Patience

By Guest Blogger Devon Linn

Patience is one of those gospel topics that I seem to always gravitate towards, probably because I can use all the help I can get in that department! So I was very excited to read President Uchtdorf's talk from the Priesthood session of conference, Continue in Patience. Because I depend on the Lord to be endlessly patient with me, I always know I can work on becoming more patient with my family and others I interact with (even Philly drivers).

As sad as this is to admit, I also even need help being more patient with the Lord, especially when I'm waiting for an answer to prayer. I know that He always comes through for me when I need it, but I still seem to think that I can dictate the terms on when and how I receive revelation! I know in principle that it doesn't work that way, yet I find I'm not always as full of faith as I need to be when I have to wait for an answer. Because of this impatience on my part, I think the Lord has to be even more patient with me until I once again recognize that it is His will that matters, not mine.

In addition to being more patient with people, I also need more patience with life in general. It is hard sometimes for me to understand that it is not always the "doing" or "finishing" in life that we value the most from, but that the journey itself is where we gain the knowledge the Lord wants us to learn. There's so much I still need to learn and want to do better, and yet I can't learn things before I am ready, which can be frustrating at times. President Uchtdorf's message related to this perfectly:

Brigham Young taught that when something came up which he could not comprehend fully, he would pray to the Lord, “Give me patience to wait until I can understand it for myself.” And then Brigham would continue to pray until he could comprehend it.

We must learn that in the Lord’s plan, our understanding comes “line upon line, precept upon precept.” In short, knowledge and understanding come at the price of patience.

Often the deep valleys of our present will be understood only by looking back on them from the mountains of our future experience. Often we can’t see the Lord’s hand in our lives until long after trials have passed. Often the most difficult times of our lives are essential building blocks that form the foundation of our character and pave the way to future opportunity, understanding, and happiness.

I know that it is easier for me to realize that adversity actually helps me to grow when I'm not currently in the "deep valleys of the present," but I hope that I will have the faith I need when those storms hit, so that in the future I will be able to look back and know how the Lord was with me. When I do receive answers to my prayers, I know they are from Him, and I know that I have grown stronger in my relationship with Him from being patient and submitting my will (and timeline!) to Him.

Patience does require a lot of faith, but the Lord loves us and I know that He will help us in all areas that we struggle with patience!

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