I
Nephi 20:10
Adversity
Can Make You Strong
What
Why
He
purifies people with the refiner's fire
Pattern
Ps.
34:19
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
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
27:17–18; Alma
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.
“Whosoever
shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and
their troubles, and their afflictions. …
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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