Ok, I downvoted you. Your comment isn't about what the OP asked, it's about your religion.

You could almost as well post this under a "My regrets about choosing JavaScript" post. ("Don't worry, in the afterlife you'll code in Rust!")

Thanks for including a comment. It seems that the OP is looking for both direction and peace, and I hoped to share the thought process that I would have in his situation, which can be (and is to me) a really big help (with addressing possible regrets, long-term important family issues, knowing what to do now, etc).

(Heh. I'm learning Rust.)

Edit: Maybe I should have been more clear: that stuff about the next life includes the possibility of having a posterity and maintaining family ties, which seems directly a possible comfort and help, for the OP, and me.

I understand your point of view. Perhaps any religion would do for the OP?

> I have high confidence in the religion (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) due to a long list of reasons which I have written, including personal experience, that constitute sufficient "proof" for me.

Please take into account that many other people have high confidence in their respective other religions. Do you think they're all wrong and you're correct? I find this absolutely fascinating - apparently you're smart (you're the one learning Rust, not me!) and yet you believe things which to me appear to be obviously untrue.

I can see how what you say would make sense to many people. Many religions teach some good things, and we advise investigators to keep all the good they have, and let us see if we can add to it. There are specific doctrines that I think are unique to us, and we believe that the authority was eventually lost in a great apostasy after Christ and the apostles were killed, and restored later (1830s..) by the visit of resurrected beings (John the Baptist for authority to baptize; and Peter, James and John for further authority), sent by the resurrected Christ.

I have specific details at my tech-simple web site (in profile), and am happy to answer more questions, the best I can, whether here or in email (at my site).

"Families can be forever" and eternal progression in and with families -- I don't know where else those are taught, and yes we do believe the authority is with one organization, not many, that God does things in an orderly way and will eventually make those things available to all His children, even those that died without an opportunity (also distinctive, as far as I know). There is much more. :) And the gift of the Holy Ghost, given after baptism, is a personal guide, teacher, and comfort, for life, if we sincerely seek its influence.

I have learned for myself that it is true, in ways I can't deny, and anyone else can also learn for themselves. Again, more specifics at my web site and I am willing to answer many questions (hopefully the site can be useful and many are answered there).

(ps: I don't guess I'm smarter than anyone else, but there are some things I have thought about and/or worked on for a long time... :)