Everyone will be tried as Abraham…

I no longer attribute the story of Abraham to God. I just think it is a tribal story about how great one of the early leaders was super-duper righteous.

There was a thread that had discussion that is related to this topic:

I Reject the “Abrahamic Test”

I think people are trying to say, “When the trials in life come, remember this example of a person that held onto their faith, you can too.” or some such.

But language is fun and there are as many interpretations as there are people.

I have heard this idea we’ll all be tested as Abraham was before, and actually fairly recently. Along with that was the idea we must all have a “Joseph Smith experience” to gain a strong testimony.

The story of Abraham came up fairly recently in SS. I thought about bringing up the Abraham failed the test thing, then though of all the people that would get their Gs in a twist, then decided to keep my mouth shut.

I don’t know what a “Joseph Smith experience” is. A specific joke comes to mind but I’ll play nice.

This is the subject of another thread entirely, but what is this “strong testimony” we’re all chasing? Is there ever a moment in life where one could say, “My testimony is strong enough.” ?

Setting aside the specific “Abrahamic Test” and just talking about the real world, I must say that I’m not a fan of any mode of ‘test’. God, who knows our hearts, surely doesn’t need to test us. The notion that God would hurt us or put us in no-win situations to see what we will do is so dark-ages.

Rather, I believe that when we go through difficulties, we have the opportunity to come out on the other side stronger, that is if we are able to get through it. So, tough experiences are not evaluations of who we are, but moments that make us who we are. Those who have suffered the loss of a loved one may come through it with a deeper appreciation of life itself and more empathy and compassion for others when they are suffering.

In a lighter example, and for those who have played contact sports, it’s getting the wind knocked out of you, and then getting back on your feet and back on the field knowing that you can take that kind of pain and still thrive. Those who can do this gain the confidence to become better players.

As the good book says, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. Well, it doesn’t say that exactly, but somewhere there is something about a chicken.

At the time of the stillbirth of our daughter I was serving as WML and DW served as PP. As a result of our FC we not only went inactive but began attending a Baptist church (at the time the doctrine of grace was what I really needed).

Our bishop gave a talk in church about how each of us would be tested as Abraham in a way that is specially designed to bring us to the brink. The purpose of the test is to prove our worthiness for celestial glory. Like Job and Abraham, if we but remain faithful through the test everything that we have lost will be restored to us.

An LDS coworker found me in the lunchroom, told me about the bishop’s talk, and told me that they just knew that DW and I were failing our test. This woman was very concerned and emphatic that if DW and I did not let our grief for our daughter blind us/distract us from the plan of happiness – we would have our daughter again.

I thanked this woman for her concern. I even gave her a hug. She was sincere. However, I did not need or want a God that needed to test my resolve and my loyalty. I needed a God that would love me and hold me in my brokenness.

I did not need or want a God that needed to test my resolve and my loyalty. I needed a God that would love me and hold me in my brokenness.

:clap:

Beautifully said. I think I might put this in my signature.