President Alba
Mission
Letter 2-2-14
Adversity
As part of Heavenly Father's plan of redemption, we all experience adversity during our lifetime. Trials, disappointments, sadness, sickness, and heartache are a difficult part of life, but with the help of the Lord they can lead to spiritual growth, refinement, and progress.
Each person's success and happiness, both now and in the eternities, depend largely on our responses to the difficulties of life.
Adversity comes from different sources. Trials may come as a consequence of a person's own pride and disobedience. These trials can be avoided through righteous living. Other trials are simply a natural part of life and may come at times when people are living righteously. For example, we may experience trials in times of sickness or uncertainty or at the deaths of loved ones. Adversity may sometimes come because of others' poor choices and hurtful words and actions. Suffering may also come through a loving Heavenly Father as a tutoring experience.
Different kinds of adversity require different responses. For example, if we are stricken with illness we may simply need to be patient and faithful. If we suffer because of others' words or actions we should work toward forgiving those who have offended us. If a person's trials come because of disobedience, we should correct the behavior and humbly seek forgiveness. We must also realize that if we make wrong choices, trials will come our way as we try to change our behavior and become more like our Savior.
We may ask the question: If God is all powerful and knows all why does he put us through the agony of continual suffering when He already knows what the outcome will be? The answer is very simple. The Lord does not test us to measure us, but these are tests and trials for us to measure ourselves. It is important that we know the strengths we have been blessed with during our adversities and the growth that we will experience as we work through adversity.
When some people face adversity, they complain and become bitter. They ask questions like “Why does this have to happen to me? Why do I have to suffer this now? What have I done to deserve this?” But these questions have the power to dominate our thoughts. Such questions can overtake our vision, absorb our energy, and deprive us of the experiences the Lord wants us to receive. Rather than responding in this way, we should consider asking questions such as, “What am I to do? What am I to learn from this experience? What am I to change? Whom am I to help? How can I remember my many blessings in times of trial?”
I personally have experienced adversity in my life, we all have, and at times I thought that it would break me. At times I wanted to give up as nothing seemed worth fighting for. I can testify that in the end it's all worth it! I was able to understand my own abilities to overcome and become victorious. I was able to gain a greater understanding as to why I was being tried and tested. I have been able to know God's purpose for me. I know that I will yet have many opportunities to learn more - learn things that will refine me and help me to know my Heavenly Father's mission for me. For this I am eternally grateful.
President David O. McKay said: “There are those who have met disaster, which almost seems defeat, who have become somewhat soured in their natures; but if they stop to think, even the adversity which has come to them may prove a means of spiritual uplift. Adversity itself may lead toward and not away from God and spiritual enlightenment; and privation may prove a source of strength if we can but keep the sweetness of mind and spirit” (Treasures of Life, comp. Clare Middlemiss [1962], 107–8).
I also know that each of you has gone through much and may continue to go through much more, how much more, only the Lord knows. Missions are a place to store spiritual strength so that when the trials come, we will be able to meet them head on and embrace them to our advantage. These reservoirs of strength will allow us to overcome come what may. Remember the 10 virgins? The five wise ones kept their lamps full and were prepared to meet the bridegroom.
Lets not ever give up and as you become victorious you will forever be grateful for the things you will learn if you allow adversity to shape you in the Lord's way. We must avoid becoming bitter and negative but we must learn to embrace adversity. It will be much easier to endure and we'll be blessed for overcoming it like the Savior overcame all. As we do, we will have a place next to our Heavenly Father and His Righteous Son, even Jesus Christ.
I testify that ours is our lot to overcome and be great in his sight. We will truly measure ourselves to belong with the great men and women who have overcome the world and be joint heirs with our Christ.
During tough times, we will overcome through Christ Jesus if we allow ourselves to let Him and stop fighting him or asking why? or why me?
All my love,
President Alba
Adversity
As part of Heavenly Father's plan of redemption, we all experience adversity during our lifetime. Trials, disappointments, sadness, sickness, and heartache are a difficult part of life, but with the help of the Lord they can lead to spiritual growth, refinement, and progress.
Each person's success and happiness, both now and in the eternities, depend largely on our responses to the difficulties of life.
Adversity comes from different sources. Trials may come as a consequence of a person's own pride and disobedience. These trials can be avoided through righteous living. Other trials are simply a natural part of life and may come at times when people are living righteously. For example, we may experience trials in times of sickness or uncertainty or at the deaths of loved ones. Adversity may sometimes come because of others' poor choices and hurtful words and actions. Suffering may also come through a loving Heavenly Father as a tutoring experience.
Different kinds of adversity require different responses. For example, if we are stricken with illness we may simply need to be patient and faithful. If we suffer because of others' words or actions we should work toward forgiving those who have offended us. If a person's trials come because of disobedience, we should correct the behavior and humbly seek forgiveness. We must also realize that if we make wrong choices, trials will come our way as we try to change our behavior and become more like our Savior.
We may ask the question: If God is all powerful and knows all why does he put us through the agony of continual suffering when He already knows what the outcome will be? The answer is very simple. The Lord does not test us to measure us, but these are tests and trials for us to measure ourselves. It is important that we know the strengths we have been blessed with during our adversities and the growth that we will experience as we work through adversity.
When some people face adversity, they complain and become bitter. They ask questions like “Why does this have to happen to me? Why do I have to suffer this now? What have I done to deserve this?” But these questions have the power to dominate our thoughts. Such questions can overtake our vision, absorb our energy, and deprive us of the experiences the Lord wants us to receive. Rather than responding in this way, we should consider asking questions such as, “What am I to do? What am I to learn from this experience? What am I to change? Whom am I to help? How can I remember my many blessings in times of trial?”
I personally have experienced adversity in my life, we all have, and at times I thought that it would break me. At times I wanted to give up as nothing seemed worth fighting for. I can testify that in the end it's all worth it! I was able to understand my own abilities to overcome and become victorious. I was able to gain a greater understanding as to why I was being tried and tested. I have been able to know God's purpose for me. I know that I will yet have many opportunities to learn more - learn things that will refine me and help me to know my Heavenly Father's mission for me. For this I am eternally grateful.
President David O. McKay said: “There are those who have met disaster, which almost seems defeat, who have become somewhat soured in their natures; but if they stop to think, even the adversity which has come to them may prove a means of spiritual uplift. Adversity itself may lead toward and not away from God and spiritual enlightenment; and privation may prove a source of strength if we can but keep the sweetness of mind and spirit” (Treasures of Life, comp. Clare Middlemiss [1962], 107–8).
I also know that each of you has gone through much and may continue to go through much more, how much more, only the Lord knows. Missions are a place to store spiritual strength so that when the trials come, we will be able to meet them head on and embrace them to our advantage. These reservoirs of strength will allow us to overcome come what may. Remember the 10 virgins? The five wise ones kept their lamps full and were prepared to meet the bridegroom.
Lets not ever give up and as you become victorious you will forever be grateful for the things you will learn if you allow adversity to shape you in the Lord's way. We must avoid becoming bitter and negative but we must learn to embrace adversity. It will be much easier to endure and we'll be blessed for overcoming it like the Savior overcame all. As we do, we will have a place next to our Heavenly Father and His Righteous Son, even Jesus Christ.
I testify that ours is our lot to overcome and be great in his sight. We will truly measure ourselves to belong with the great men and women who have overcome the world and be joint heirs with our Christ.
During tough times, we will overcome through Christ Jesus if we allow ourselves to let Him and stop fighting him or asking why? or why me?
All my love,
President Alba
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