Into every life there come the painful, despairing days of adversity and buffeting. There seems to be a full measure of anguish, sorrow, and often heartbreak for everyone, including those who earnestly seek to do right and be faithful.

The thorns that prick, that stick in the flesh, that hurt, often change lives which seem robbed of significance and hope. This change comes about through a refining process which often seems cruel and hard. In this way the soul can become like soft clay in the hands of the Master in building lives of faith, usefulness, beauty, and strength. For some, the refiner’s fire causes a loss of belief and faith in God, but those with eternal perspective understand that such refining is part of the perfection process (James E. Faust, “The Refiner’s Fire,” April 1979).

Adversity is a given in life. We will all experience it. It is for this very reason that we are here in this mortal journey – to prove ourselves through our trials and tribulations. During times of adversity, some choose to abandon faith in the Lord. Others choose to remain steadfast and true. They choose to hold fast to their faith and continue to serve the Lord and their fellowmen.

Service is a big part of being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We may be asked to teach Sunday school, conduct music, teach small children, lead the congregation, teach early morning seminary, or to help with the Sunday bulletin. It really doesn’t matter where in the Church we’re asked to serve. What matters is that we serve to the best of our abilities. What matters is that we use the talents the Lord has blessed us with to serve Him and our fellowmen in whatever capacity we’re asked to serve.

I’ve seen and felt the hand of adversity this year. I’ve also witnessed an outpouring of blessings through the selfless service of others.

Yesterday, I was released as the Relief Society (women’s organization of the Church) president in our ward (local Church unit). This means that as of yesterday, I’m no longer the Relief Society president for our ward. A release from a calling in the Church usually comes about when one is being called to serve somewhere else, is moving out of the ward, when personal or family circumstances change, or it might simply be time to give someone else an opportunity to serve in that position. We’re moving back to the West Coast in a week!

As the Relief Society president, I came to love each of the women in the ward. However, there is a special place in my heart for those sisters who experienced great adversity over the past year. Some sisters have serious health-related challenges. Others are struggling financially. There are problems in marriages and other family relationships. The list goes on. Each is dealing with trials and adversity in her own way. With faith in the Lord and with help from her sisters in the Relief Society, each sister continues to move forward, one step at a time.

Sometimes, serving and helping someone else does require a lot from us, but I’ve found that these times are very rare. Most times, it’s the small and sincere acts of love that go a long way in easing someone else’s load. Often times, it doesn’t cost us anything except an hour or two of our time. At times, a smile, a kind word, and a true friend is all that is needed. Someone who will listen and not judge. Someone who understands, who cares, who looks past the shortcomings to the person inside. Someone who is willing to share another’s burden, even if it is just for a few minutes.

Alma, a prophet of The Book of Mormon, taught us that to become true disciples of Jesus Christ, we must be willing to bear one another’s burdens.

And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

 

Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life (Mosiah 18:8-9).

A wonderful thing happens when we strive to serve and help others during their trials – we forget to dwell on our challenges. Our problems may not disappear completely but somehow our perspective changes. What once seemed insurmountable is not quite so overwhelming. We stop feeling sorry for ourselves.

I’m filled with gratitude for the examples of these sisters. Despite personal trials, these sisters chose to serve and help someone else. They remind me on a constant basis that each of us is our sister’s keeper. We are indeed our brothers’ keepers!

Selfless service is a wonderful antidote to the ills that flow from the worldwide epidemic of self-indulgence. Some grow bitter or anxious when it seems that not enough attention is being paid to them, when their lives would be so enriched if only they paid more attention to the needs of others.

 

The answer lies in helping to solve the problems of those around us rather than worrying about our own, living to lift burdens even when we ourselves feel weighed down, putting our shoulder to the wheel instead of complaining that the wagons of life seem to be passing us by.

 

Stretching our souls in service helps us to rise above our cares, concerns, and challenges. As we focus our energies on lifting the burdens of others, something miraculous happens. Our own burdens diminish. We become happier. There is more substance to our lives.
(David S. Baxter, “Faith, Service, Constancy,” October 2006).

This post was originally published in May 2008. Minor changes have been made.

Moira T

Freedom is never more than one generation from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.

-Ronald Reagan

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

We are fighting a war. Did you know that?  Yes, it is the same ongoing battle since the beginning of the world. It is the war for men’s souls, and in a more tangible way, it’s a war for freedom from tyranny. There are daily reminders that man is capable of terrible things. The news is full of such stories. And the latest mass shooting shows me that we are no closer to winning this war.

I have many dear friends who have served our country in the armed services. And their wonderful spouses have served here on the home front because it’s definitely a job in itself to be a military spouse. We need these wonderful men and women who volunteer their time, talents, and their very lives to keep us safe and free.

So what exactly is a tyrant? Wikipedia says A tyrant in the modern English usage of the word, is an absolute ruler unrestrained by law or person, or one who has usurped legitimate sovereignty. Often described as a cruel character, a tyrant defends his position by oppressive means, tending to control almost everything in the state.

You know what? That is exactly the kind of world that Satan sought to create when he waged the war in Heaven. Jesus stood up in that great council and answered Heavenly Father’s call for a Savior for mankind. We would be free to choose for ourselves how we would live. But Satan wanted to ensure all men made it back to Heaven by removing freedom of choice. Isn’t that the very definition of a tyrant?  He wanted to be our eternal dictator and then take God’s glory for himself.

Remembrance at a war memorial

Look at the world leaders in the countries most oppressed by dictators and tyrannical leaders. And you will find someone who is more concerned with maintaining and gaining more power than what is best for the people he leads. You will find someone who keeps their people subjected to their will through very harsh means. These are leaders who desire their word to be law, who do not follow governmental procedures, but step in and make changes without counsel.

Since we know that the battles for the hearts of men will not end until after the Savior comes again, what can we do to help the side of right and good to win? We must get involved. Politically, spiritually, and in every other way, the world needs good people to make a stand.

We recently had an election. And I was thrilled that I knew several people in the local area who ran for public office. I know these individuals and how they work. And I feel their contribution will benefit the whole area. It gives me confidence in the future that good people are standing up.

We can also stand up for our country. When we don’t run for office, we can still be supportive by making our thoughts known to those who work for us in government. Writing our congressmen and senators is a privilege that we should exercise. And we must also make sure we are voting for those in office. Letting another person decide who runs our country is abdicating a basic responsibility of every American. Don’t do it.

To read more of Patty’s articles, click here.

Another inspiring way we can make a difference is by serving our country in the armed forces. My cousin recently graduated from boot camp and I am so proud of him! He will make an excellent addition to the many good people who serve our country.

Spiritually the battles rage on. So wise men and women will often turn to the Savior for help and guidance. Daily prayer, scripture study, and regular church attendance will give us the strength to keep fighting.

Keep the Lord close and He will be able to counsel you so that you are in the places you need to be when you are needed. So many wonderful opportunities in my life have simply been a matter of being in the right place at the right time and being willing and able to stand up for the Lord. I have confidence in you dear reader. We chose Jesus before, and we will keep choosing Him every day.

Patty Sampson

Patty thrives on all things creative. You’ll often find her in the garden pretending she is a suburban farmer. She loves meeting new people, and is devoted to her friends and family. In her heart she is a Midwesterner even though life has moved her all over the country. She believes in “blooming where you’re planted” and has found purpose in every place she has been. She has a deep and abiding love for the Savior and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And she loves editing LDS Blogs because it is a constant spiritual uplift. Not many people can say their job builds their witness of the Savior.

Our character has been forged in the furnace of adversity. We know what pain feels like. We cannot change the past. However, we can choose to use these reference points as a rich resource to assist us in better understanding and connecting with people. When we use our life experiences in the service of others, we will finally find purpose in our suffering, joy in our journey, and much needed healing in our souls.  — Dave Blanchard

Purple Heart Medal

I picked this quote for my article, looked at the calendar to see when it would be published, then realized that the publishing date is coincidentally Purple Heart Day. Wow! Our Purple Heart veterans have sure gone through the furnace of adversity! I promise I didn’t plan the correlation of this article with that date—but maybe Someone above planned it that way.

Every person who has ever lived has experienced adversity. We all have moments of anguish, fear, and hurt. There isn’t a person on earth who won’t experience sadness, grief, and pain. It is what we choose to do with all that heartache and all those trials that make up our character. We can run down the road of blame and sour grapes, or we can walk the quiet path of peace and contentment.

I grew up with a friend who had been seriously burned. Her siblings were playing with matches in the back seat of the parked family car when a lit match dropped on her clothes. Before it was over, my friend had been burned from the calves of her legs to just below her eyes. While I was playing with the rest of my friends during the Christmas and Easter holidays, every holiday break for many years, my friend was having corrective surgery in the hospital. I remember our senior year of high school how excited she was coming back from one of those surgeries sporting a chin. She was elated to finally have a chin after all those years.

My friend had every reason to be bitter and unhappy. She could have blamed her siblings for their actions in the car that day. She had experienced pain that I can’t even begin to understand—physical and emotional. Not once did I ever hear my friend complain, blame, or even talk about how hard her life had become. She was always smiling. Her eyes always twinkled and smiled. I remember thinking how glad I was that her eyes had not been burned, as her personality came through in those always loving, laughing, smiling, twinkling eyes.

When I feel like the world is throwing darts at me, and I begin to feel sorry for myself, I often think about my friend, and how she played the cards that had been dealt to her. I am instantly chastised. I have been blessed in so many ways. My friend was my great example of how to get through difficult times with a kind, happy heart intact. I believe, as Dave Blanchard said, that my friend used her pain as reference points to better understand the pain of others and connect with us. She always knew how to cheer me up, and how to make my life and the lives of our other friends just a little better. There was always a kind word and a listening ear. She was always serving someone else, and I believe it did help her to understand her own suffering as it provided healing to her own soul.

Adversity will surface in some form in every life. How we prepare for it, how we meet it, makes the difference. We can be broken by adversity, or we can become stronger. The final result is up to the individual. . . .Those who yield to adversity become weaker. To the valiant it is a stepping-stone to increased power. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and God-fearing people worldwide will not pray for freedom from trials. They will not surrender or panic. They will strive to put themselves in condition to meet and master troublesome trials (Elder Marvin J. Ashton, “Adversity and You,” Oct. 1980 General Conference).

To read more of Tudie’s articles, click here.

There are many good things about social media, but it has its drawbacks too. I’ve noticed that social media seems to be an easy way for us all to moan and complain about our awful lives. We almost play the “one-upmanship” game to see who has the most pain. While it is good to be real with people online and not pretend to be people we are not, we can take it too far. The more we complain and murmur online, the more bitter we seem to become. I find myself wishing I knew where my long lost school friend is, because I would love to see her twinkling, happy eyes on Facebook. I know she would have happy things to post—and they wouldn’t be just memes. It seems we only know how to say happy things if they are someone else’s words that we can slap a flower on to post.

What kind of character traits are you forming as a result of your adversity? If they aren’t the right ones, I challenge you to begin to change.

Tudie Rose

Tudie Rose is a mother of four and grandmother of ten in Sacramento, California. You can find her on Twitter as @TudieRose. She blogs as Tudie Rose at http://potrackrose.wordpress.com. She has written articles for Familius. You will find a Tudie Rose essay in Lessons from My Parents, Michele Robbins, Familius 2013, at http://www.familius.com/lessons-from-my-parents.

There was a situation a few years ago that was particularly challenging for my family. We are a tightly knit bunch and tried to come together, but the challenge we faced was tearing us apart. We have always been a close family and cherished the times we have shared together, but somehow this vice was our nemesis—probably the most difficult challenge any of us ever faced. Though I was supposed to be the leader in the family, I felt like giving up, but that was not an option. At times I would wonder if this was more than my family could bear. I know I should have been asking “What are we supposed to learn from this?” but the natural man in me caused me to cry “Why is this happening to us?”

During this particular time, my son was dabbling in one of his passions—writing music. He composed the lyrics and the music and produced the songs. His best tunes were those where he was able to celebrate his passions and remember acute times during his life, both good and bad. He released these experiences on the stanzas of his music and expressed them in the lyrics that he crooned. In the early days, he used to play his music at the park or around places where people frequented like outside a movie theater. The reception he got was positive and he began to get requests for his music in various venues. He eventually produced several CDs. I still listen to these songs today. They bring back memories and emotions that take my breath away and help me realize how blessed we have been. The Lord’s hand has been apparent in helping us through these obstacles and somehow these songs help remind me of this. Today, I am able to see the wisdom and benefits that have come as a result. I really appreciate this knowledge. And I am grateful for this melodic personal history of sorts that captured these memories for us and have branded them deep into our hearts and minds.

My family recently had the opportunity of celebrating the decision an extended family member made to go on a mission. Before long, we were receiving letters from her while she was serving for several weeks in the MTC. She marveled at the wonderful opportunity it was to be there and feel of the Spirit that abundantly graces the halls in those hallowed buildings.

Still she marveled at how much work it was and the intensity of the call. She captured her sentiments in a phrase she learned there: “Little growth in a comfort zone. Little comfort in a growing zone.”

As I prepared to write this article, my mind reflected on the conversations I had with my dad when I was just a small boy. He taught us from the scriptures when he told about Daniel’s interpretation and King Nebbechanezzer’s dream of the stone cut out of the mountain without hands that rolled forth until it filled the whole earth. He explained that this stone represented the kingdom of God on earth. This scriptural account came to mind because the Church’s missionary effort alone has fulfilled this prophecy. I was overcome with the magnitude of the resources, energy, and success of the programs of the Church: missionary, family history, humanitarian, temple, and influence all across the world. This article reveals only a portion of this immense effort, and even then it’s stunning.

Gratefully, the Lord’s programs are perfect and compensate for our weakness and imperfections. As we align ourselves with Him, we enjoy the benefits and blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that theymay be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27).

“Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me;

“And none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost” (Doctrine and Covenants 50;41,42).

Walter Penning

In 1989, Walter Penning formed a consultancy based in Salt Lake City and empowered his clients by streamlining processes and building a loyal, lifetime customer base with great customer service. His true passion is found in his family. He says the best decision he ever made was to marry his sweetheart and have children. The wonderful family she has given him and her constant love, support, and patience amid life’s challenges is his panacea.

The other three men on this missionary journey became important church leaders and made significant contributions to the Church. Most Mormons would recognize their names. Ziba, however, was excommunicated just three years after joining the church. He was chastised for sinning and trying to hide those sins. He repented and regained his priesthood, but lost it again and was excommunicated.

God knew the trip to Ohio would happen, even though it wasn’t planned. He knew it was important, so we can presume he chose his people carefully for their missionary and leadership skills and for their potential. Three of the four lived up to their potential. One did not. The potential for greatness was there and he might even have been ordained to it before his birth. God placed him in a time and a place where he could make a difference. He gave him the companionship of great men in order to provide good examples and motivation. He had, in fact, every possible opportunity to become great. He chose, in time, to reject the potential God placed in him.

As a fan of history, I’ve had many opportunities to see how people use the opportunities and talents God gives them. Some make use of even the smallest spark. Placed in impossible situations—slavery, poverty, abuse, discrimination, persecution—they still rise above all that and find out who God intended them to be. Others use their trials as an excuse to avoid success. Some are given blessings that seem like trials and others are given trials that seem like blessings. It is all in how we view them and use them.

God knows us better than anyone else. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, a Mormon apostle, said:

Our Heavenly Father sees our real potential. He knows things about us that we do not know ourselves. He prompts us during our lifetime to fulfill the measure of our creation, to live a good life, and to return to His presence.

Why, then, do we devote so much of our time and energy to things that are so fleeting, so inconsequential, and so superficial? Do we refuse to see the folly in the pursuit of the trivial and transient?

Would it not be wiser for us to “lay up for [ourselves] treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal”?

How do we do this? By following the example of the Savior, by incorporating His teachings in our daily lives, by truly loving God and our fellowman.

We certainly cannot do this with a dragging-our-feet, staring-at-our-watch, complaining-as-we-go approach to discipleship (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Of Regrets and Resolutions, October 2012 General Conference).

[Watch the entire talk at the end of the article.]

To become everything God knows we can be means that we have to see ourselves the way God sees us and then organize our priorities so we can focus our attention on the things that really matter. Then we need to think about our attitude towards the steps required to accomplish them. Attitude and eternal priorities can overcome the most extraordinary trials in life.

When we need a lift, we can look to the scriptures for role models. Joseph, in the Bible, was sold by his brothers (talk about a dysfunctional family), framed by a woman and thrown into jail. What did he do? He trusted God and wound up in a critical leadership role that would save the lives of many people. In the Book of Mormon, a teenager named Nephi was the victim of taunting and abuse by two of his older brothers. They even tried repeatedly to murder him. In spite of this, he wrote that he had been blessed every day of his life and he rose to be the leader of his people. In our modern world, we can find other examples of people who have overcome great tragedy and hardship to become someone God knew they could become.

Who we become should be a partnership between ourselves and God.

http://youtu.be/B2rQAKuLo7o

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

When there isn’t anything else we know of to do it is time to turn to the Lord.  We read in Psalms 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God”.

We hear the exact phrase again in more modern scripture. Early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were mercilessly persecuted for their belief.  In December of 1833 they had been driven from their homes time and time again by mobs.  The loss of homes, personal property, and crops weighed heavily on them and they were faced with seemingly insurmountable odds.  The Lord comforted them by saying, “let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.” (Doctrine and Covenants 101:16)

It all boils down to faith.  Faith that Heavenly Father is in charge and knows what is best for us.  Faith that “with God all things are possible”. (Matthew 19:26)  Since faith is a principle of action, we sometimes need to trust in the Lord and see what he can do for us.  Faith then becomes a principle of power.

In the Bible in the Old Testament there is another group of people who were faced with seemingly insurmountable odds.  King Hezekiah was a very righteous king.  He lived at the time of Isaiah, the prophet.  The kings before him were not very righteous and caused the people to commit wickedness.  King Hezekiah purged Judah of wickedness and “did that which was right in the sight of the Lord” and “trusted in the Lord God of Israel”.  (2 Kings 18:3-7).  At that time Assyria was conquering all Israel but King Hezekiah would not submit to Assyrian rule.  Those who got conquered were defeated “because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed his covenant”. (2 Kings 18:12)

The king of Assyria mocked Hezekiah for trusting in the Lord and bragged about his own strength and the strength of his armies.  He sent men to the walls of the city who tried to convince the people not to follow King Hezekiah saying they were being deceived by him and it was hopeless to think they could prevail.  The people loved and believed Hezekiah and would not listen to the men of Assyria.

King Hezekiah, being the righteous king that he was, went to the temple and prayed before the Lord saying, “I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord God, even thou only.” (2 Kings 19:19)  His answer came through the prophet Isaiah who said, “Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, That which thou has prayed to me … I have heard…. He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it….  For I will defend this city, to save it” (2 Kings 19:20, 32, 34)

So what happened? Let’s read 2 Kings 19:35.  “And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.”

There were 185,000 troops killed by the angel of the Lord that night and the king of the Assyrians returned to Assyria.

As King Hezekiah showed faith and trusted completely in the Lord, we too need to have the same faith and trust.  We need to do all we can but when that isn’t enough we need to pray to our Heavenly Father.  He loves us and wants to bless us.  He will hear us in our hour of need.  In the Bible in the New Testement Jesus performed a miracle by calming a stormy sea.  “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39) With sufficient faith the Lord can perform a miracle with our lives and we can experience a “great calm”.

“Faith fuels hope. Our perspective changes; our vision becomes clearer. We begin to look for the best, not the worst, in life and in others. We gain a deeper sense of life’s purpose and meaning. Despair gives way to joy.

Faith such as this is a heavenly gift, but it can be sought and cultivated. As our Bible Dictionary suggests, often ‘faith is kindled by hearing the testimony of those who have faith.’ Faith is then nurtured as we allow ourselves to believe. Like all other virtues, faith is strengthened as we practice it, as we live and act as if our faith were already deep. Faith is the product of righteous desire, belief, and obedience.” (David S. Baxter, “Faith, Service, Constancy,” Ensign, Nov. 2006, 13)

How have you seen the hand of the Lord in your life when you’ve been presented with seemingly impossible situations?

Ben

These past several weeks have been very challenging ones for our family. For awhile, it felt as if we came through one trial, only to be thrown into the midst of another. The latest and the most devastating to date was the sudden and unexpected death of a dear brother-in-law just two weeks ago.

My brother-in-law was only in his late thirties when he died, still so young and so full of life. My sister and brother-in-law have only been married for four short years. They used to joke that it took them a long to find each other. Like many of us, they were very much in love and looking forward to spending their lives together.

It is understandable that my sister is devastated and is struggling to be strong. She’s been dealt a blow that only those who’ve felt the sting of such a great loss can understand. She is grieving so deeply it is painful for us to witness it because we all feel so helpless.

There are two things that give my sister the strength to get up every day.

First, she has immense faith in our Lord and Savior. She understands His plan of Salvation. She knows that one day she will be reunited with her “eternal flame” (as they referred to each other) for they are bound together for time and eternity.

Second, she has an incredible army of friends and loved ones that have rallied around her. She’s felt the comforting arms of friends and family reaching out to her from around the world. It’s quite an incredible and uplifting experience to see just how caring and wonderful her friends are towards her. Some of the most touching expressions of love and support came from people she taught and baptized when she served a full time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints over 16 years ago.

Reflecting on this experience, I’m reminded of the prophet Alma’s words to his people when he taught them what it truly means to be a disciple of Christ.

And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life— (Mosiah 18:8-9).

Death and dying is part of the cycle of life. We all know and understand this. However, knowing and understanding doesn’t make the passing of a loved one any easier or any less painful. For most of us, the separation that comes with death, will be one of the greatest adversities we’ll have to face in this life.

How lucky we are that when those times come, we have friends and loved ones who will mourn with us, who will comfort us in our time of need.

As her older sister, I’m so grateful to know that my sister is surrounded by loving friends. I’m grateful that my sister is the strong daughter of God that she is. I know that this experience, as devastating as it is, may bend her for a time, but it will not break her.

I’m thankful that we have the gospel of Jesus Christ as taught in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Knowing that families are forever, that her marriage is eternal, is a great blessing and comfort to my sister today and in the many days ahead.

Moira T