Suicide- Some Things We Know, and Some We Do Not

Some things are known
And some things are not
To a prophet was shown
Dead spirits being taught

The gospel is preached
Unto those who are dead
Through darkness they are reached
To be spiritually fed

Their bondage of sin
Plus all they've transgressed
Can be paid for within
As each penalty is stressed

Through faith and obedience
The Lord does redeem
Through proxy ordinance
They'll be pronounced clean

But, what of those
Who commit murder?
Who in suicide chose
To end what comes further?

What if on earth
Temple work had been done
Do they still have worth
To return to the Son?

I shall not judge
Nor shall any man
The state of their mind
When they laid out this plan...

Without faith to cope
There's darkness, despair
When one knows not hope
There's no room for repair

When the mind is ill
Nothing makes sense
There was light in them still
But, they had naught patience...

Still, as God's creation
We're all known above
His great plan of salvation
Is one of fairness and love

Some things we know
And some we do not
Where, in heaven, will our loved one go?
Is not for our thought

To those left behind
Who agonize full
May they have peace of mind
This, the Lord's promise, does rule:

"Peace I leave with you
My peace I give unto you
Not as the world giveth
Give I unto you"

"Let not your heart be troubled
Neither let it be afraid"... ( John 14:27)
And may your faith be doubled
In the Lord's plan that is laid

Heavenly Father's gospel truly can be
A "light shining in darkness"
With the Savior's role helping us to see
The great plan of happiness


Elder M. Russell Ballard
Suicide: Some Things We Know,
And Some We Do Not
Tambuli, Mar 1988, 16


I am so thankful for the church-
the love, comfort, knowledge and resources it offers.
The list is endless. We are not left alone!

Some Things Are Known

[Verse 1] Some things are known, and some things are not, A prophet was shown what the living forgot: Dead spirits learning, the gospel proclaimed, Through darkness reached, and by grace they were named. [Verse 2] The burdens of sin and the wrongs we have done May be paid through the mercy of God's Holy Son; By faith and obedience, His love can restore, Through sacred proxy, made clean evermore. [Chorus] But what of the souls who have wounded and fled, Who took their own lives, or brought death to the dead? I will not pronounce what no mortal can see— The Lord knows the heart, and His judgment is free. [Verse 3] What if on earth sacred work had been done? Do they still have worth to return to the Son? When illness and darkness have clouded the mind, The light that was in them may still have shone kind. [Bridge] Without faith to lean on, despair can appear; A mind under sorrow may lose what is clear. Still, every creation is known from above, And God's plan is justice, compassion, and love. [Verse 4] Some things we know, and some things we do not; The place in the heavens is not ours to plot. For those left behind, who are agonized through, May peace guard their hearts as the Lord promised you: [Chorus] Peace I leave with you, My peace I give, Not as the world gives, but the peace by which live. Let not your heart tremble, nor yield to fear; The Savior is near, and His comfort is here. [Outro] The gospel is light when the darkness is long, The plan of happiness makes mercy strong. Some things are known, and some things are not— But love holds the answer when answers are sought.