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Why do bad things happen to good/covenant people? Doesn’t God love His children?

Yes, of course God loves His children. The Lord reminds us in D&C 121, 122, and 123 why afflictions are allowed on good people by our loving and devoted God. From these sections, I can conclude at least six main reasons for them.

1. Sin — Transgressing God’s law will bring negative consequences.
2. Experience — Trials bring to our spirits vital experiences through which we learn new things.
3. Agency — Man has the freedom to choose, and God must allow it, and He cannot forbid it. It was decided upon in the Counsel of Heaven before the world was.
4. Covenants — The righteous are rewarded for keeping them, and those who falter are offered the way to make it right through trials.
5. Trust — Trials build a relationship between the Godhead (our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost) and an individual.
6. To condemn the wicked — Tribulation caused by wicked men who persecute the righteous dominion can then be judged accordingly.

Items 2, 5, and 6 are particularly interesting. Many non-members, or those who are unfamiliar with the Gospel are frustrated or mad at a god that could send destruction and other bad things to righteous or innocent people. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, as proclaimed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, answers these types of questions.

What other questions have the teachings, doctrine, and scriptures of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints answered for you? Or, if you are not a member, what questions might you have?

Excommunication from the Church is viewed in a negative light among its members and is generally despised by non-members that do not understand. While it is certainly an unfortunate happening whenever a child of God is excommunicated from His Church, the reasons for it must be considered.

First and foremost, Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father love each individual soul. Christ suffered His Atonement in an act of pure love (charity) that provides a way for us to be clean, a way for us to know that someone else has experienced before what we are experiencing: our sorrows, pains, and afflictions. The knowledge of that truth brings a sure and certain comfort.

Secondly, God has laws which must be upheld even by Him, or He would cease to be God. Because of these laws, knowledge is dictated to man over the period if his/her life. The more knowledge we gain, the more that is expected of us (D&C 82:3) and failure to live up to expectations (behaviorally)  will condemn us unless we repent.

Thirdly, true repentance requires a “turning away from” — hence the meaning of “repent.” Offenses serious enough for excommunication usually imply a misdeed in direct offense to God Almighty or His Church (e.g. participation with anti-Mormon groups, embezzlement of sacred Church funds, or the taking of another’s life) require that “turning away”.

All in all, excommunication is an act of love from the Church; an opportunity for that person to actually come closer to their Heavenly Father after straying. The Stake High Council that holds the court does so with feelings of love toward the person, and with authority of the Priesthood, makes an inspired decision in the best interest of the person at hand: the path that will save him/her from the full condemnation of what they did. Excommunication lowers the level of expectation to the level of behavior so that they may repent. It is a chance to start over. It is the working of the miracle of repentance – and forgiveness.

More on this.