Adversity and Trials

“When you have to, you can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experience with the Lord in any situation you are in. Indeed, let me say that even a little stronger: You can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experience with the Lord in the most miserable experiences of your life—in the worst settings, while enduring the most painful injustices, when facing the most insurmountable odds and opposition you have ever faced.” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Lessons From Liberty Jail, 7 September 2008 BYU Speech http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=1798

“By definition, trials will be trying. There may be anguish, confusion, sleepless nights, and pillows wet with tears. But our trials need not be spiritually fatal. They need not take us from our covenants or from the household of God. Remember, … it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.” (Helaman 5:12)” Elder Neil L. Andersen, Trial Of Your Faith, October 2012 General Conference http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/trial-of-your-faith?lang=eng#24-10491_000_27andersen

 “Mortal life is a proving ground. God said, “We will make an earth whereon these may dwell; “And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them.” (see Abr. 3:24–26.) Our proving grounds vary. Some of us are born with physical limitations; others are lonely or do not enjoy good health. Some are challenged by economic conditions, the lack of good parental example, or a myriad of other things that test our mettle. While much of the pain and sorrow we endure is the result of our own stubborn acts of disobedience, many of the things that appear to be obstacles in our path are used by a loving Creator for our own personal growth. Life never was intended to be easy. Rather, it is a period of proving and growth. It is interwoven with difficulties, challenges, and burdens. We are immersed in a sea of persistent, worldly pressures that could destroy our happiness. Yet these very forces, if squarely faced, provide opportunity for tremendous personal growth and development. The conquering of adversity produces strength of character, forges self-confidence, engenders self-respect, and assures success in righteous endeavor. One who exercises free agency by faith grows from challenges, is purified by sorrow, and lives at peace.” Elder Richard G. Scott, The Plan for Happiness and Exaltation, October 1981 General Conference http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1981/10/the-plan-for-happiness-and-exaltation?lang=eng

“Mortality is a period of testing, a time to prove ourselves worthy to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. In order for us to be tested, we must face challenges and difficulties. These can break us, and the surface of our souls may crack and crumble—that is, if our foundations of faith, our testimonies of truth are not deeply embedded within us.” President Thomas S. Monson,  How Firm a Foundation, October 2006 General Conference http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/10/how-firm-a-foundation?lang=eng

“With all the differences in our lives, we have at least one challenge in common. WE all must deal with adversity… It is in the nature of our being human that comfort gives way to distress, periods of good health come to an end, and misfortunes arrive… The arrival of suffering or the loss of material security can bring fear or sometimes even anger… The very opportunity for us to face adversity and affliction is part of the evidence of [Heavenly Father and the Savior’s] infinite love. God gave us the gift of living in mortality so that we could be prepared to receive the greatest of all the gifts of God, which is eternal life.” President Henry B Eyring, Adversity, April 2008 General Conference https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/adversity?lang=eng

“There will always be things to complain about – things that don’t seem to go quite right. You can spend your days feeling sad, alone, misunderstood, or unwanted. But that isn’t the journey you had hoped for, and it’s not the journey Heavenly Father sent you to take… With this in mind, I invite you to walk confidently and joyfully.” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Your Wonderful Journey Home, April 2013 General Young Women Meeting http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-young-women-meeting/2013/03/your-wonderful-journey-home?lang=eng

“It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life’s story will develop.” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Your Happily Ever After, April 2010 General Young Women Meeting http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-young-women-meeting/2010/03/your-happily-ever-after?lang=eng

“When the challenges of mortality come, and they come for all of us, it may seem hard to have faith and hard to believe. At these times only faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement can bring us peace, hope, and understanding. Only faith that He suffered for our sakes will give us the strength to endure to the end.” Elder Robert D. Hales, Finding Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, October 2004 General Conference http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2004/10/finding-faith-in-the-lord-jesus-christ?lang=eng

“Adversity will be a constant or occasional companion for each of us throughout our lives. We cannot avoid it. The only question is how we will react to it. Will our adversities be stumbling blocks or stepping stones?” Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Adversity, 17 January 1995 BYU Speech http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=575

“Think of the Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane during the Atonement process, suffering agony so great that He bled from every pore. His cry to His Father included the word Abba.  This might be interpreted as the cry of a son who is in distress to his father: “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” I testify that the Atonement of Jesus Christ covers all of the trials and hardships that any of us will encounter in this life. At times when we may feel to say, “Hope you know, I had a hard time,” we can be assured that He is there and we are safe in His loving arms.” Elder Quentin L. Cook, “Hope Ya Know We Had a Hard Time”, October 2008 General Conference http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/hope-ya-know-we-had-a-hard-time?lang=eng