Jay A. Parry - The 12 Purposes of Life: A Down-To-Earth Guide for the Mortal Traveler

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Parry, Jay A.

The 12 purposes of life : a down-to-earth guide for the mortal traveler / Jay A. Parry.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-59038-444-X (hardbound : alk. paper)
1. Christian lifeMormon authors. I. Title: Twelve purposes of life. II. Title.
BX8656.P36 2005
248.489332dc22 2005010662

Printed in the United States of America 72076
Publishers Printing, Salt Lake City, Utah

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Introduction

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Jana Erickson for encouragement, Jack Lyon for a fine editorial eye, Lisa Mangum for editorial assistance, Richard Erickson for art direction, Ken Wzorek for design, and Tonya Facemyer for typography.

Thanks to my family for their continuing support of my efforts to more deeply comprehend and explain the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thanks also to all those who shared their stories with me. Some of the stories cited in this book appeared in three previous collections by the author: Everyday Miracles, Everyday Heroes, and Everyday Answers.

Introduction

What are the purposes of life?

Thirty-five years ago, as full-time missionaries in Texas, my companions and I routinely taught the answer to that question. We are here for two purposes, we said: to get a body and to be tested.

Those understandings are correct. But they really only scratch the surface. There is so much more to know about why our Heavenly Father sent us here.

A superficial view of this life ... will not do, Elder Neal A. Maxwell said. If we hold to a surface-level understanding, we may mistakenly speak of this mortal experience only as coming here to get a body, as if we were merely picking up a suit at the cleaners. Or we may casually recite how we have come here to be proved, as if a few brisk push-ups and deep knee bends would do.

There is more to getting a body than just picking it up. There is more to being tested than doing some routine exercises. And there are more purposes in life than just two. Instead, we have at least twelve.

If we were to combine the twelve purposes of life into one sentence, it would be this:

We are here to become like God.

If were mindful of why were here, we can make great progress toward that end.

Many books talk about their subject. Well do some of thatto build a house of truth together we need to have a common foundation. But more important, well see the subject in action. We will not only build a house, but well also see the real people who live in it. This book is written in such a way that we can see the experiences of people living with purpose.

By seeing how others have lived the twelve purposes of life, we can more readily live them ourselves.

In the process, we can become more like God; we can please God; and we can fulfill our very purposes for being here.

Meant for Happiness

We were created to be happy.

Joseph Smith made a remarkable statement about the happiness of mankind. He said, Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it.

Happiness is the object of our existence. It is why we are here. It is one of our grand purposes.

Happiness is the... design of our existence. This earth is designed to be a place where we will experience happiness. With all of lifes challenges and trials, its troubles and difficulties, we can nevertheless experience true joy here. In fact, through the opposition of adversity, we can find greater joy than we would ever find without it.

Happiness... will be the end, or result, of our existence, if we pursue the path that leads to it. As we all know, we dont achieve happiness automatically. We dont experience it just by coming here. We find it by walking the path of happiness.

Joseph Smith told us what that path is. It is not wealth or health or fame or obedient children (although we are certainly grateful when were healthy and our children walk Gods path). Instead, the Prophet said, this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God. that we came here to participate in.

We can find happiness here as we walk Gods path. It is a spiritual gift that comes to those who fulfill the twelve purposes of life with true and honest hearts.

Studying the Map

Many prophets and philosophers have compared this life to a journey. Suppose you were to go on a long journey from your home to a far-distant city. Perhaps you need to get to Bujumbura, which shouldnt be too hard to findits larger than Salt Lake City, Utah. But if youve never been to Bujumbura, you might need help. Thats where a map comes in.

You find a map, and maybe someone to help you read the map. You learn that Bujumbura is in Burundi, in central Africa. Now you need to find a travel agency to help you with airplane tickets. Youll also need ground transportation when you get there. And youll need to learn the language (officially both French and Rundi)or get an interpreter. Passports. Money exchange. Luggage and travel clothing. Be sure to pack any medicines you need, because chances are youll have a hard time finding them in Bujumbura.

Without a good map, and without thoughtful preparations, youll likely fail in your journeyno matter how good your intentions are.

Life is like a journey. You need a map and helpers and guides.

The Lord has been good to provide us with what we need. He sends prophets and a gospel plan. He sends the scriptures and the Spirit.

The 12 Purposes of Life crystallizes much of what the Lord wants us to know about this journey. It can serve as a guidebook for the mortal traveler.

When Life Runs Out

Not long ago I sat in the hospital with an old friend. He had just had surgery. The doctors suspected he might have cancer, and they had done a biopsy to find out.

While we talked, he grew philosophical. What if he did have cancer? Was he going to die soon?

He said, I was recently a judge of many nominees for Scoutings Silver Beaver award. There were 150 applicants. As I looked at their resumes, I saw that every one of them was truly exceptional.

He told of shuffling through the papers and looking at their accomplishments. He was a Silver Beaver recipient himself. He knew what it took to receive that high honor. He had been involved in Scouting for many years. He worked hard in his profession. He tried to help in the community.

The truth is, for years I was a dedicated workaholic, he said. And it looked to me like all these exceptional people were workaholics too.

But working hard isnt all were here for. Sometimes we get out of balance. We spend too many hours at the office or on the backhoe or beside the irrigation ditch or in the kitchen or at the gym or at the church. (On the other hand, some of us spend too many hours slumped in a chair, eyes glued to the TV.)