Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Why Tribulations?


I have good reason to be seeking answers.

Here are a few I have located...


And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.  (Alma 7:11-13)


If thou art called to pass through tribulation....if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters....prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb; And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, and the sentence of death passed upon 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.  (Doctrine and Covenants 122:5-8)

Disease, too, afflicts both the innocent and the culpable. It is as big a mistake to blame God for all sickness as it is to blame him for all natural disasters. It is true that some diseases occur because of sinful activities, but most people become ill simply because the mortal body is subject to natural law and is heir to pain, disease, and death.  (A. Lavar Thornock, In Your Time of Crisis)

You can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experience with the Lord in the most miserable experiences of your life—in the worst settings, while enduring the most painful injustices, when facing the most insurmountable odds and opposition you have ever faced. (Elder Jeffery R. Holland,  Lessons from Liberty Jail)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

This is absolutely true, Jim. In fact, the most sacred times of my life have been the times of greatest struggle. As Freud said, "One day in retrospect the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful."

I think the key part of that quote is "in retrospect". It is nearly impossible for us to appreciate the goodness that comes from the difficulty while we are in the midst of it. That's why we're instructed to hold on our way.

I'm sorry I missed your call today. I tried to call later, but you were sleeping then. Let's talk tomorrow, ok?

I love you.