"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.
"Every one of us, in one way or another, great or small, dramatic or incidental, is going to spend a little time in Liberty Jail—spiritually speaking. We will face things we do not want to face for reasons that may not have been our fault. Indeed, we may face difficult circumstances for reasons that were absolutely right and proper, reasons that came because we were trying to keep the commandments of the Lord. We may face persecution; we may endure heartache and separation from loved ones; we may be hungry and cold and forlorn. Yes, before our lives are over we may all be given a little taste of what the prophets faced often in their lives. But the lessons of the winter of 1838–39 teach us that every experience can become a redemptive experience if we remain bonded to our Father in Heaven through that difficulty. These difficult lessons teach us that man’s extremity is God’s opportunity, and if we will be humble and faithful, if we will be believing and not curse God for our problems, He can turn the unfair and inhumane and debilitating prisons of our lives into temples—or at least into a circumstance that can bring comfort and revelation, divine companionship and peace."
-Jeffery R. Holland
CLICK HERE to read Elder Holland's entire article!
Thanks for the message. Not a good day for me. Not even one-yr old computer got dropped today by 1 yr. old nephew-now broken, babysitting twin 3 yr. old nieces who have had 6 accidents each in the last 2 days, selling a house and 2 cars to fix our mess. And listen to everybody else's so-called(not yours) problems. I'm tired. And the only thing that can get me through is knowing what certain people in the church have done that has been so much harder. I do appreciate you reaching out into the blogosphere, though, to share these things.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I forgot to mention, my 2 yr. old fell down the stairs. But I reread some of the parts of his talk and oh, it's hard but I know it's true.
ReplyDeleteThese kind of days are the days we remember. Several people have told me that THESE are the days to treasure. That THESE are the days that are EASY. THey get more complicated as our children grow up. I am just experiencing this, as my oldest will be a Teenager (in age now, not just in attitude) this month!!!!! :)
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