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Everyone has differences in opinion, whether tastes, or preferences. That is what gives each person a unique perspective, and there is nothing wrong with that. But in any relationship, be it a friendship, family member, or couple, there must be an agreement made between all parties involved to seek understanding with one another and look beyond those differences.

The goal of the Adversary (Satan) is to place a wedge between the most loving relationships in order to destroy them and create resentment among people. He does this for his own purposes. He attempts to always undermine the foundations that relationships are built upon, which are trust, respect, kindness, compassion, and love. This erosion not only takes its toll on the actual relationships, but on the individuals as well.

Sometimes, it is very hard to notice that a contentious spirit is even present until we find ourselves in an argument with someone else over the most mundane of things. The contentious spirit lingers on when we realize that we are unwilling to give up our position on whatever it is we are arguing about, even when we know that it would be better to just agree to disagree. We would rather believe that we are right and that the other person is in the wrong.

The Adversary, if we let him, plays us right into a battle of words and influences us to believe that there should be a decisive winner, at all costs. When we engage in this kind of battle, we can often lose control over our emotions, making it easier for us to magnify whatever differences we initially had and blowing the argument out of proportion. This can lead to vicious words and hurt feelings that are not easily remedied or forgotten.

And many more things did the people imagine up in their hearts, which were foolish and vain; and they were much disturbed, for Satan did stir them up to do iniquity continually; yea, he did go about spreading rumors and contentions upon all the face of the land, that he might harden the hearts of the people against that which was good and against that which should come.

And notwithstanding the signs and the wonders which were wrought among the people of the Lord, and the many miracles which they did, Satan did get great hold upon the hearts of the people upon all the face of the land. (Hel. 16:22-23)

The previous scripture warns us of the havoc that the Adversary is capable of, if we foster a contentious spirit within our lives. If we approach our relationships with the same compassion that the Savior, Jesus Christ, would have given us, we are better able to resolve our differences in a way that would be more beneficially mutual for everyone. As children of our Heavenly Father, we are all purposefully different. The challenge to everyone is to recognize that those differences are beautiful in their uniqueness, and learn to be gracious. To do so, we must continually strive to seek understanding beyond any differences we encounter, and to live by the example of the unconditional love that the Savior and Heavenly Father has for us.

Ruby B

Before I joined the Church, I had absolutely no idea how extensive the Welfare Services program of the Church was. This welfare program is not to be confused with sharing any similarities to the current U.S. government program. People who benefit from the welfare program of the Church do not continually live off of the assistance they receive. The principle of self reliance is taught often in the Mormon church. When we learn to become more self reliant, we are better prepared to endure adversities, and are in a better position to help others when they are in need. When members of the Church do all they can to provide for themselves but still are not able to meet their basic needs due to reasons often beyond their control, they can turn to their bishop who can then provide the temporary assistance needed until they are able to provide for themselves.

My own family experienced how wonderful this assistance can be during our own trials a few years ago. My husband injured his back so severely that he was unable to go to work for an extensive period of time. As the main breadwinner for our family this took a toll on us financially and emotionally. My part-time job was not able to cover a majority of our expenses outside of our mortgage and we were struggling. During the monthly visit by our Home Teacher, he noticed that we were under duress because of our financial situation. He spoke to the Bishop in our ward on our behalf and we were immediately called into the Bishop’s office only a few short days later. He graciously explained to us that we were not alone in our adversity and that the Church provides for all that are in need. We were able to receive the financial assistance we needed, for exactly what we needed. This helped us through a rough patch, and gave us the opportunity to recover more easily from our losses when my husband finally was able to return to work. Our prayers were answered first, from the concern and action that our Home Teacher expressed for us and secondly, from the assistance that our bishop was able to give us through the resources the Church has to offer to everyone.

The assistance the Welfare Services program of the Mormon church provides is made possible from the generous voluntary contributions of members of the Church who fast one day a month and donate the value of the missed meals. Having received assistance from this program allows me to attest to the value of its purpose, and significance in the lives of those who benefit from it. I am especially grateful to my fellow brothers and sisters within the Church whose sacrifices, prayers, and generosity helped my family through our hard times. Being Mormon, I feel so blessed to be able to contribute back to a program that once helped my family, knowing that others will also be able to benefit as we did.

In my humble opinion, how can something as wonderful as this program not have been inspired from a divine source? Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, through his selfless service for all of mankind provides us with an example of true charity, and counsels us to follow His way. President Spencer W. Kimball, once said that welfare service,

…is not a program, but the essence of the gospel. It is the gospel in action. It is the crowning principle of a Christian life.

-and-

The measure of our love for our fellowmen and, in a large sense, the measure of our love for the Lord, is what we do for one another and for the poor and the distressed.” (Ensign, Nov. 1977, p. 77.)

Speaking purely from a perspective of a person whose prayers were answered and whose life the Lord’s way was impressed upon during times of adversity, I will truly be forever grateful that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prioritizes Welfare Services and humanitarian projects around the globe. The memory of the expression of compassion for our well-being both spiritually and temporally is what lingers on. It is something that I will never forget, and it has inspired me to do all I can to live in the Lord’s way.

Ruby B

In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Sometimes, it is difficult to see beyond our daily trials. Things can become so overwhelming and stressful that it can often leave us feeling alone and fearful. These types of feelings can linger, and unfortunately, have the tendency to lead to more severe feelings, such as desperation and hopelessness. Having these types of emotions poses a danger in our lives. It allows an opening and susceptibility for Satan to deceive us further away from the light that Jesus Christ brings us in this life.

It is especially important then, my friends, to try to place somewhere in our thoughts that we should not be consumed by our daily trials. We must be disciplined in our thoughts and not let ourselves get carried away into self pity. We must remember that our daily trials are there to strengthen us and to remind us to remain faithful regardless of what comes our way. To

No matter what we go through in our daily trials, Jesus Christ knows how we feel, and if we let Him, He is there to help see us through them. He has experienced all of the suffering in all of our lifetimes! Can you imagine that? No matter what we are going through, nothing can be compared to what He endured. But He did overcome it all, for us, and He can show us how to overcome our own particular trials. All we need to do to ask for His help is to humble ourselves in prayer. We must do all we can to try to be patient. The answers to our prayers will come, no doubt, though it may not always be clear and immediate. But help will come.

In our trials, Jesus Christ reminds us to be of good cheer, that our Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us, and that we are not alone.

Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you. (D&C 68:6)

– and –

And now, verily I say unto you, and what I say unto one I say unto all, be of good cheer, little children; for I am in your midst, and I have not forsaken you.(D&C 61:36)

If we keep our eyes heavenward, instead of on worldly concerns, the daily trials that we face in this mortal realm will not seem so overwhelming. In fact, if we think of our daily trials as just simply daily exercises in faith, we will begin to notice that we are able to overcome them more easily than we were previously able to. If we choose to use them to our advantage, these daily exercises in faith can help us to improve our outlook on life and help us to become experts at seeing the flip side of the trials we face. We can learn to be grateful for learning to see the silver lining of every cloud, so to speak.

In this New Year, I invite you to try to recite to yourselves, “Be of good cheer,”when you find yourself in the moment of feeling like your daily trials are wearing you down. Know that you are hearing the Savior’s words reminding you to not be discouraged, because hope is always there for you, and that you are loved and not alone. Though we cannot always escape our daily adversities, we can change our perspective and we can turn the tide in our favor. By turning to our Savior, Jesus Christ, He provides for us all the hope we need to overcome whatever trials we face.

Ruby B

When I was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) almost six years ago, I was the happiest I had ever been in my life. Up until then, I had struggled in life because I had no moral compass to guide me. When I learned about the gospel of Jesus Christ I finally felt like I had direction in life. I was overjoyed when I received the Gift of the Holy Ghost as my constant companion after I was baptized. I thought that I would never feel alone or lost again. For the first couple of years after I was baptized, I soaked up everything I could to learn more about the gospel because it made me so happy to do so. The more I learned, the more clearly I felt I saw the world and my place within the world. Upon reflection, learning more about the gospel wasn’t my downfall, but having a false sense of security in my path to righteousness was. When we relocated to our new house, we did not attend church regularly. At first, it happened innocently enough, but in truth, we did not put forth enough effort to make going to church a priority. We fooled ourselves into thinking that our faith alone would be enough to sustain us. It wasn’t.

And others will he [the devil] pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well-and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell. (2 Nephi 28:11)

In retrospect, I know that much of the adversity I dealt with at the beginning of the year was unfortunately, self imposed. Though many of my friends tell me that I am too young to experience a mid-life crisis, it is what it felt like I went through. It was not my intention to go off my rocker, so to speak, but that is exactly what happened when I did not anchor my life steadfastly to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I confess to the world that I took for granted what I knew to be true, and disregarded my better judgment.

I spent the last half of 2006 and the first half 2007 in a great depression. Two years of inactivity away from the church took its toll on me, and my family suffered through it. It seemed like I fell right back into the old patterns of self destruction that I had prior to my conversion. By not turning to the Lord consistently when I was in need, I began to depend on the comforts of the world. I essentially made room for the Adversary to slip into my life. I had unknowingly turned my back on Heavenly Father.

Once I let Satan create that initial foothold, a great deception began in my life. The spirit of contention filled my home and I struggled greatly in my relationship with my husband. Though we were on the brink of divorce, I was in denial. I was too prideful and bitter to realize that I was being selfish in my ways. I am so thankful that my husband was able to recognize that there were evil forces at work within our home. He made a stand against Satan when he turned to Jesus Christ for help. He humbled himself and sought out the counsel of the Bishop in our ward. It was a make or break situation. I either accepted the offer to seek out marriage counseling, or we would cease to be husband and wife. I would lose everything that was truly important to me. Faced with that reality, I reluctantly agreed to marriage counseling.

At the first session, I was resentful for being there, but that resentment quickly faded away when our counselor asked the question, “So why are you here?” When I began to explain why I thought I was there, I couldn’t believe the words that were coming out of my mouth. I did not make sense. For that moment, I glimpsed the person that I had become. It wasn’t me. At that same moment, I turned to look at my husband and I saw the man that I loved. Despite the way that I had acted for those months, my husband truly wanted to save our marriage, and me. That one act of courage and forgiveness was enough to wake me out of my spiritual slumber.

After a lot of hard work and effort, my husband and I are now closer than we have ever been in our seven years of marriage. Having survived this year and recognizing the pitfalls that brought us to the near breakdown in our marriage has given us the gift of not taking things for granted, especially in our faith.

What happened to me could happen to anyone. There were many mistakes that could have been avoided, but I failed to recognize the promptings of the Holy Ghost because I was not living my life how I knew that I should, and I was not doing my part. Having knowledge of the gospel isn’t enough to defend against the Adversary. We have to constantly work at it, live by it, and be humble in the fact that we have weaknesses. We also have to humbly seek help and forgiveness from our Father in Heaven, through Jesus Christ, to help us guard against Satan preying upon those weaknesses.

Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, being led to glorify God. (Ether 12:4)

Ruby B

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour…(1 Peter 5:8)

It is time for everybody to awake and be aware that there is an Adversary in our midst. The Adversary I am speaking about has many names and has many layers. He has been known as Lucifer, Satan, and the devil. He has always been around in some form, generations among generations. But, for the people born in our lifetimes, his methods of leading us off the path of spiritual enlightenment towards our Heavenly Father are now more sophisticated and also simplistic. He is ruthless, cunning, diabolical, methodical, and his power comes from preying upon the weaknesses in our mortality. His desire is to erase our free agency for his own purposes. It is important for everyone on earth, no matter what choice of faith they pursue, to be warned that he is out there and is always at work against you, regardless if you believe in him or not.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often referred to as Mormons) we learn much about the Pre-Mortal realm and what happened during the War in Heaven. Mormons are counseled in the ways to live righteously so that we are better able to defend against his influences, and see clearly the methods that he would use against us. He is the master of deception. Because he knows and remembers us from the Spirit World, he knows certain things about us that he uses to his advantage. Those things may be what we are not aware of ourselves. But as Mormons, we have the opportunity to have the comfort and protection of the Holy Ghost as a constant companion.

Every one of every faith and even unbelievers are able and entitled to receive promptings from the Holy Ghost on occasion, but Mormons receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost as a constant companion upon Baptism into the church. So long as we do our part and are obedient to the teachings of the gospel and counsel of church leaders, the Holy Ghost resides within us. When the Holy Ghost is within us, Satan has no power over us. Having the Holy Ghost as a constant companion allows us to increase our perception of the many ways in which Satan works, and also increases our resistances to his influences. However, we are just as susceptible to his temptations if we choose to ignore the promptings of the Holy Ghost. But the knowledge of the protection that is offered us and the truthfulness of the gospel makes it more difficult for Satan to destroy our agency.

In these times, it seems that Satan is especially fond of using the coercion tactics of popular opinion to increase his foothold on humanity. He leads more and more people away from Heavenly Father through justification and rationalization of sinful behavior.

Elder James E. Faust, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, wrote,

Who has not heard and felt the enticings of the devil? His voice often sounds so reasonable and his message so easy to justify. It is an enticing, intriguing voice with dulcet tones. It is neither hard nor discordant. No one would listen to Satan’s voice if it sounded harsh or mean. If the devil’s voice were unpleasant, it would not entice people to listen to it.

He further explains that,

Some of Satan’s most appealing lines are “Everyone does it”; “If it doesn’t hurt anybody else, it’s all right”; “If you feel all right about it, it’s OK”; or “It’s the ‘in’ thing to do.” These subtle entreaties make Satan the great imitator, the master deceiver, the arch counterfeiter, and the great forger. (James E. Faust, “‘The Great Imitator’,” Ensign, Nov 1987, 33)

Satan is the ultimate Adversary. He lives, just as our Lord, and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, lives. Only, his goal is to make us as miserable as he is. It is important for everyone to be aware and warned that he and his fellow compatriots exist and are at work against us. To have this knowledge will assist in greater control over what the Adversary would throw at you. Those experiences that he would contribute in are those that are unnecessary in our lives and could be avoided altogether. Satan wants us to turn away from Heavenly Father like he did. He wants us for his own purposes. He will employ every method available to him to achieve his misdeeds. But we need not fear him. We can receive power, comfort, and protection from the eternal gospel of Jesus Christ.

Ruby B

Having my father come home three days before Christmas in better condition than I had seen him in many months was, unfortunately, not enough to hold my faith in God. When my father finally passed away less than two months later, my heart became hardened. I was angry at God, and also at the priest who visited my parents during that short span in between his hospital stay and his passing because he recommended to them that they “let go”. At the time, due to my lack of understanding (especially concerning the surrounding circumstances), I felt like he basically told my father to give up hope and to quit fighting to stay alive. I could not comprehend the reason why God would keep him alive from that night just to take him away, and I was upset that my father took the priest so literally, and decided to let go and die. What kind of God and what kind of religion would advocate that? At that point, I gave up religion (and anything associated with it) and turned my back on the miracle I had once thought I had witnessed.

In the years that followed, I guess you could say I was Agnostic. While I didn’t deny the existence of a higher power at work in the Universe, I denied any one definition of God that I came across, and refuted anyone who would even use the word “God” because of the hypocritical nature and misuse I had witnessed from those same people, even from the ones who were supposed to be authorities on God. I cultivated my own spirituality and definitions based on conclusions I came to within my own experiences, positive and negative. Anytime anybody asked me what religion I was my reply was always, “I’m not religious, but I am spiritual.” Despite my spirituality, there were still many questions that I had not found answers for, and there was always a lingering feeling that something was missing.

Flash forward to my twenty-seventh year. I am laying on a gurney by myself in a hospital observation room listening to the thump-thump of my son’s heartbeat on a fetal monitor. At the time I was twenty-five weeks pregnant. My water had started to leak and I was being monitored because the doctors were worried that my son would get some sort of infection that would be fatal to his barely viable body and that I would go into early labor. I had a perfect pregnancy up until that point and my husband and I were excited to meet our first child, but not under those circumstances. There was no other sound in that room but my son’s heartbeat and I was scared. For the first time in nine years, I prayed to God:

“Dear God, I know I haven’t spoken to you in a long time, but please help me. If it be thy will that my son would die, then I will accept it. But if you let him live, I promise that I will do everything in my power to teach him about you so that he can do your work.”

My son was born during an emergency C-section when the umbilical cord prolapsed (after I sneezed no less) exactly two weeks later. He was two pounds and no bigger than my husband’s hand. He remained in the hospital for the remaining three months that he was supposed to be in my womb, but thankfully, his stay was uncomplicated and he had no defects. Even the doctors were surprised at his developmental milestones. He was a healthy six pounds when he came home to us.

About four months after my son’s first birthday, on a cold December morning, I heard a knock on the door. When I opened it, standing before me were the smiling faces of two friendly missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or Mormons). I couldn’t help but laugh to myself because I truly knew that they were sent by God to help me fulfill my end of the ‘deal’. Even before I answered the door I heard a small, still voice whisper, “Its time.” I invited them back to our home, but did not want to discuss anything about the Mormon church quite yet. I felt like I had to get to know them better.

When I first opened the door I wasn’t surprised to find Mormons bringing me the message from God. However, I must admit, it was slightly amusing because it wasn’t my first encounter with Mormons. In fact, looking back, some of my best friends had been Mormon, and never once did they ever try to impose their beliefs on me. My husband also grew up being Mormon, but was not actively attending church at the time when I met him. In fact, he had just decided to not go on a mission for the church only a few months before I met him. He never wavered on his belief that the Mormon church was true, and he did acknowledge that he was not living his life as he knew he was supposed to. His strength of conviction in his faith and his accountability for his choices in living up to that faith was what I admired about him the most, aside from his wacky sense of humor. We had discussed the doctrines of the church quite often because of my own curiosity, and my husband always said, “If God did in fact establish His church on Earth, this is the closest one I know of that lives up to what I think it would be like.” Throughout our discussions, he never pressured me to join the church. He wanted me to experience my own conversion, if I were to choose to want to. In retrospect, I truly believe that I was his mission.

Anyhow, our home became a sort of home away from home for the missionaries not only in our ward, but for the other missionaries serving in other wards. It was during these times that I got a chance to basically interview each one about why they believed in God and in the Mormon church. I was very impressed with the thoughtfulness behind their answers. I could tell that they studied the gospel carefully and prayerfully. I also was impressed with the spiritual maturity coming from these young men, and the dedication they had to helping other people search for true happiness. I finally agreed to the invitation to have the first discussion to learn more about the Mormon church from the missionaries in our ward.

The night of my first lesson was absolutely amazing. As we talked about Joseph Smith’s First Vision, the Restoration of the gospel, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and Heavenly Father’s Plan of Salvation, we all felt the Holy Ghost fill the entire room confirming the truthfulness of our discussions. We discussed our own divine purposes and how our paths were intended to cross. I, along with my husband and the missionaries were literally on the edge of our seats with excitement as we discussed the love that our Heavenly Father has for each and every one of His children. The buzz of electricity in the air was so palpable that we felt that we were elevated at least four inches off of our seats. I had never felt anything in my life like that and neither did they. We ended up talking into the night, and I received all the answers to the questions I had carried with me through the years. I knew I wanted to be baptized as soon as possible.

From the discussions of that single evening, I knew that I had found what I was searching for all of my life. I had found meaning. I had found purpose. I had found my Heavenly Father. Although I had abandoned Him long ago, He never abandoned me. He doesn’t abandon any of us. He was waiting for me to be ready to seek out His help, and to humble myself enough to receive it. He had heard and answered my prayers. The knowledge that I had learned through those discussions helped to provide me with the understanding I needed to forgive and accept past events in my life that had previously negatively impacted me. I was comforted.

It was time. I was baptized a month after that initial evening. My husband also returned to the church. After the birth of our daughter the following year, my husband and I were sealed to our children and to each other for time and all eternity.

We pray together as a family daily now, and are strengthened because of it. My miracle boy will turn eight next summer and will have the choice to be baptized a Mormon. Already, his prayers are so thoughtful (he prays for “everyone on Earth to be happy and to see the beauty this world has to offer”) and his love for Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father is remarkable to see. I look forward to witnessing him being baptized by his father and to seeing him grow in his faith. I feel blessed that we are able to bring to him the knowledge and truthfulness of the eternal gospel of Jesus Christ. I also feel truly blessed that Heavenly Father entrusted both of these wonderful little spirits into our care.

Before my conversion, I experienced the lingering feeling that something was missing. Because of the blessings that I received by accepting the fullness of the eternal gospel of Jesus Christ, that feeling no longer exists. I remember who I am now. I am a child of God, and I am made whole.

Ruby B

For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. (2 Nephi 2:11)

When you fully accept that adversity is simply a part of the story of life, you immediately have the ability to overcome even the toughest of obstacles. Whether you choose to exercise that ability is up to you. Friedrich Nietzsche, a famous German philosopher once wrote, “That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.” So, through living in and with adversity, we become stronger with time, and can grow leaps and bounds spiritually. Even when that adversity seems almost unbearable, and casts looming dark shadows in our lives, “…all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.” (D & C 122:7)

Being a convert to the Church has taught me to recognize that though adversity wears many faces, it is not without purpose. Since I became Mormon, I have learned to seek out the blessings to be found from adversity and to quit feeling sorry for myself. In my life before I joined the Church, it was very easy to do just that, and my life at the time did feel almost unbearable. I was periodically depressed and became self destructive. In retrospect, it was because of bad choices. It was only through learning about the Plan of Salvation from my husband and the missionaries in my area that I began to feel hope.

What gave me hope the most was learning that I had a purpose, and a choice, to fulfill that purpose. Although I couldn’t always choose or control the circumstances surrounding the various adversities in my life, I could most definitely choose how I reacted to them and whether I wanted to see them for what they were…really difficult lessons.

Our Heavenly Father wants us to learn these lessons and never gives us more than what we have the ability to handle. Moreover, He wants us to know with calm assurance that we are not alone in our education.

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)

Our Heavenly Father has given us a light to guide us through the hours of darkness through the teachings found in the scriptures. He has helped us to ease our suffering through the atoning sacrifice of His only begotten son, Jesus Christ. Though we might not always see clearly the purpose at that moment of every adversity we face, or are not able to recognize the reason why it had to happen the way that it did, there is a singular purpose for experiencing adversity. It is the desire of our Heavenly Father for us to return to Him after this life. He has challenged us to choose for ourselves which path to follow in our mortality. If we choose to overcome and endure adversity righteously throughout our lives, help others to do the same, and choose to learn the lessons He has provided for us, we will be rewarded with the blessings of immortality. It was promised to us,

And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God. (D&C 14:7)

Ruby B

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost… (Matthew 28:19)

These faithful missionaries diligently press forward in preaching the gospel, and willingly serve countless numbers of people despite the adversities they face on a daily basis. I believe that through their experiences in adversity during their tenure, they are strengthened in their faith and testimonies of the doctrines of the Mormon church, and in their knowledge of the healing power of Jesus Christ. The myriad of lessons they learn during their mission time lasts for the rest of their lives and helps them to remember that they overcame the adversities they faced through their faith in Jesus Christ.

For about two years, these young missionaries deal with rejection and adversity frequently, often on a daily basis. They wake up each early morning hoping to find an audience of at least one person who will allow them to share their testimonies of Jesus Christ, and to seek out those in need of assistance. Their mission is to simply share the message of the gospel, and to learn to live by the example of His life. The message that these missionaries share with those who may not be aware of it, or who have not been able to learn about it due to their individual life’s circumstances is that Jesus Christ lives.

For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it-(D & C 123:12)

This simple daily goal of being able to meet with others and share the sweet message of the Lord, is often unfortunately, met with scorn, disapproval, and callousness. What a test of faith it must be! Not just of their faith in their purpose to serve, but faith in humanity. Thankfully, for those that are called to serve missions, they are not only given guidance and support throughout their missions, they are well-prepared beforehand and are made aware of some of the trials that they will potentially face. They go forth in their missions in pairs so as to fortify each other in the great purpose before them. They help each other to testify of their appreciation and blessings they receive in doing Heavenly Father’s work. But also, they are there for each other to help one another stay strong against the temptations of the world and to help the other endure any adversities they may face.

What I find most amazing about these upstanding young men and women is the dedication to their study of the gospel and their eagerness to share what they have learned with any person they come across, wherever they may be. They seem to be able to view every moment as a possible inspired opportunity to teach the gospel. In my opinion, they emanate a sense of holiness because of the strict and moral discipline they live by, and the blessings brought forth from their faith and intent to do good works. I can always feel the power of the Holy Spirit when I am around them. It helps to inspire me to develop more Christlike attributes in my own life, and to want to increase my study of the scriptures.

What wonderful role models they are for the world! Instead of taking this time in their lives to be self absorbed, or experiment with what can be destructive behaviors, or indecisively face their futures, they commit themselves to serving others for an extended length of time, and do nothing else but that. They learn to build a habit of integrity that is only learned through practice and refined with time.

Imagine, if you will, the great lessons and blessings that are to be had by spending a couple years of your early twenties simply dedicated to serving others, and focusing on the gospel of Jesus Christ.

NOW behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.

Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.

Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;

For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;

And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.

Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.

Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen. (D & C:4)

It is no wonder then, that a majority of Mormons (at least those who I’ve met, which are many) who have served missions in their youth have an almost uncanny ability to see past and overcome their daily adversities with relative ease. They know who to turn to for comfort and hope in times of trial. They have seen and felt what it is like to be without the common worldly desires. They know and remember what is truly important …the urgency to live by the gospel, towards the goal of eternal salvation, and to return to Heavenly Father through faith in Jesus Christ.

Now again imagine how our society in these times would be if a majority of our youth would do as the missionaries would do by helping others, and helping to spread the message of the gospel? What great leaders and citizens would we have? What a tremendous difference it would make, don’t you think? How could living like a missionary change your life now, no matter what your age?

Do you have to serve the kind of mission that these young men and women do to receive the same blessings and learn some of the same skills? The good news is it is never too late for anyone. As Mormons, we are taught that, “Every member a missionary!” (President David O. McKay Conference Report, April 1959, p. 122) Does this mean we need to follow the same exact regimen as a Mormon Missionary? Of course not, but if we eagerly seek to rise above our own problems, increase our knowledge of the scriptures, and share our testimonies with those around us, we will be blessed as well. We are taught that it is our civic duty to help all others, inasmuch as we are able, to seek true happiness found in the gospel so that they can return to our Heavenly Father after our mortality. Literally, [from Old English, “good news” is] the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Ruby B

I know it sounds silly that I would attach so much sentimental value to a pair of earrings, but I had no idea that they would trigger such a reaction from me. Initially, I had a mini panic attack while I simultaneously tried to ask her calmly about where she first noticed they were gone. Somewhere inside my head I found humor in trying to tap into the accuracy of the minute details of a four year-olds’ memory regarding a particular sequence of events. As if I could really place all my hopes on pinpointing the location of a single little earring on the same girl who likes to tell people she used to ride golden tigers through a forest on her way to her palace to see her three sisters. (She has one sibling…a brother.) Still, bless her heart, she tried her very best to recall into mind where she thought she felt it fall out of her ear. I wasn’t upset with her, and tried very hard to make sure she didn’t feel any repercussions from me while I experienced an inner freak out session.

Based on her recollections and the lack of any on my part for even noticing it was missing in the first place until it was too late, I had realized that there was virtually no hope of ever recovering my lost earring. Upon that realization, I called my husband to express my disheartenment. As I explained what happened, and as he shared his sympathies with me, tears began to well up in my eyes. I needed to get off the phone since I was at work, and couldn’t afford to breakdown in front of the children where I work part-time as an Office Manager at a martial arts school. I remember taking a deep and heavy breath of acceptance, as I prayed for comfort to release me from this profound sense of loss I was experiencing. At the same time I was experiencing this profound moment, I also wondered why I felt so silly that I was so bothered over this material object. A few minutes later, my boss and good friend of mine came out of his office to express his sympathy for my loss as well. It was at that moment that I released the emotion that I was suppressing.

I went on and on to explain why those earrings were so sentimental to me. I told him that I had a habit of losing precious jewelry all my life (my late father’s wedding ring, my mother’s mothers ring, my baby bracelet, etc) and that what made these earrings so special was that I hadn’t lost them yet, and that I wanted to pass them on to my daughter for her posterity. He joked with me and said that losing jewelry was another thing I had apparently passed on to my daughter. It garnered a good laugh through my tears. But I further explained that the pair of earrings was one of only literally a handful of items I still owned from my childhood that I had kept in hope of giving them to my own children. I have had those earrings for as long as I can remember, and they were given to me by my parents, while my father was still alive. For me, those earrings represented the only material association I had left for my daughter to link her to her grandfather, my father, who passed away long before she was born, when I was eighteen years old. The loss of those earrings was symbolic of the loss of my father all over again. I didn’t realize that I had that much forgotten grief still stored up in my heart after all these years since his passing.

I am thankful that my friend (and boss) allowed me to express my emotions in the way that I did. I was allowed to go through a much needed mini grief process for emotions I had not completely dealt with. It helped me to recognize the true nature of the sense of loss that I was experiencing. Somehow, in my life, even knowing all that I know now about how families can be together forever since I became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), I had been in a slumber about the eternal nature of my relationship with my own father. I had placed so much sentimental value on this temporary item of mortality to my own children that I had neglected the opportunity to teach them about the true legacy and lessons that my father’s life and death brought into my life. Being able to work through this situation, my eyes were opened enough to be able to see the bigger picture.

This singular event of losing a simple earring helped me to reawaken what I had learned, in retrospect, after the death of my father … to live life without regrets, without unfinished business, and to never leave words of love left unspoken. I have my own
legacy to pass onto my children through the lessons I have learned since that time, and from the knowledge and wisdom I have gained from the gospel. , and through the kindness of a friend.

I am grateful to Heavenly Father for the lesson I have learned. I can only attribute this to the faith that I had that there was a message in there for me somewhere. It is easy to hold on to the earthly treasures we attach sentimental value to, but what do we truly gain from them? We need to just be able to remember the sentiment behind the object, but to freely be willing to let go of the object. After all, we can’t take them with us after we move on from this world.

…Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. (Job 1:21)

When we become slaves to our material possessions, and if they become lost, we are left feeling empty, and a little lost ourselves. We need to replace these objects with things of an everlasting nature, like the scriptures and the gospel of Jesus Christ, to fill us up and make us whole. We also need to bring what we have learned into action in our own lives, and seize every opportunity inasmuch as we are able to, before it is too late.

How fragile life, how certain death. We do not know when we will be required to leave this mortal existence. And so I ask, “What are we doing with today?” If we live only for tomorrow, we’ll have a lot of empty yesterdays today. Have we been guilty of declaring, “I’ve been thinking about making some course corrections in my life. I plan to take the first step-tomorrow”? With such thinking, tomorrow is forever. Such tomorrows rarely come unless we do something about them today. (Thomas S. Monson, “Now Is the Time,” Liahona, Jan 2002, 68-71

On my way home from work, I said another little prayer to Heavenly Father. I asked Him to help me to accept His will in the way that I

Ruby B

For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.

Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.

For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand. (Doctrine & Covenants 58:2-3)

Most people turn to negative and potentially addictive behaviors when they try to run away from their problems. These addictive behaviors can range from alcohol and drugs, to gambling and even video games. To be faithful in tribulation means to walk the hard road in faith and live righteously no matter what the situation is and to turn to Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father for help to endure well. It means that you must walk forward and onward righteously instead of running away or stepping aside from our trials.

To be faithful in tribulation, we need to ultimately remember that we are children of God. He is our Father in Heaven who loves us, and wants us to be happy. He wants us to learn our lessons in mortality and to choose to live righteously so we can return to Him after this life. Sometimes the lessons we need to learn can only be taught from experiencing tribulation in matters even greater than ourselves. He gives us the Commandments and scriptures to help guide us through troubled times and to bring us joy. He gave to the world a savior, His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, the most perfect example of how to live righteously. As His children, He sends His comfort through the Spirit, but we are given the choice to accept it, and the choice to believe in Him.

We need to keep an open line of communication with our Heavenly Father by praying to Him daily. Daily prayers facilitate blessings in our lives. When we humble ourselves before Him and express our gratitude, we experience peace of mind. Even if a person has not selected to participate in any one religion, prayer is the steadfast truth of the ages. Prayer is the focused intent of an individual. It has the power to manifest our innermost desires. We are all His children and He hears us. When we choose to pray, we will receive the guidance we need. When we choose to pray, we facilitate our spiritual progress, which will lead us to personal revelations and further instruction. When we speak to our Heavenly Father, we will feel His love for us daily, and when we most need it, in times of tribulation.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) we make covenants to our Heavenly Father that we will choose to turn to Him in our trials and tribulations, instead of the trappings of mortality. Through these covenants, we are blessed with the power to endure well because we are strengthened by Him. When we are baptized, we promise to be faithful, and in the service of Jesus and our Heavenly Father, forever. We are endowed with knowledge that should we choose to keep our covenants, even through tribulation, we will be blessed not only in this life, but in immortality. We are given examples of this truth in studying the scriptures. When we have prayerful conversations with our Heavenly Father, He provides us with the comfort of His Spirit, and the guidance we need to persevere. We are also given a Prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, and other inspired leaders of our church to give us counsel on how to continue to be faithful during the trials and tribulations of our day.

As the return of our Lord, Jesus Christ draws near, we must be ever diligent to the choices we make no matter what our circumstance may be. We must be faithful in tribulation. As we do so, our testimonies of the gospel will grow and our faith to endure righteously will become easier. When we do all that we are supposed to do, our lives will be blessed, now and in the hereafter.

Ruby B