Yesterday I read a wonderful post by my dear friend Invictus Pilgrim containing an essay by Callan Williams about crucifixion people and resurrection people. I found the article thought provoking.
As Latter-day Saints, we subscribe to Lehi's aphorism, "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy." Unfortunately, we all too often place the emphasis on the "fall" rather than the "joy".
While suffering as a result of the fall is an essential part of our experience ("...there is an opposition in all things. If not so...righteousness could not be brought to pass."), joy is central to our divine nature and our eternal mission.
Just as the resurrection ultimately triumphed over the crucifixion, so joy must ultimately triumph over suffering.
When we learn to find joy in the trials, tedium and minutiae of our lives, we begin to sense that spirit which makes us whole and transforms us and our nature to that which God actually desires for all of his children.
Heavenly Father, I think, intends that each of us endure from time to time our own sense of crucifixion, but if we are to become like him we must ultimately transcend the suffering of the cross and open our hearts to the light and hope of the resurrection.
