But I’m not done yet! Keep the comments coming. And when this post gets buried, I’m going to keep referring back to it and adding new pieces to it over the next couple of months.

I’m seeing that a key piece to the article will be emphasizing the importance of knowing the will of God, as Melissa pointed out. It’s easy to make assumptions in either direction–that “x” is too hard and therefore we shouldn’t do it, or that since “x” is hard God surely wants us to do it. A wise friend of mine once told me, “just because it’s hard doesn’t mean it’s right.” I realized I had bought into the idea that perpetual self-punishment was the way to divinity. At the same time, like Angie says, we need to remember that sacrifice has a real cost.

The Lord says in D&C 132, “Will I receive at your hands that which I have not appointed?” This is the crux of the matter–we need to give what is required of us, even if it hurts. But only the Lord can tell us what that is.