Some time ago, there was a significant challenge in my life. It stemmed from a struggle within my family that was beyond my ability to handle. Fortunately, I did not have to face it alone. I sought help from family, the bishop, and the Lord.

Despite our best efforts, this trial persisted. I am so emotionally connected to these sentiments, and the memory is so vivid, that even now, my feelings are close to the surface and I struggle to keep my composure as I write about it.

My sweet wife sought to dispel this vice that had consumed our family, and she supported us all greatly. It was in the temple that she read  words which stood out and comforted her. She promised then, “If Thou wilt remove this cup from me, I will serve regularly in the temple and do all I can to further thy work.” She made this promise and over time, the burden that plagued us was lifted. The resolution was not immediate and the trial persisted for a season, but a solution was petitioned, a promise made, and indeed, the trial was addressed in the Lord’s time. This incident occurred many years ago, and my wife stood beside our family then as she does now. She still attends the temple every week to fulfill her promise to the Lord. As we made Christ the center of our lives and depended on Him for relief, finally the vice faltered, and we saw the hand of God lighten our load and heal our family.

Today this experience is only a distant memory—nonthreatening and quiet—and our family once again is flourishing. I know that there are unimagined challenges before us. But for a time, this was the focus of every moment of every day. Our mettle was tested as a family, as individuals, and as a ward. Knowing of our trial, a brother asked if there was not something the ward could do to help us in our time of need. He suggested a ward fast. Though I was not in this meeting, I later heard about this discussion, and the event turned out to be one of the most spiritually refining experiences of my life. Peace, comfort, freedom, and appreciation. And the Lord healed my family.

“My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment” Doctrine and Covenants 121:7

This light of Christ is described as calm, peace, warmth, a hug. Is it possible to have that feeling constantly even in the midst of chaos, pain, heartbreak, and tragedy? The companionship of the Holy Ghost is a gift. Baptized members of the Church have the blessing of receiving the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, or the gift of the Holy Ghost, as described in the ordinance of the sacrament. Every week, we can renew this promise which states “they may always have his Spirit to be with them.” We have the capacity to receive the third member of the Godhead as our constant companion. The gift of the Holy Ghost is a real help in all aspects of our lives.

We will be tested and tried, but we can remain victorious because we are not alone. We are on the Lord’s side. And the Lord cannot fail. That ensures our victory. We can triumph over our challenges and all of life’s ills. We have promises to keep.

Elder David A Bednar, in his talk entitled “Exceeding Great and Precious Promises”, testifies that “God promises His children that if they follow the precepts of His plan and the example of His Beloved Son, keep the commandments, and endure in faith to the end, then by virtue of the Savior’s Redemption, they “shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.” Eternal life is the ultimate exceeding great and precious promise.”

He continues by mentioning a few of the numerous blessings made possible because of the love of God, including temple ordinances, the Sabbath Day, and living as families for eternity.

“Understandably, all of the exceeding great and precious promises Heavenly Father offers to His children cannot be counted or described comprehensively. However, even the partial list of promised blessings I just presented should cause each of us to “stand all amazed” and “fall down and worship the Father” in the name of Jesus Christ.”

In the words of President Henry B. Eyring, “Even the best technology can never be a substitute for revelation from heaven… This is a spiritual work, and the Lord directs it through His Holy Spirit.“

“For he will fulfil all his promises which he shall make unto you, for he has fulfilled his promises which he has made unto our fathers.” Alma 37:17