our story

Reflecting on the confrontation I experienced with Satan, when he said, “I will take everything from you.” He almost succeeded. My own faith became weak for a moment. Especially in myself. But I kept attending church. I kept listening to my church leaders. And because of that my faith recovered. Kathy’s faith was pretty beaten up. But her studies and service, along with help from special friends and church leaders, helped restore her faith. We were ultimately able to see that the gospel, and its believers, should be kept emotionally in separate places. One is perfect, the other is imperfect but trying to become so. Only The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the fullness of the gospel with its priesthood, ordinances and covenants that will take us to eternal life. Whatever our fellow believers and others do, we must not allow them to take our sight away from our return to God. Kathy and I lost everything materially at one time. But we recovered. Our children and their faith in the gospel are still an open part of this story. And the finale is outside of our control. They have their agency and it's not our decision. And now our life’s focus is to understand the plan of happiness and salvation more clearly, and to help others understand the plan better. And we hope that “Team Goodlad” will stand for goodness to the end.

This is mortality. We were told that it will be challenging. The Lord is not making future harp players of those who are faithful. He is making us like Him. And the way He does it is through trials and tests. It's called experience. We often think that the present trial is more than our faith can endure. But as we endure it well, we will begin to operate at a new level of faith. My faith is deeper and stronger because of past trials. My ability to understand and help others has increased. Ultimately, the Lord will either lead us through the trial or He will give us strength to continue to endure it. As I am aging, I recognize that some trials will be with me for the rest of this mortal journey. At weak moments I get angry. But I have learned through past experiences that I really can endure well. And I know my life will be better right now if I choose to be happy despite the trial rather than angry because of it. And I am preparing to return to the Savior, who I hope will someday say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”