our will with Gods. First we put off the natural man and then we become a saint. (Mosiah 3:19)

Elder Bednar described this concept in conference in 2007. 

The gospel of Jesus Christ encompasses much more than avoiding, overcoming, and being cleansed from sin and the bad influences in our lives; it also essentially entails doing good, being good, and becoming better. Repenting of our sins and seeking forgiveness are spiritually necessary, and we must always do so. But remission of sin is not the only or even the ultimate purpose of the gospel. To have our hearts changed by the Holy Spirit such that “we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2), as did King Benjamin’s people, is the covenant responsibility we have accepted. This mighty change is not simply the result of working harder or developing greater individual discipline. Rather, it is the consequence of a fundamental change in our desires, our motives, and our natures made possible through the Atonement of Christ the Lord. Our spiritual purpose is to overcome both sin and the desire to sin, both the taint and the tyranny of sin. 

So now my thoughts turn back to the funeral of a good man, and to the evaluation of my life. He was a good, kind man -- not because he was commanded to be, but because he was. Oh to be like that in every aspect of my life.