What if You’re Wrong?
A question was once asked of a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, with regard to his belief in the existence of a god who created and is interested in man,
“What if you’re wrong?”
This led me to consider what my answer to this important question might be. After some deep thought, here is my response:
Firstly, as a human being, in a social context, the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teach me to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ with regard to human relations. We are taught to treat others as we would have them treat us. We are taught that we are all brothers and sisters, not only in a mortal sense, but as an eternal family, children of God. We are taught to judge mercifully, to be kind, generous, and respectful of all. We are taught to choose that which edifies ourselves and others and to reject and avoid that which destroys or diminishes goodness and righteousness. Faithfully living according to these principles, in and of themselves irrespective of whether God exists, makes the world in which we live a better place.
Physically, meaning as regards the mortal body and physical well-being, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are taught to eschew that which is unhealthful to the body. We are taught to avoid taking into our bodies harmful substances such as coffee, tea, alcohol, tobacco, and any other harmful or addictive substance, except under the prescription of a qualified medical doctor. We are taught to exercise regularly and to avoid excesses or activities that may diminish the health of the body, such as overeating or eating unhealthy foods or any other harmful activity. We are taught that the body is “the temple” of the spirit and that a healthy body increases the possibilities of joy and productive service in this life. If there is no God and no spirit giving life to the body, there is still no downside to living according to these doctrines, counsels, and principles.
With regard to mental health, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we are taught that we are not alone in this universe; there is help for us from a higher power. We are taught there may be divine purpose in our disappointments and struggles in this life. We are taught to hope in the face of hopelessness, to believe that we can overcome adversity and may even conquer impossible odds, because He who helps us has power over all things. We are taught that we may be forgiven of even our most egregious errors and become clean once again, leaving our past behind us to start again with a newness of life, going forward with the prospect of avoiding those mistakes in the future. No psychologist, medical professional, or certified counselor of any kind will deny there is healing power in hope for those who struggle with depression, loss, and many other mental health issues, regardless of whether those hopes are founded in a power that may be non-existent. It is the belief that opens the door to the healing power of hope.
Economically, we are taught to be frugal, to avoid debt as much as possible, to go forward in obtaining education, in perfecting a trade, or both. We are taught from our youth the value of self-reliance, hard work, industry, service, honesty, and perseverance. Woody Allen once said, “Eighty percent of life is just showing up.” We are taught not only to show up, but to show up well-prepared and with a worker’s mindset. Any speaker or literature proponing principles of success in career and life in general will include all of these valuable virtues, irrespective of whether God exists.
Over and above it all, however, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are taught that this mortal life, in itself, is a time of learning and progress, preparatory for an eternal life to come. There is, in fact, an overarching purpose that gives meaning to our mortal struggles and strife. We are taught that we are, in very fact, children of loving and kindly Heavenly Parents, who are eternal and who created and prepared this earth as a university, of sorts, wherein we may learn to become as they are, and so qualify for that eternal joy in that celestial world in which they exist and from which we came. They provided guidelines, counsels, and gave commandments, which, if we abide by them willingly, will lead us to the life they live. We believe they so loved us that our Heavenly Father sent His Only Begotten Son (in the flesh) to atone, or pay the eternal price, for our infractions against His commandments, whatever they may be, on conditions of repentance. We may be washed clean in the blood of Jesus Christ if we will repent of our sins and return to the path He has laid out for us to follow. If we will do so, we are promised that we may return to our Heavenly Home, to go no more out, there to live again with our Heavenly Family, sealed for eternity to our Heavenly Parents, Their son and our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the family we, ourselves, have created here in this mortal existence. We are promised that, just as our Heavenly Parents continually extend their kingdom and glory by creating worlds and children to inhabit them, worlds without end, we may also have eternal increase, worlds without end.
For God has said, “For behold, this is my work and my glory — to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” (Moses 1:39)
Now, I put the same question to you, “What if you’re wrong?”
TH