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There’s an Eternal Plan for Every One of Us
The Plan of Salvation is the eternal grand plan by the virtue of which all of our Heavenly Father’s Spirit children can be born into mortality by receiving a physical body. It is a state of probation that allows us to overcome challenges and exercise our faith in Jesus Christ. It is this same Plan that enables us to return to his promised kingdom where we’ll have the opportunity to grow eternally in knowledge and in truth.
During his address in the October 2018 General Conference, President Dallin H Oaks stated that the Plan of Salvation “provides a perfect balance between eternal justice and the mercy (that) we can obtain through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It enables us to be transformed into new creatures in Christ”. It is through this slow and steady process of transformation that we leave behind small but lasting footsteps over a period of a lifetime that leads us to the Tree of Life that Lehi envisioned in his dream.
My journey started when I was introduced to the Church in 2015 by my son (who is a Graduate student in Texas), while he was visiting Kolkata. It was then, that I had received my first Book of Mormon in Bengali and had the opportunity to visit the Relief Society President of our Kolkata Branch. Soon enough, I started taking lessons through Skype from the Elders belonging to the New Delhi Mission. On 18th June 2016, my daughter and I became the then newest members of our Kolkata Branch. My son was present then to baptize us.
It was the beginning of a new chapter in my life, an experience that has left a profound impact since. The promise of baptism is the first step to be in the fold of our Heavenly Father’s covenant children and it consists of us being willing to obey all of God’s commandments. Just as we immerse ourselves backwards into the waters of baptism, it provides us a chance to revisit our old life; and cleanse ourselves of all our past sins and transgressions. And as we come forward out of the water, it is like we have our eyes fixed onto our future: to receive eternal life. Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost is the immediate essential step towards this eternal progression. We are promised guidance, protection and knowledge about the truth through promptings and feelings, that can be a consequence of the continual presence of the Holy Ghost in our lives. The Book of Mormon describes the Holy Ghost as the “Comforter (that) filleth (us) with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God” (Moroni 8:26).
As much joy a new birth in the family can bring; the loss of a loved one can be equally devastating. When I lost my husband in 2015, learning about the Plan of Salvation for the first time brought consequential amount of comfort to me personally. Although it was a new doctrine to me, but somehow, it just seemed so familiar to me. Not only had it given me hope at a very challenging period of my life, but also, I was made cognizant of the true love that our Heavenly Father has for me and all His children.
The challenges and tragedies that we must survive are very much a part and parcel of our mortal existence, and no one knows our state of affliction better than our Heavenly Father. President Spencer W Kimball had remarked that “I am positive in my mind that the Lord has planned our destiny. Sometimes we’ll understand fully, and when we see back from the vantage point of the future, we shall be satisfied with many of the happenings of this life that are so difficult for us to comprehend.” This is the whole essence of the Plan of Salvation. It is through overcoming obstacles that we can strengthen our testimonies and our faith in Jesus Christ and find comfort in his Atonement. It is us who had in the first place eagerly chose to come earthward, experience joys and sorrows, ease and pain, comforts and hardships, health and sickness, successes and disappointments, and we knew also that after a period of life we would die. It would be the next essential step to Resurrection and Eternal Life.
The knowledge about and my testimony of our Heavenly Father’s Eternal Plan of Happiness is what has propelled me to stay firm in the Gospel. I always look forward to the Sundays as it provides me with an opportunity to partake the Sacrament and renew my Baptismal covenant; and learn and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with other Church members. It has greatly enhanced my knowledge about the ordinances and the Lord’s Temple. I look forward to my endowment in the next few months. I couldn’t be more grateful to my Heavenly Father for the blessings I’ve seen in my life and I extend my prayers unto him for our General Authorities, local authorities, all our missionaries and Church members across the globe and for all their families. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.