Saturday, October 22, 2016

Adversity Can Make You Strong- 1 Nephi 20:10

I Nephi 20:10
Adversity Can Make You Strong
What
 10 For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of aaffliction.

Why
He purifies people with the refiner's fire

Pattern
Ps. 34:19
19  Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.
Hosea 5:15
15  ¶I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.
Matt. 5:10
10  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 
Mark 4:
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately areceive it with gladness;
 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when aaffliction or bpersecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

2 Ne. 2:2
2  Nevertheless, Jacob, my firstborn in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.
James 5:13
13  Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
AlmaAlma 26:27
Alma 26:27 
Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.

Alma 7:5
5  And I trust, according to the Spirit of God which is in me, that I shall also have joy over you; nevertheless I do not desire that my joy over you should come by the cause of so much afflictions and sorrow which I have had for the brethren at Zarahemla, for behold, my joy cometh over them after wading through much affliction and sorrow.

Christ
I (the Lord) have refined thee, and I (the Lord) have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.


Conference
4/92 Angel Abrea
Patience In Affliction
At a time when persecution intensified toward the newly organized Church, the Lord said to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, “Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days.” (D&C 24:8.)
Tribulation, afflictions, and trials will constantly be with us in our sojourn here in this segment of eternity, just as the Savior said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” (John 16:33.) Therefore, the great challenge in this earthly life is not to determine how to escape the afflictions and problems, but rather to carefully prepare ourselves to meet them.
I say prepare ourselves because it demands persistent effort to develop patience as a personal attribute. In practicing patience, one comes to understand it and to acquire it.
From Liberty Jail, in a time of anguish and deep suffering for the gospel’s sake, the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote the following message to the Saints: “Dear brethren, do not think that our hearts faint, as though some strange thing had happened unto us, for we have seen and been assured of all these things beforehand, and have an assurance of a better hope than that of our persecutors. Therefore God hath made broad our shoulders for the burden. We glory in our tribulation, because we know that God is with us, that He is our friend, and that He will save our souls.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 123.)
We must have patience in order to withstand pain and grief without complaint or discouragement, which detract from the Spirit. It’s necessary to have patience in the face of tribulation and persecution for the cause of truth, which sets an example because the manner in which we bear our cross will be an influence to others to help lighten their load.
It must be in the same manner and in the same spirit as was that of the sons of Mosiah when they were entrusted with the task to “go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.” (Alma 17:11.)
Patience must be our constant companion during the journey which carries us toward that great goal, “Continue in patience until ye are perfected,” the counsel the Lord gave to the elders of the Church. (D&C 67:13.)
Perhaps one of the best examples of patience which gives us an eternal perspective of its application in our lives is found in the words of Peter: “For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” (1 Pet. 2:20.)
Patience in affliction and adversity means to persist firmly and never forsake that which we know to be true, standing firm with the hope that in the Lord’s due time we will gain an understanding of that which we do not understand now and which causes us suffering.
...Under circumstances when the symbolic cup might represent sickness, pain, anxiety, unemployment, or the suffering of a loved one, are we able to continue our prayer with, “Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt”? This very word, this key word nevertheless, conveys the firm conviction that we are placing everything in the hands of the Lord.

...God does live and He does fulfill His promises, and to the many testimonies given, I wish to add mine. I know that even in times of affliction and tribulation, if we patiently endure in faith, blessings of comfort and hope will come into our lives, and we will be able to partake of that “incomprehensible joy” of which Ammon and his brothers received. (See Alma 27:17–18Alma 28:8.)
Therefore, in the words of Joseph Smith, “Stand fast, ye Saints of God, hold on a little while longer, and the storm of life will be past, and you will be rewarded by that God whose servants you are, and who will duly appreciate all your toils and afflictions for Christ’s sake and the Gospel’s.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 185.)
10/16 -Kazuhiko Yamashita 70
Be Ambitious for Christ
The Book of Mormon contains many accounts of those who were ambitious for Christ. Alma the Younger, as a young man, persecuted the Church and its members. He later went through a dramatic change of heart and served as a powerful missionary. He sought the Lord’s direction, and he blessed his companions as he served with them. The Lord strengthened him, and he overcame the trials he faced.
This Alma gave his son Helaman the following counsel:
Whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions. …
“… Keep the commandments of God. …
Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good.”4
Apply
I love the words of the prophet, Joseph Smith “Stand fast, ye Saints of God, hold on a little while longer, and the storm of life will be past, and you will be rewarded by that God whose servants you are, and who will duly appreciate all your toils and afflictions for Christ’s sake and the Gospel’s.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 185.)

Patience in our afflictions will bring the blessings of God upon us. Continue to hold on and stay faithful and it will pass.

Trials are to help us become better people. When our loved ones are tried then we can become better people by extending a hand of love and support to them. Serve others and our own burdens become lighter.

Hymns
122 Though Deepening Trials
127- Does The Journey Seem Long

Children
159 Stand For The Right

18- I Need My Heavenly Father

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