The word prove comes ultimately from the Latin probus, with pro- meaning “for,” or “in favor of” and “bus” meaning “to be.” To prove, then, is to pursue a plan or a course that is for or in favor of Being. We know that to be is more than just to exist. “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” (2 Nephi 2:25). It is true that Adam’s fall brought upon himself and all of his descendants the necessity and the obligation and the responsibility to work. But as much as we have all found occasions to dread and despise and loathe work, work itself is not antithetical to joy, nor is it unique to our fallen condition on Earth. God Himself is engaged constantly and eternally in work. “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” (Moses 1:39). As long as we endeavor to align our work with God’s, then it is not mere drudgery but glory and also joy. But what is the work that we must do that we may obtain eternal life? “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3). And how do we come to know God? “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:17). So as we work to do God’s will and keep His commandments, then we will come to know God and also receive Eternal Life. As it turns out, the path to joy in this life and the path to eternal life are one and the same. “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 15:10-11). So we exist or have being so that we might have joy and that we might progress towards eternal life, and we progress towards both of these destinations by doing all things that God has commanded us to do. Both God’s plan for us and His commandments that He gives to us are expressly for the benefit of and in favor of our sole reason for being which is to have eternal life. “And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell; And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them; And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever. (Abraham 3:24-26). When God proves us, He is doing so that we may learn to obey His commandments and come to know Him better so that our joy might remain in us as we get closer and closer to eternal life where glory will be added upon our heads forever and ever. A lot of the ways that we are tested and proven do not feel joyful or pleasant in the moment. However, as the Lord said to Joseph Smith, “all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.” (D&C 122:8). God doesn’t test us randomly or because He’s got a mean streak or He thinks it will be funny or because we’ve got karma headed our way. Every test that He subjects us to is for the purpose of helping us to achieve and fulfill our purpose for being, so that we may continue to grow and improve and have a rich and ever expanding life for all eternity.
