and it came to pass...

i flipped through a prepare with honor missionary book at byu one day.  the author noted how the book of mormon often uses the idiom, "and it came to pass." (so often, in fact, that mark twain reportedly said that if you removed all such phrases, the book would be a pamphlet.)  yet, consider it literally: it does not say, "and it came to stay."  it says, "and it came to pass."

we move through life.  sometimes we are coasting, sometimes we are pressing forward.  and sometimes we are simply trying to endure it well.  in our progression, we come across things, some good and some bad; some painful and some joyful.  when we wonder how we got in a mess, or why everything went wrong, remember, it came to pass.

that's also important to keep in mind during the good times: they came to pass, too.  at any point in our lives, there usually some great things and some things we'd really like changed.  and it all will be, so savor the ups while pressing through the downs.  when i lived in 104, i knew that was a wonderful moment that would eventually move on.  i knew that the unity with had with f.h.e. group 2 a few years ago (and the accompanying "24" fan club) would inevitably change.  my opportunity to teach sunday school to my ward now is one of my current moments that i savor, because it, too, will one day come to pass.