 | If you have a question, you might find it helpful to chat with a Mormon missionary online. |
| If you have a question, you might find it helpful to chat with a Mormon missionary online. |
 | AllAboutMormons.com Webmaster from La Jolla, California: |
I'm very sorry to hear that your father killed himself. Elder M. Russell Ballard, one of the worldwide leaders of our church, said the following about suicide, which you may find comforting: "Obviously, we do not know the full circumstances surrounding every suicide. Only the Lord knows all the details, and he it is who will judge our actions here on earth. When he does judge us, I feel he will take all things into consideration: our genetic and chemical makeup, our mental state, our intellectual capacity, the teachings we have received, the traditions of our fathers, our health, and so forth." When I was in junior high we had boy in my school commit suicide. I remember in a testimony meeting we were having in our seminary class one girl standing up and bearing her testimony which included toward the end a moment of mourning about the boy and his doom to hell, followed by her running from the room. Back in those days, mid 90s, that was the belief of many LDS members. That belief has changed today with the brethren testifying that we are not to judge those that take their own lives. They pointed out how only God will know the state of mind of those individuals and he will be their judge not we in mortality. Suicide: Some Things We Know, and Some We do Not, Ensign, Oct. 1987, 8 may be helpful to you. In the meantime, pray for peace from Heavenly Father to ease your mind and calm the turmoil you undoubtedly feel, and ensure that your father's temple work is complete. By doing all you can do you may find some comfort from your grief.