How true that is…I only wish I could say I was among those counted as “happier people”. Unfortunately, my husband of only a year decided that as a wife I don't measure up and chose to seek immoral contact via internet & phone. I am now remembering to concentrate on fixing myself…if he can see his way clear to concentrate on himself a bit more, perhaps we'll eventually join the happier people again.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/common
12 dictionary results for: *common*
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adjective, -er, -est, noun –adjective
1. belonging equally to, or shared alike by, two or more or all in
question: common property; common interests. 2. pertaining or belonging
equally to an entire community, nation, or culture; public: a common
language or history; a common water-supply system. 3. joint; united: a
common defense. 4. widespread; general; ordinary: common knowledge. 5. of
frequent occurrence; usual; familiar: a common event; a common
mistake. 6. hackneyed;
trite. 7. of mediocre or inferior quality; mean; low: a rough-textured
suit of the most common fabric. 8. coarse; vulgar: common manners.
9. lacking
rank, station, distinction, etc.; unexceptional; ordinary: a common soldier;
common people; the common man; a common thief.
You can take the any of the first 4 definitions of “common” and I see equal
all over the definition of common, especially in the first two primary
definitions. It does not seem like much of a jump – they sound more like
synonyms.

Looking in 3rd and 4th Nephi we gain a greater understanding of what was
meant. So you do not have to take the dictionaries word for it. Here are the
vs. that stick out to me as Mormon describes what happened as the
all-things-in-common phenomenon disappeared.

3Ne 6:12-14 – The Nephites began to be distinguished by rank, riches,
chances for learning, pride, persecution – “And thus there became a great
inequality in the land”

4Ne 1:24-26 – pride, wearing costly apparel and fine things of the world -
lead to divisions into classes and “their substances no more in common among
them”

Regardless of which scripture you look at you can see that on the
good/peaceful side equality and commonality are synonymous with peace. Class
divisions lead to dissention and eventually destruction.

I have more to talk about here. So I will put that in a new post because I
think that it is a very important topic. I'll post it in just a second.

Thanks for the question and discussion.

Matt S

But when contemplating the state of the world it is hard to see how they
could be joyful.

Now, all of that is speculation. We have no idea what we knew, or to what
extent we could understand in the first place. Even if the whole plan had
been shown to use it would have been like telling someone what it would feel
like to be wet for the first time. How do you describe that to someone who
has never felt anything on their skin.

So it is just speculation of the past based on what we see before us know.
But regardless, the sorrows we all face in this life can be swallowed up in
the joy of Christ.

Matthew Stearmer

Please help me understand this part…

You wrote: “All things were common between them. Regardless of being a man, woman, child, divorced, sick, widowed etc. ALL things were equal before them. How they managed to do it id not explained, but the result was peace. One person did not put himself or herself above another. They did not think they deserved more. In sharing and in equality they were all free.”

To me it seems quite a jump of meaning from the word 'common' to the word 'equal'… please explain.

-jb

IT is somewhat mind-boggling to think what it must have been like to have an idea of what mortal life would be like – accpeting the challenge of certain time periods and locations around the world.

But I do have to say, after thinking on this scripture in Job more, that I think both the men and the women shouted for joy over the Plan of Salvation – not necessarily over what their mortal experience would be, but they could certainly shout for joy over the Plan. The rest simply required a trust in God and faith to do what was asked of them once they got to earth. Not that the experince would be easy, but do we ever really fully comprehend what we are getting ourselves into when we committ to a decision on faith and belief that it is the right thing to do? Pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood come to mind.