For those of you who don’t know me (or know me by sight and not by name), I am Michelle _____. RS secretary. What most of you don’t know (unless you were here a few years ago when I spoke) is that I will be reading my talk, because if I look at you, I will either laugh hysterically or cry uncontrollably.
I was asked to speak and was given the choice of talks to choose from . I chose Elder Paul V. Johnson’s talk titled “More Than Conquerors Through Him Who Loved Us” because it was/is one of my favorite talks from Conference. ”. At the top of the page of notes I took for this talk, I wrote the words “this is for me.” I am grateful for the opportunity to share his thoughts with you.
Elder Johnson states that affliction is part of our mortal experience, something I think we can all agree on. The challenges we face are a test, a trial of our faith, to see if we will do all the Lord has commanded us. But they are not just a test…they are vitally important to the process of putting on the divine nature.
He quotes Elder Orson F Whitney, who said, “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted…It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation that we gain the education that we come here to acquire.” Part of that education is to “build up our character, purify our hearts, expand our souls, and make us more tender and charitable.” I can tell you that I still have much to learn. I tend to go through all the wrong ways to deal with trials before I get to the right ways, which then allow me to at least in small parts learn some of what I should have learned from the start. And I have apparently not learned all I should from one challenge in particular, because it presents itself on an almost daily basis.
It seems our trials are focused on areas of our lives and parts of our souls with which we seem least able to cope. This is another reason for our trials… to acquire personal growth. Elder Johnson says it should come as no surprise that the trials can be very personal—almost laser guided to our particular needs or weaknesses. I find this to be very very true. Last night, we were discussing if I was ready to give this talk. My answer, even now, is no. Even after I sit down, my answer will be no. As I stated at the beginning, this is a challenge for me. But I know for some, had they been asked to speak, would do so with not a slightest hesitation. It would not be the challenge for them that it is for me…I will gain some personal growth from this (if only the satisfaction of it being over.)
No one is exempt from trials, especially Saints striving to do what’s right. While public speaking may not be a challenge for many, they have their own laser guided struggles…as we all do. Like Elder Johnson says, I too have been guilty of asking “Why me? I’m trying to be good. Why is the Lord allowing this to happen?” I have asked that many times over the last several months. I still don’t have an answer. But, Elder Johnson says, Being good is not enough. Our trials are designed to make us better.
He speaks of the Crimson Trail in Logan Canyon and about the beautiful sights and breathtaking views that can be seen, if one travels the steep cliffs to get to the top. The only way to see the views is to make the climb. He then speaks of patterns in the scriptures in which the darkest and most dangerous tests precede remarkable events and tremendous growth. ie
-the children of Israel trapped against the Red Sea before it was parted
--Nephi’s persecution by his angry brothers and his multiple failed attempts before acquiring the brass plates
--Joseph Smith was overcome by an evil spirit before seeing God the Father and Jesus Christ, a spirit that was not dispelled until he called upon Heavenly Father for help
--investigators often face opposition as they near baptism..one of our own was banned from her home when she made the decision to be baptized
Marvelous blessings come on the heels of great trials.
Trials prepare us for something vitally important. It is nearly impossible to see that the coming blessings far outweigh the pain, humiliation, or heartbreak we may be experiencing. If any of you read my facebook at any given moment, you know I’m a quotes person…I love quotes. One that I found a while ago is by Robert Frost which says “The only way out is through.”, which to me means that the only way to get the blessings is to go through the trials. Ie the only way to see the views is the make the climb. Growth does not come by taking the easy way. We must be chafed, and purified, and endure struggles. Elder Johnson cautions that we must be careful not to resent the very things that help us put on the divine nature. He also assures us that none of the trials we face are beyond our capacity to overcome, because we have the help of the Lord.
We don’t seek out tests, trials, and tribulations. Our personal journey through life will provide just the right amount for our needs. I beg to differ…I feel quite certain that I have surpassed the number of challenges a person should have to endure. As did Elder Robert D. Hales, when he said “…I told the Lord that I had surely learned the lessons to be taught and that it wouldn’t be necessary to endure any more suffering.” We are not left alone. Assistance comes in various forms, depending on the circumstance—friends who enter our lives at just the right moment, doctors or other healthcare workers, events that at the time seem like normal everyday occurrences, and sometimes, as for Elder Hale, visits from Heavenly angels.
Mosiah 24:14-15 says “And I will also ease up the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs….yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease…” The implication to me is that while the burdens themselves may not necessarily be lifted… the Lord makes us stronger and able to bear them.
Elder Johnson concludes his talk by saying when we get to the other side of the veil, we want more than for just anyone to say “Well, you’re done.” We want to hear the Lord say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” He then quotes Paul who said, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulations? Or distress? Or famine? Or nakedness? Or peril? Or sword?...Nay, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
May we all be more than conquerors, may we all make the climb to see the views…in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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