I moved to Tooele a year ago July. I graduated from Dixie State College and took a position as a 5th grade teacher at Excelsior Academy, the charter school in Erda. I will be teaching there again this year as a 6th grade teacher.
I didn’t know anyone when I moved here. I don’t have any family that lives in the area. I came here alone. In fact, I took my teaching job having never even been to Tooele County. Fortunately, I made some great friends almost immediately and have had so many wonderful experiences this year and have learned so many things about myself.
One of the unanticipated byproducts of moving here was the opportunity for me to realize how much control I had on the outcomes and consequences that come with each decision I made. Because of the nature of human interaction, we are interdependently connected, meaning that our decisions not only affect ourselves but also affect those we interact with and who surround us. For example, the decisions my parents made in regards to education, careers, lifestyle, where they made their home, and financial priorities clearly affected my childhood and what the home I grew up in was like. Always having lived so close to my family, their decisions continued to affect the life I experienced. Moving here away from my family and away from my friends and other relationships, I had a chance to temporarily remove their effect. Living here alone, I was quickly able to see that the decisions I made resulted in certain outcomes. When I was receiving negative outcomes, it was easy to analyze what actions had resulted in those outcomes. I realized early on if I changed my behavior I could change my outcome. The more I did this, changing my actions to seek a certain outcome, the more I realized the control I had over many of the experiences I was having in life.
We know this idea to be a doctrinal principle. “There is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.”
These verses teach us that there are laws that govern the universe. God operates under these laws. There are specific blessings attached to each of these laws. If we keep that law, we receive that blessing. Therefore, if we desire a certain blessing, we should keep that law. I have recognized how true that is while living here in Tooele. If I want a certain outcome, such as clarity of mind, a peaceful conscience, freedom from addictions, healthy relationships, physical health, self-respect, and so on, then I would need to keep the commandments that would result in those outcomes, those blessings.
In teaching his son, Lehi taught us also that there are laws and natural consequences in all things. “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad… And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.”
If you’ve ever been to a jewelry store, you’ll notice they carefully display their jewels. When showing you a diamond, the sales clerk will put the diamond on some contrasting material, like black velvet, so as to demonstrate the dramatic contrast between the two, allowing the diamond to be more brilliant. Likewise, we need opposition to show the contrast between righteousness and sin. Therefore, there must be trials to endure so that we can better understand our happiness and blessings.
Even though blessings and negative consequences are tied to obedience or disobedience to a particular law, some of the trials we face as part of opposition are beyond our control. These trials may be the way our lives are affected by the choices made by others we interact with. These trials may be natural consequences of living in this mortal world. These trials may be illnesses, loss of family members or friends, financial hardship because of the state of the national economy, accidents and injuries, and natural calamities such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and fires.
Many have said, If this world is truly governed by an all-powerful God, then why is there such hardship? Why are thousands of people killed in a devastating earthquake? Why is a married couple denied the opportunity to bear children? Why would a mother of five be taken from this earth by cancer?
As members of the restored gospel, we have knowledge of many truths. One of those truths is the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation. The purpose of coming to earth is to continue in our eternal progression. One reason we have been placed on earth is to prove that we will be obedient even when we are outside of God’s presence. The only way this obedience could be tested was to be given agency, the power to choose for ourselves.
Hardship gives us an opportunity to demonstrate how we respond to difficult situations. Do we remain faithful? Do we continue to endure? Or do we allow ourselves to believe it is too difficult and begin to lose hope?
Let’s use the scriptures and church history to learn from those whose lives are recorded. We can read many accounts of how sin has brought about negative consequences. But let’s look for the accounts of trial and adversity, the things that seemed to happen despite a person’s righteousness, and see how individuals and groups of people responded in these accounts.
One of the trials I repeatedly endured growing up was being teased for being good. My classmates at school would tease me for working so hard and doing everything I was asked to do. I can’t even tell you how many times I was called a goody two shoes or something of the sort. It would frustrate me. I didn’t understand why I would be teased and tortured when clearly I was doing what was right.
Similarly, we read of a story in the Old Testament. Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, had two wives and between the two of them, he bore twelve sons. His eleventh son was named Joseph. Although the eleventh born of Jacob, Joseph was the eldest son of Rachel. Jacob held his son, Joseph, in a very special place in his heart, “because he was the son of his old age”. Jacob even made Joseph “a coat of many colours”.
Joseph’s brothers did not take this extra affection offered Joseph by their father very well. “And when his brethren saw their father loved [Joseph] more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.”
Joseph had dreams that foretold of things to come. His dreams suggested that in the future, he would reign over his brothers (and many others) and that his brothers, and even their parents, would have to come to him in their time of need.
As you can imagine, this didn’t sit well with his family. Upon hearing these dreams, “they hated him yet the more”.
One day, Jacob sent Joseph out to find his brothers who were working the flocks to see how they were doing and to report back. He was obedient and traveled a distance of about 45 miles to where they were supposed to be. Not finding them, he asked a man where they had gone. When Joseph found out that they were in another location, he proceeded to travel an additional 12 miles to find them. This demonstrates Joseph’s obedience to his father’s command and his persistence in doing what he was asked to do.
“And when [the brothers] saw [Joseph] afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” The brothers let their envy overcome them to the point that they were willing to kill their brother.
Fortunately, one of the brothers, Reuben, talked them out of murder and instead suggested they throw him into a pit. Of course, Reuben wasn’t necessarily altruistic in this plan, but that part of the story that will be saved for another day. When the brothers saw some traders coming their way, they decided to instead sell him as a slave to these men.
We read that the brothers took Joseph’s coat and dipped it in the blood of a freshly slaughtered goat kid and took it home to their father. But we will also leave that part of the story behind and instead follow Joseph into Egypt.
Upon arriving in Egypt, the traders sold Joseph to a prominent member of the Pharaoh’s court. Yet a slave, “the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man”. Joseph was quickly promoted because of his hard work (and because his master hoped he would gain more from Joseph’s prosperous ability).
Joseph found favor in this household. The master’s wife showed interest in him and even suggested they sleep together. Joseph responded, “There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
Well, his master’s wife continued to lust after him and tried to convince him one more time when they were alone, taking a piece of his clothes during the process. Joseph immediately fled the situation, leaving his article of clothing behind. She, being angry or embarrassed, took Joseph’s clothing to her husband and suggested that Joseph had tried to take advantage of her. Immediately, the master had Joseph jailed.
Let’s recap the story so far. Joseph lived a righteous life while at home. He was even blessed by God to be a seer. His brother’s envied their father’s love for him and mocked his dreams. They contemplated murdering him but settled for selling him as a slave. While enslaved, he was faced with one of the greatest temptations, that of sexual sin. He responded appropriately, maintaining his righteousness. Yet he was then falsely accused and imprisoned.
Wow. Despite his righteousness, he was still tried; he still had to face difficult things. Was living a righteous life really worth it? He did as he was told and his brother’s wanted to kill him. He fled from sin and yet he was still imprisoned.
Did he give up? As before, “the Lord was with Joseph” even while he was in prison. This suggests that Joseph continued in faithfulness despite his unfavorable circumstances. He didn’t question or blame God for being punished by the world despite his righteousness. He continued to turn to the Lord. And he was blessed for that. As a reflection of his character and hard work, Joseph was soon promoted to a position of responsibility even while in prison and he began to once again prosper. We know how the story ends. From there, he began interacting with members of the Pharaoh’s house, interpreting dreams. After interpreting a dream that the Pharaoh had, he was made ruler of all Egypt. He gathered and stored excess grain during seven years of plenty which he sold to the Egyptians during the seven years of famine that followed. And true to his own dream, his brothers came to him, not knowing it was him, for need of food.
Joseph’s story teaches us that there will be times, despite our righteousness, that we will be required to endure many difficult things. We will be tried. But if we continue to turn to the Lord, we will be seen through these times of trial and will be blessed with wisdom. The wise actions that Joseph took, in reserving the grain, resulted in him living a prosperous life even as those around him endured hardship. Through the development of our character and our learned resiliency, we will be blessed in future times of trial.
Growing up in Florida, I attended a school where there were less than a dozen members of the Church. My freshman year of high school was the first time I had ever experienced significant religious persecution. There were two boys at school who would harass my brother and sister and I on occasion. They wouldn’t harangue us for long, but they were quick to tell us that “Mormons are going to Hell”. Fortunately, being the youngest, I escaped most of the comments. But I watched as my brother and sister took each incident in stride.
When we hear the words “religious persecution”, our minds quickly turn to the pioneers. We think of mobs harassing the Saints and running them out of every area they established. Even as the Saints were establishing their new home in Utah, “the United States Congress passed legislation that curbed the freedom of the Latter-day Saints and hurt the Church economically”. Early missionaries of the Church were murdered or beaten until blood ran down their backs. If this truly is the church of Jesus Christ, why would its members be forced to endure such persecution? President Brigham Young, prophet during these early years of the Church, said, “Joseph [referring to the prophet, Joseph Smith] could not have been perfected, though he had lived a thousand years, if he had received no persecution. If he had lived a thousand years, and led this people, and preached the Gospel without persecution, he would not have been perfected as well as he was at the age of [thirty-eight] years. You may calculate, when this people are called to go through scenes of affliction and suffering, are driven from their homes, and cast down, and scattered, and smitten, and peeled, the Almighty is rolling on his work with greater rapidity.” We learn from President Young and these early members of the Church that persecution leads to perfection and is a sign of the growth of the Church.
Sometimes we are called to endure trial in preparation for something great that is to come. Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught, “Surely these great adversities are not without some eternal purpose or effect. They can turn our hearts to God.”
As a nation, we are suffering financial hardship and high rates of unemployment. This adversity may prove to have the same results as it did for the Zoramites.
Alma, in the Book of Mormon, served several missions, one of which was a mission to reclaim apostate Zoramites. After he and his companions had labored much to teach wherever they could, they began to preach in the streets. They began having success teaching among the poor who had not been allowed to enter the synagogues where these missionaries had been preaching before. One man among the poor came forward to Alma and began to share their plight. “Behold, what shall these my brethren do, for they are despised of all men because of their poverty, yea, and more especially by our priests; for they have cast us out of our synagogues which we have labored abundantly to build with our own hands; and they have cast us out because of our exceeding poverty; and we have no place to worship our god; and behold, what shall we do? And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immediately towards him, and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them, and that they were in a preparation to hear the word. Therefore [Alma] did say no more to the other multitude; but he stretched forth his hand, and cried unto those whom he beheld, who were truly penitent.” Their adversity of financial hardship had brought them to humility. Because these people were humble, they were prepared to receive the word of God and to be blessed by that knowledge.
Currently, there are numerous countries at war, and many of our servicemen are scattered throughout the world aiding in these endeavors. We could get caught up in these hardships and harden our hearts and even begin to question if there is an Almighty God.
Instead, let’s turn again to the Book of Mormon where the people were experiencing much of the same things as we do today and learn from their response. Continuing in the book of Alma, we read about countless battles amongst the people. The people of this time were enduring numerous hardships. One of my favorite scriptures comes at the end of these, the so-called war chapters, in the second to last chapter of Alma. After so many wars and contentions had been recorded, we come to this beautiful summary how the hardship of war had affected the people. “But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the great length of the war; and many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility.” This group of people had encountered the same situation; they had all endured great hardship because of the war. Why did some become hardened while others softened and humble themselves? Elder Dallin H. Oaks teaches us, “Like the mortal life of which they are a part, adversities are temporary. What is permanent is what we become by the way we react to them.”
We may not be able to control what adversities come into our lives, but we can control our reaction. Elder Oaks continues, “Our responses will inevitably shape our souls and ultimately determine our status in eternity. Because opposition is divinely decreed for the purpose of helping us grow, we have the assurance of God that in the long view of eternity it will not be allowed to overcome us if we persevere in faith. We will prevail.”
How can we know that we will prevail? How do we know that we can endure a particular trial? What strength lies outside of us when we don’t think we have the strength within us?
In 2 Kings 6, we read of the Syrians wishing to attack the Israelites. The prophet at this time was Elisha. Elisha warned the king of Israel about where the Syrians would camp, thus sparing the Israelites. The king of Syria assumed he had a traitor among his men but was told by his servant that the prophet of the Israelites had been the one to know of his secret (by revelation of course). The Syrian king wanted to capture Elisha, so he sent “thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. And when the servant of [Elisha] was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! How shall we do? And [Elisha] answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” At first glance, this trial seemed more than could be handled. How were two men to take on a multitude? Yet, because of the accompaniment of God in every righteous thing we do, Elisha and his servant were spared.
The Lord has promised us, “And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.” We can be assured that as we endure trial, we will have the strength to overcome these things. We can call upon the Lord, because He will be there by our side. We can trust that His angels will be round about us protecting us as we work through what, at times, seems to be insurmountable trials.
While in Missouri, the Prophet Joseph Smith and five other Church leaders were arrested and confined in Liberty Jail. The room in which they spent the months of December 1838 through April 1839 was only 14 by 14 feet with a ceiling just over 6 feet high. While in prison, Joseph Smith wrote letters to his family and to the Saints. Joseph knew of the persecutions and the sufferings of the Saints. This led him to plead with the Lord in their behalf. He recorded his prayer and resulting prophecies on March 20, 1839 which is now section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants.
Joseph prayed, “O god, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place? How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries? Yea, O Lord, how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions, before thine heart shall be softened toward them, and thy bowels be moved with compassion toward them? O Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven, earth, and seas, and of all things that in them are, and who controllest and subjectest the devil, and the dark and benighted dominion of Sheol—stretch forth thine hand; let thine eye peirce; let thy pavilion be taken up; let thy hiding place no longer be covered; let thine ear be inclined; let thine heart be softened, and thy bowels with compassion toward us. Let thine anger be kindled against our enemies; and, in the fury of thine heart, with thy sword avenge us of our wrongs. Remember thy suffering saints, O our God; and thy servants will rejoice in thy name forever.”
And the Father so lovingly responded and so poignantly taught, “My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.” In regards to the Saints who were suffering, the Lord promised, in that section, glorious revelations to those who endure valiantly.
Again while in Liberty jail around this same time, the Lord taught Joseph the purpose for his trials. “If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea; If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? And if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb; And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he? Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.”
And God shall be with you as well forever and ever. He is by your side. Call on Him and He and His angels will bear you up during the trials you face. Know that these trials will strengthen you and bring you to humility so that you can receive greater things. “For whom the Lord loveth he chaseneth.” Your trials shall be for your good. Endure them well. These things I say in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Singing of "My Kindness Shall Not Depart From Thee"
For a little while Have I forsaken thee;
But with great mercies will I gather thee.
In a little wrath I hid my face from thee
For a moment.
But with everlasting kindness will I gather thee,
And with mercy will I take thee ‘neath my wings,
For the mountains shall depart,
And the hills shall be removed,
And the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea,
But know, my child,
My kindness shall not depart from thee!
Though thine afflictions seem
At times too great to bear,
I know thine every thought and every care.
And though the very jaws
Of hell gape after thee
I am with thee.
And with everlasting mercy will I succor thee,
And with healing will I take thee ‘neath my wings.
Though the mountains shall depart,
And the hills shall be removed,
And the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea,
Know, my child,
My kindness shall not depart from thee!
How long can rolling waters
Remain impure?
What pow’r shall stay the hand of God?
The Son of Man hath descended below all things.
Art thou greater than He?
So hold on thy way,
For I shall be with thee.
And mine angels shall encircle thee.
Doubt not what thou knowest,
Fear not man, for he
Cannot hurt thee.
And with everlasting kindness will I succor thee,
And with mercy will I take thee ‘neath my wings.
For the mountains shall depart,
And the hills shall be removed,
And the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea,
But know, my child,
My kindness shall not depart from thee!
My kindness shall not depart from thee!
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