Lesson Recap: Adversity

Adversity by Henry B. Eyring

Taught by Meredith DuPass

Objective: To give hope, comfort and strength

When we are tempted to ask "why", we should be asking "what do I know?" The gospel of Jesus Christ is gives us the knowledge we need to prepare for and weather adversity.

Remember that God loves His children.
Without the Savior we would be without hope. Nephi says, "I know that He loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." 1 Nephi 11:17. Even if we don't have all the answers to explain the tragedies in the world today, we can be assured that God loves us.

God allows evil in the world.
As part of His plan, everyone on earth has free agency, and sometimes those who misue it have an impact on many innocent people. We can choose to say what can I learn from this.

Our work is not finished.
We must choose to grow and to fulfill our mission. President Eyring reassures us,

I have seen faith and courage come from a testimony that it is true that we are being prepared for eternal life. The Lord will rescue His faithful disciples. And the disciple who accepts a trial as an invitation to grow and therefore qualify for eternal life can find peace in the midst of the struggle.

The Atonement is not just for sinners.
“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, [so] 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.”

It will comfort us when we must wait in distress for the Savior’s promised relief that He knows, from experience, how to heal and help us.

Sometimes God calms the storm...
Sometimes He lets the storm rage
and calms His child

Thanks for the lesson, Meredith. And for sharing your experiences from your job with Hospice and from the depths of your personal experience, the lessons you've learned.