Why do we have Adversity?

I had the opportunity to teach another lesson in Laurels yesterday. As I prepared all week, I had the distinct impression to teach on Why we have adversity?

I began with this quote:

“Different kinds of adversity require different responses. For example, if you are stricken with illness, you may simply need to be patient and faithful. If you suffer because of others’ words or actions, you should work toward forgiving those who have offended you. If you are a victim of abuse, you should seek help immediately. If trials come because of your own disobedience, you should correct your behavior and humbly seek forgiveness.”     (True to the Faith book)

During the lesson we shared experiences, quotes, and the reason why the Lord must have us go through these trials and the blessings that come from them. Trials help us grow into the person the Lord wants us to become. Without these trials we would never be able to grow spiritually and be a strength to others.

We also talked about how we can be strengthened and lifted up by our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ to make it through whatever we must face in this life. As we trust in him, show faith, and endure it cheerfully and with patience he will bless and strengthen us more than we could ever imagine!

 I am so thankful to be able to share my own trials and adversity with these amazing young women and hope that they can realize that they too can make it through whatever adversity they are faced with in this life.

 I am humbled at the opportunity I have been given to inspire others and to help them to not get discouraged or give up when things get too hard to bare, but instead submit willfully and cheerfully to the will of the Lord.  If we do He will guide us, strengthen us and help us become stronger than we ever thought possible!

To end the lesson I shared this quote  and the video below: God will Lift Us Up.

“Our Heavenly Father, who gives us so much to delight in, also knows that we learn and grow and become stronger as we face and survive the trials through which we must pass. We know that there are times when we will experience heartbreaking sorrow, when we will grieve, and when we may be tested to our limits. However, such difficulties allow us to change for the better, to rebuild our lives in the way our Heavenly Father teaches us, and to become something different from what we were—better than we were, more understanding than we were, more empathetic than we were, with stronger testimonies than we had before.”                                                                      President Monson

I am so thankful for the opportunity I have to serve these young women in class. I am also thankful of the blessing of serving my ancestors through family history! I know beyond I shadow of a doubt that as I serve others it helps me not focus on my pain and suffering but instead on others!
I feel so many blessing from the Lord as I serve in the way He wants me to!

I have to say I am truly thankful for my own trials and especially how I have grown and become a better persons because of them. I know the Lord does not leave me alone to deal with this illness, but instead he is always by my side to comfort and lift me up whenever I need Him.

I am so grateful for the person I have become because of this trial and know that I can make it through hard things with the help of the Lord always by my side!