The Plan

Michael and I were driving on a country highway yesterday when we came around a bend in the road.

Cars were pulled off on both sides, people out of the their cars. Lots of cars. Lots of people.

"Must be a party," was my passing, not-all-that-interested thought. I was more focused on our destination and the excitement that awaited us.

Then I saw the car.

It was completely crumpled. Without giving details, I would be very surprised if there were any surviors.

I sucked in my breath. Put a shaking hand over my mouth. And never exhaled.

The girls had no clue. They were happily watching Tangled, completely unaware of the dramatic, sudden change that the bend in the road had brought on.

When the tears came, they didn't stop. I tried to stay as quiet as possible. I didn't want to upset the girls. So Michael and I silently mourned in the front seat. Emergency vehicles raced toward the scene in the direction we had just come from, confirming how recent the whole thing had occurred.

"Do you want to say a prayer?" Michael asked. I knew there was no way I was going to be able to get a verbal prayer out of my still shaking, silently sobbing lips, so I just nodded. I bowed my head and offered up to the Lord my most heartfelt plea for those who had most assuredly lost their life. And the emergency crews who would soon be dealing with that fact. And most importantly, the families left behind.

"Please send the missionaries to them, Father," I found myself whispering. Pleading. Because as I prayed for their peace and comfort and strength, I knew the source from whence it would come.

I've been silently grieving over what I witnessed ever since. And have been more deeply grateful for my knowledge of the plan of salvation. And the knowledge that life is just a very small part of our eternal existence.

As it just so happens, a very excellent talk was given today in sacrament meeting on the plan of salvation and its beauty and simplicity. It was very well received by at least one listener.

Part of my shock and grief was the fact that the scene that I witnessed resurfaced feelings of pain and loss over losing a very dear friend to a car accident 2 years ago. Even though we know that this life is fragile and fleeting and easily ended, it is just so shocking to see evidence of that fact playing out before you.

And I think part of the grief and pain a lot of people feel when someone passes away in such a tragic way is the sudden end to it all. The loss of opportunities - marriage, parenthood, growing old together . . .

Even for other Christians, these prospects will never be replaced. When your understanding of heaven involves harps and wings and eternal worship, some pieces of the puzzle are frustratingly missing. Yes, being received into the presence of God the Father and His Son can be comforting, but what about those missed opportunities? What about those family relationships?

Thankfully, the truth has been restored. And those who pass on before experiencing all that mortality has to offer have been promised that they will have those righteous desires fulfilled. Marriage. Parenthood. Growth and experience.

I've been pondering on this fact these last two days. At how merciful our Father truly is. That we not only have the opportunity to live eternally in His presence, but that we have the opportunity to live forever with our bodies restored to us, our family relationships restored, the opportunity for posterity as endless and eternal as we will be.

I'm grateful for the plan.

And I hope the missionaries can find those whose hearts are grieving and teach them of the mercy and miracle that the plan can bring to them.

To all of God's children.

Though we may not see all the whole picture quite yet, I am sure of the perfectness of the plan. And for the last two days, that knowledge has brought me great comfort.