The Son rises

 I used to think that one factor-- the main factor-- facing Eve (garden of Eden), Nephi (Laban), Joseph Smith (116 pages) and Mary mother of our Savior (immaculate conception) was the idea of shame in being seen as doing the wrong thing when you know in your core that you are doing what God wants you to do. 

I wonder if the challenge for them in facing their decision was also (and moreso?) the pain they feared to cause the ones they loved... the ones who might not understand what they did and that it was indeed God who had told them to do it. 

But as gods and goddesses ourselves, will not often the higher right be the one that is least understood and seems to cause unnecessary pain?

The whole plan of salvation seems to pivot on the allowance and even embracing of the potential pain that comes with, right choices,  growth and learning. (Bury our weapons of war or take them up in our defense?) 

Yet we often seek that less painful path as a default, facing that conundrum of "men are that they might have joy."

I guess joy doesn't always mean an absence of pain. 

***

Regardless, we will never go out of existence. 

The sun always rises after the pain. 

We can only feel it, though, if we turn our faces to the Son. 

God is good. 

His ways are higher than our ways.