The Book of Mormon and understanding death

DEATH. It's a natural occurrence. Something that will happen to all of us. An event that causes heartache, tears and grief to those who are "left behind". I'm grateful for the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and what it teaches all the world about the plan of salvation that our loving Heavenly Father has created for us.
I'm getting a minor in gerontology (the studying of aging), and in my social gerontology class, we have talked about different theories of how society views aging and death. One of the recent theories we read about and discussed is the 'disengagement theory'. To keep it simple it proposes that because everyone dies, society must deal with death in one way or another, and the best way for society to continue after the death of an individual, and to keep on in its normal cycle is for society and the individual to "disengage" from one another. This means that the individual slowly loses value in the marketplace, the family and society in general. Then, when they die, society is able to continue on without any major slow down...... Pretty pessimistic theory eh?
I know that none of like to reflect upon the day we die. I realize that it could happened at any time really, and we never know when some accident or disease could cut our time on earth short. But I want you to think for a second about the day you will die. Hopefully you'll be old, grey haired and slowly fading without too much pain. Do you imagine yourself dying in peace and even rejoicing? Or do you imagine yourself dying in anxiety and worry as to what will be next? I hope that all of us would want to die in peace and rejoicing. How do we do so? The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, teaches us how this can happen.
In this book of scripture written by ancient American prophets, there are many chapters that talk about wars between two groups of people. In the book of Alma, chapter 46, verses 39 and 41 we're taught about dying in peace and rejoicing.
The prophet Mormon states: "And it came to pass that there were many who died, firmly believing that their souls were redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ; thus they went out of the world rejoicing." and in verse 41: "But there were many who died with old age; and those who died in the faith of Christ are happy in him, as we must needs suppose."
I testify that death is not the end of life. I know that Jesus Christ resurrected, and overcame death, thus granting all men the ability to live forever. Our state of happiness or misery IN and AFTER this life however, depends on us and our commitment to Christ. Working to have this "firm belief" that our souls have been redeemed by Jesus takes effort, and faith. The scriptures teach us that we can be happy because of Christ, and be happy in Him. I think the "in" means a knowledge in, a conviction in, a belief in. Happiness stems from living the way Christ wants us to live. The sting of death is swallowed up in this knowledge and conviction of Christ. I know this because I've seen it time and again in my own life, and in the life of my family.