Life Lessons of Newtown, Connecticut

December 14th, 2012, will now be another day etched into the hearts and minds of Americans.  It joins a list of horrific events which have come to pass in this year.  Newtown, Connecticut, bears the weight of the death of twenty six deaths at the hands of a gunman.  Twenty children were murdered in two classrooms in an elementary school along with six teachers.  May the families be blessed with the comforting arms of God about them.

During times of death among children great confusion can build among the troubled at heart.  Many believe little children in death are lost and cannot return to the presence of the Father.  Others have each their own views of such deaths.  I will offer my views of these little ones, but it should never be forgotten that the sole responsibility for these deaths reside with the man who pulled the trigger.  It will be purported that society or media added to the mental state of the shooter.  Regardless of the reality of these allegations, the basic agency of choice has not been taken from us.  We have a choice in all things and this man chose wrong.

These children are not lost - but are alive in Christ.  Children who perish before they are accountable for their actions are not lost but are directly received into the kingdom of God.  Unaccountable children are pure before the One, and are gladly brought back into into the realms of heralding hosts in heaven.  It cannot be any other way.

We often look at what is lost in those lives.  High school graduation, marriage, fruitful careers, children of their own and even grandchildren are part of life’s joys and sorrows.  I am here to promise you that our mortality is an essential part of our ascension into boundless possibilities, and that every spirit born into this world will have the opportunity to grow and develop into their full measure of spirit.  At the dawn of the millennial reign of Jesus Christ even these young gems will come forth in the stature as they left this world to grow and be raised by worthy parents.  They will do so with wisdom and knowledge far exceeding any expectation we can venture at this time.  This very doctrine should be that glimmer of hope and joy for any grieving parent.

Prior to our birth we all lived and were reared in the presence of countless others who prepared us for the grand journey stemming from a mortal birth.  Each of us enjoyed individuality as we do here.  Each of us had our strengths and weaknesses that we would hopefully develop further on earth as part of that treasure of knowledge and experience that we retain throughout the eternities.  Be it known that there were and are those who’ve proven themselves of such valiance and worthiness in that home that their only requirement needed is to gain a body of flesh and bone.  There are those whose qualifications exceeds most of us here in life.  Are these children among the pinnacle of valiance described?  Are others whose mortal mental deficiencies and handicaps among these of the pure and undefiled?  Are those who “somehow seem” to teach us compassion, patience and love among these select spirits?  Make your own judgement but this doctrine rests the timeless questions of “why” tragedies such as this happen.  They tend to happen to teach the rest of us important lessons.

Even now with the events in Newtown, Connecticut, we can learn vast lessons.  Hold your children tight in love and understanding.  Tell them each day that you love them.  In the wake of these events let us pause and ponder silently how we can grow from this tragic event.  To remember is to hope.  To remember is to reach out even more in your daily thoughts and actions.  To remember - is to be of good cheer and honor the dead through goodwill toward men.