| > "Suppose you were made an offer such that you would be able to live for
> 1000 years and all of your temporal needs would be taken care of, i.e. you
> would have no need of concern for food, clothing, lodging, health, etc.
> (no strings attached to the offer)
>
> Would you accept the offer, and if so what would you do for the 1000 years?"
Sure, I'd accept. I am assuming that since there are no strings, this
gift could not come from Satan. Therefore I would be free to use my
extended mortal life in all the same ways I am free to use my current
lifespan.
There are five basic things that come to mind that one can do with a
mortal life:
1) A good deal of most people's lives is devoted to achieving a
measure of security; i.e. meeting minimal needs of food, clothing,
etc., for a lifespan. I would no longer have to worry about that.
2) Another good portion is spent on achieving a sense of comfort; i.e.
a *nice* house, *good* food, etc. This would still be a concern. Who
wants to spend 1000 years being *un*comfortable?
3) Beyond that, I think most people find life an empty exercise unless
it is devoted to things of the spirit; i.e. love, family, God,
service, etc. This too would be a concern.
4) Life could also be devoted to lust, greed, etc. But I think that
those who have such preoccupations will eventually find they do not
provide happiness in the long term. 'Wickedness never was happiness.'
So I'd stay away from all that.
5) Another preoccupation for a lot of people in *this* life is
worrying about the *next* one. Being a Mormon, I know what happens,
and I know that if I take care of the above 4 things, this one will
take care of itself.
So if I could live for 1000 years without concern for the basics, I'd
find a way to balance the time among achieving a level of comfort and
spiritual activities: Imagine having a 1000 years to raise a family!
Imagine spending 1000 years in prayer and study. Imagine how much time
you could spend in the Temple. Given a 1000 years of experience,
imagine how many times you'd be asked to be a fireside speaker! ;-)
Lately, the idea of serving a full-time mission has been weighing
heavily on my mind. Being a Stake missionary has been the most
rewarding experience of my life to date. I'd give my right arm to be
able to serve full-time. But I'm too old: I converted too late. I know
what the bishop would say: "It's time to get married, Kevin!" Besides,
I still have to work for my material sustenance.
So if I could live 1000 years without regard for the basics, I'd quit
my job and be a full-time *Stake* missionary, at least for a while. At
some point after that, I'm sure the Lord would have another calling
for me, which would probably include getting married and raising a
family.
But, oh, to serve a mission! Think what kind of a missionary you could
be, if you didn't have to worry about health, etc. Why, you could
preach repentance from the rooftops for the space of many days, and
though many might shoot arrows at you, they could not slay you! ;-)
But I know the Lord has other plans for me. And I happily will obey.
I'm not at all disappointed that I can't live a 1000 year mortal life.
I'm sure there will be *plenty* of missionary work to do in the Spirit
world, and also on this earth during the Millennium.
I and several of my missionary companions have agreed that we want to
serve together again during the Millennium, just as I have no doubt
that we made a similar agreement with each other in the pre-existance.
The Lord put us together to serve in this life, so why wouldn't he do
it again in the next?
I'm looking forward to it!
/kevin
|
| What spend a 1000 years in a Telestial World!
On one hand I would probably say; Not me. Sometimes I am all too
ready for the next life. To be removed from this "vale of tears",
and to be reunited with those passed on, to live in Paradise where
love and righteousness abounds - that's for me!
Yet, on the other hand, I am reminded of those souls who out of
love of mankind requested and were permitted to tarry, i.e. John
and the 3 Nephites. Their motivations to remain here and to labor
in the Lord's vineyard make me ashamed of not wanting to do the
same. Of course, then there are my descendants whom I would love
to see and be able to influence.
So all in all, I think the Lord's way is best. Not knowing how
long you will stay, nor how short that stay will be, but only knowing
that he has fixed the "times and bounds of out habitations".
Sorry, Hugh, I can't come to a closure on this question. This theme
is not uncommon in movies and books and inevitably that person longs
for death.
My 2 cents (and that is about all it is worth!)
Paul
|
| I'm not sure what I would do -- 1000 years is a long time.
We spend so much of our time and energy in basic survival that it is hard
to imagine what life would be like without those needs. No need to work
at a job. No need to save for car payments. No need to make mortgage
payments. Nibley's question allow's one to worry about these things if he
or she wishes to, but there is no need to do so since the needs of survival
are furnished. If the person does choose to worry about those, it is because
he or she wishes an improvement over the basics that are provided.
Like Ed, while he is fishing, I would be out running. I think I would spend a
lot of time reading and a lot of time running and hiking. I would enjoy
dabbling in historical research. I would enjoy playing games with my wife
and kids, although the kids would be grown before many years went by, and our
relationship would change as the years went by.
I'm sure I would spend time in Church service, but I don't know how much
of that I could handle for 1000 years. I'm mostly an introvert and find it
difficult spending a lot of time with people. I'm grateful for the Church
callings I've had over the years, because they have forced me to get out and
meet and talk with people, and I'm slowly becoming less of an introvert.
I'm not really sure what I would do during the 1000 years, but I think that
in the beginning I would spend much of it satisfying my needs as I mentioned
above and a smaller amount of it in service to others. Hopefully, as the
years went by, I would adapt and mature and the time spent in service to
others would increase.
One thing which I think is certain is that I wouldn't spend much time pursuing
the luxuries of the world, things on which so many people place highest
importance, things such as expensive cars and clothes, etc. At least so
far, I haven't been overly concerned about those things, and since I can't
afford them anyway, I've been happy with what I have.
1000 years is a long time... Eternity is even longer.
Allen
|
| > Would you accept the offer, and if so what would you do for the 1000
> years?
I think I would take the offer.
There are many things I would like to do. I liked the 'fishing' idea.
It would be nice to have some time to do things I enjoy like that. I
would also like to write, to study, to learn, to assist others. I would
enjoy teaching those who would have a desire to learn. I would like to
have time to help my children and their children, etc. I would like to
become like the ancient prophets who lived so long, and some of them
became so close to God, like Enoch did.
This whole question has got me thinking. We believe that the apostle
John and three of the Nephite disciples asked and were allowed to
tarry on the earth from the time of Christ until He comes again,
without tasting death. Do they need to concern themselves with temporal
needs? What have they been doing for the past 1950 years? How have
they spent their time?
Rich
|
|
I would, as already mentioned, concern myself with things spiritual, as well
as with my families. (plural as I hope to have my own family, but also I have
parents, etc.) But I would also concern myself with gaining knowledge and
skills. We are told that THAT comes with us when we pass on, as opposed to
material things which don't come with us. I would like to become a great
mathematician. I would also like to become a great musician, including
playing skills as well as composition skills. I would hope to be able to
spend a lot of the 1000 years playing in my studio (which I would improve
and expand :-) ). Concerning luxuries. They aren't that important, but they
aren't a sin either :-)
Chad
|