Loneliness, Suicide, and The Plan of Salvation(2)

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There is a piece of doctrine belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints known as the Plan of Salvation. Here is a brief description of what this is from Mormon.org, “We lived with Heavenly Father before this life as His spirit children, and we came to earth to gain a body and to learn and grow and eventually return to Him” (Mormon.org). God created this plan so He might “bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1.39).

One major facet of the Plan is as the Lord says “…It is not good that the man should be alone...” (Genesis 2:18). Now when this verse was said, it was referring specifically to the relationship of marriage, but it applies generally as well. God designed us human-beings to be part of a family. God made us so that when we are together with someone we complement them. On our own, not one of us can be complete, and alone none of us can reach the true potential that God has planned for us. As a result of this, He wants us to have relationships such as families, friends, and union in marriage, because He knows that these bonds will serve to bring us the greatest happiness. Satan would have us believe that we are less than what we are, and he would have us think that we are alone in this life. He tries to dull our thoughts, and make our feelings bitter, because nothing pleases him more than our misery. It can be difficult to think clearly when you’re having thoughts of suicide, and Satan understands this. He will go to any lengths to interrupt the plan that God has for us. Suicide is a hard thing for a family to take, or any relationship for that matter.

What do God and Jesus Christ think about those who suffer from loneliness and thoughts of suicide? First, let it be known that God loves all of His children. His love is infinite. In the Bible, it states,

“For God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3.16).

God loves us enough to have sent His Son to suffer and die for us. God knew that His children would suffer from loneliness and thoughts of suicide, so He made it possible, through Jesus Christ, to have joy no matter what. Jesus Christ came and suffered all that we have and ever will suffer. In the Book of Mormon, it says, “And [Christ] shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which sayeth that He will take upon him the pains and sicknesses of his people . . . that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7.11-12). He went through this alone. Since He understands what it feels like to be alone, it makes it possible for us to turn to Him for comfort. This is what it means when the scripture says thats He is able to succor us. He is able to comfort us and provide healing no matter what we go through in life because He understands what we have or are going through.

There is a scripture in the Old Testament that can help us understand we are not alone in life, it says, “And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” (2nd Kings 6:15-17). This young man, could not see that he was not alone at first. Sometimes in life, we may feel like we have a lot of opposition or that no one understands us. However, “…they that be with us are more than they that be with them…” No matter how much the odds seem stacked against us, we have legions on our side, and no matter how disconnected we feel, remember that Christ knows exactly what we are feeling.

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In the course of this life, we will at times feel as though all hope is lost, we just have to call upon the Lord in our times of need, and God can provide comfort, strength, and reassurance. There is hope and healing for everyone that is going through loneliness and thoughts of suicide. It might seem as though it is not possible, but it truly is. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, gives hope by saying,

“I suppose everybody has had some kind of an experience where they say ‘I am never going to be happy again.’ Well we are. We are going to be happy again. That’s the nature of this plan. That’s the nature of joy. We have to hang on and believe that.” (Lord, I Believe)

He also shares an example of a man in the scriptures that was able to look to Christ when his faith was dwindling. The occasion in this scripture is of a man that carried his son to the Savior. The poor man’s son was foaming at the mouth, and gnashing his teeth, Elder Holland says “the father appealed to Jesus with what must have been last-resort desperation in his voice, ‘If thou canst do anything,’ he said, ‘have compassion on us, and help us.’ Jesus said unto him, ‘If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”(Holland) This man surely felt alone in this trial, and surely put his whole heart into his request for Christ. Though our situations may be different, though we may feel discouraged or disheartened; we can call upon the Savior and He will deliver us.