Week 14: Revelation 16-22

Revelation 20:3-6 reads, "...Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said [...] I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." Needless to say with the events that occurred early today at the Boston Marathon, my heart is aching for those who are suffering, emotionally or physically or both. Life is so fragile. It is so important to treasure each moment we are given on this earth, for when we live on a planet where every man has been granted agency, our lives are often subject to the consequences of others' choices. This scripture is a blanket of comfort in a time of fear and doubt. The Almighty God and our Heavenly Mother look down on their children and know each by name. They know the fears, the anxieties, the insecurities, and stresses of life that plague each child. And because the Savior came and suffered all, we have a friend who can wipe away our tears and say, "I know what you're feeling." On top of that, we know that after this mortal existence, there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. This is doctrine. When each of us reaches our time to enter into God's rest, it truly will be a state of comfort and relief from worldly burdens and limitations. The eternal perspective these verses of scripture provide are a needed balm for the wounds inflicted by the events of our day, and I am so, so thankful for them.