Suicide: Some Things We Know, Some We Do Not: Some Things We Know and Some We Don'T

by M. Russell Ballard

"Suicide is a sin-a very grievous one, yet the Lord will not judge the person who commits that sin strictly by the act itself. The Lord will look at that person's circumstances and the degree of his accountability at the time of the act." Elder M. Russell Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, comments on a controversial action that results in great anguish and heartbreak. He offers hope in a day of despair through faith in the atonement of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Elder Ballard's perceptive observations and wise counsel will bring peace of mind to tormented survivors who must deal with the realities of a deceased loved one's final actions. I recall attending the funeral of an older man who had unfortunately taken his life. His wife had died years earlier, and as his health declined, he felt he had less and less of a reason to live. Gradually he found himself confined to the four walls of his home. A semi-invalid, he was unable to visit friends or go grocery shopping. His food was delivered to his door. He missed going to church, missed regular fellowship with other members of his priesthood quorum. Although he wasn't able to get about, the doctor assured him he could live many more years. "You neither smoke nor drink," the doctor said. "You've taken good care of yourself. Other than the fact that you're confined to your house and [pagebreak]wheelchair, I give you a clean bill of health." While the doctor was trying to be encouraging, the man felt discouraged. This good brother felt his earthly life no longer had any value, and he wanted to join his beloved wife in the spirit world. The more he thought about death, the more appealing it became to him. He had been a faithful member of the Church all his life; he had served two [pagebreak]missions and had been diligent in several leadership positions at different times in his life. But as he thought about the release he would find through death, his mind became muddled. He unwisely concluded that taking his own life would solve his problems. I visited with the family after the funeral. As you might expect, they were greatly disturbed by what their father [pagebreak]and grandfather had done. Their feelings ranged from grief to anger to guilt.

Genres: Nonfiction, Church, Lds

56 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

President M. Russell Ballard has served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day Saints since October 6, 1985. He was set apart as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles by President Russell M. Nelson on January 14, 2018.

He was born to Melvin R. and Geraldine Smith Ballard. He attended the University of Utah. He served as a counselor to the president of the British Mission. He has been a bishop twice and a high councilor in two stakes. In 1974, he was called as president of the Canada Toronto Mission, where he was serving when he was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy in April of 1976. He served as a member of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy from Feb. 21, 1980, to Oct. 6, 1985.

Prior to his call as a General Authority, Elder Ballard had interests in automotive, real estate, and investment businesses. He has served on many civic committees and boards. He is the author of two books.

He married Barbara Bowen in the Salt Lake Temple Aug. 28, 1951. They have two sons, five daughters and forty grandchildren.

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father has such tender mercies for each of us in our lives. I read this book to try and understand where my friends husband really stood. I just could not accept that he would be lost forever. This came out in the ensign in 1987 and that is when I read the information.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped me a lot when I lost my brother five years ago to suicide. My family and I were pretty distraught until we read this book. It really brought us comfort.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is where I found the article.

https://www.lds.org/study/ensign/1987...

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This helped me feel better about the death in my own family by suicide.

[kaitlyn grigsby · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have ever grieved the loss of a loved one to suicide, I highly recommend reading the doctrine this book provides. It is a powerful witness of hope, love and the atonement.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the reading choices that some may consider a bit to be on the gruesome and macabre side but a subject that isn't touched upon a lot, which is the reason it intrigued me. I had no idea what I would find within the pages but I knew that when I first saw it I wanted to try to read it since I had been a person who a long time ago tried to take my own life but God kept me here for a reason; one for which I am still trying to figure out my place.

The Apostle has done a wonderful job in taking a delicate subject and opening a doorway of hope. He starts of by mentioning some of the feelings faced by loved ones and the questions that haunts them then proceeds to what others in Church authority have said about the sin itself. And that is where everything changes since although he agrees to it being a sin, Ballard also mentions that there may be leeway under God's merciful judgment.

He reminds the reader that we cannot judge those who take their own life for we don't know all the facts, that there are more than one victim by the seemingly single act done and that there may be mercy on the other side since God knows the mind as well as the heart of the one who was struggling. He brings in various stories of other people who have suffered from the death of loved ones by their own hands while also injecting a touch of hope although warning others who may be thinking of the action to not go forth it since they have been educated and until we stand before Heavenly Father we cannot know the type of mercy we would face for such a deep sin.

All in all it is a quick read and one that I think many people would find soothing, especially if they have lost loved ones in this manner. It is a reminder that there is always hope even when things seem darkest and that no matter what we are facing Heavenly Father is always there with His love whether we may openly embrace it or not.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this book at work (I'm employed at a mortuary). Coincidentally, it tied in with a recent seminar my fellow employees and myself attended regarding making arrangements with families that are coping with a homicide/suicide. Being LDS and living in Utah, this is a subject that we encounter on occasion. The book offers insight and support to families that are questioning their loved one's actions. Written by M. Russell Ballard, an LDS Apostle, it offers a Mormon perspective on coping with a suicide.

[Angel Mcrae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when a very close loved one of mine passed away. This was the 2nd suicide to hit our family within a 10 day period of time. This little book was so wonderful in helping me to come to understand and accept the circumstances surrounding both of these deaths. I would recommend this to anyone who is having a hard time dealing with the death of someone who has committed suicide.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciated this book and would recommend it (to the appropriate audience). It has a lot of great information to give help and understanding to those who have lost loved ones to suicide. He does a great job of handling a sensitive subject that many people have questions about. I appreciated that he included people's personal experiences and stories.

[Marie Engberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book after my brother commuted suicide. It left me with the hope that someday I will understand all things.