If you only knew who you are and what you did and how you earned the privileges of mortality, and not just mortality but of this time, this place, this dispensation, and the associates that have been meant to cross and intertwine with your lives; if you knew now the vision you had then of what this trial, this probation, what in my bitter moments I call this spook alley of mortality, could produce, would produce; if you knew the latent infinite power that is locked up and hidden for your own good now—you would never again yield to any of the putdowns that are a dime a dozen in our culture today. Everywhere pessimism, everywhere suspicion, everywhere the denial of the worth and dignity of man [and woman].
Truman G. Madsen, "The Highest In Us", BYU Speeches, March 3, 1974
In times when I am struggling in life, the thought of me joyfully accepting and eagerly anticipating all the trials and challenges I would experience here in mortality, help lift me up emotionally. That thought gives me strength.
The fact that I knew what I would go through and still couldn't wait to get here, is powerful. It's a thought that isn't at the forefront of my mind most often, but after reading a talk, like Truman G. Madsen's, it provides me with renewed vigor for this life and everything it comes with.
Another comforting thought is the fact that we all must've earned a higher privilege somehow to be born on this earth at this time. I can only imagine the training you and I must've gone through for this mission to earth. I can only imagine Who our teacher was.
I can only imagine the excitement when I "opened my call" to go to earth, and where I would go, what family I would be joining, and who would be joining me.
I can only imagine the people who would be in my life, who I would be privileged to know in this life. I'm sure I had a close association with them there as I do here.
I can only imagine sitting there as I was shown what trials and challenges I would have. I can also imagine my response to those trials....tears of joy, not of sadness or fear.
Are these imaginings only whimsical thoughts created out of my mortal head trying to escape real life for a moment? Or are they some type of revelation from God giving me a glimpse of who I really am?
I believe the latter. I can't wait to find out how I did.