"We need to make our choices carefully. We need to review eternal goals... We need to develop an eternal perspective. Our objective in this life is to develop Christlike attributes. Each time we eliminate a weakness or obey a commandment we gain more light."- Elder Hilbig.
Yesterday I talk a little about trials and what they mean to me. Today I want to discuss how important it is to endure those trials. Yesterday I said a little about why we need to endure our trials, but what does it mean to Endure?
In The American Heritage Dictionary it defines the word endure as: 1. To carry on through, despite hardships. 2. To continue in existence. 3. To suffer patiently without yielding.
I like the last definition the best, throughout life we have ups and downs. We have times when it is so hard that we just pray to get through it and times when we don't worry about it so much.
I think my hero the Savior is such a great example of endurance. During the last week of His life He was mistreated an wrongly accused, yet he knew everything would be OK. He knew He had to go through those trials and hardships no matter how hard they seemed. He knew they were put there to make Him and those around Him stronger.
When it was all over He triumphed over all those trials and we learned that we could overcome all we have to deal with and live with Him again.
Sometimes in life we think that it will never end, we think that the pain and suffering will continue forever. We need to remember the bigger picture out there. Sometimes we think we are all alone and that no one understands us, but we need to remember that we have family, friends, a Savior, and a Heavenly Father out there who love us and want to help us.
Sometimes we think we aren't making a difference or doing any good, we need to remember that the little things matter and that we are making a difference in someones life no matter how small it might be.
We need to remember that no matter what the problem is, no matter how big or small it is we can get through it, because of who we are. We are children of God and with a little patience we can get through anything.
I think part of the reason the devil likes to tempt us or cause us pain, is to watch our reaction of distress or discouragement. Part of why the Savior is my hero is because He didn't allow that to happen in His life.
To endure patiently means to not complain so much. We all complain at times, but in reality complaining just makes the situation worse. As was said earlier we are children of God and we can overcome anything. We have the ability to look our temptations and trials in the face and wrestle them to the ground.
"Only a few times did the Prophet Joseph Smith stumble but never did he fall." John G.
"We had weaknesses in the spirit world"-3 Nephi 27:4
"To be clean will bring you more joy."- Unknown.
"Better to fail with honor, then live with cheating."-Unknown.
"Scars remind us where we've been, they don't dictate where we're going."-Unknown
"It's what we think we know that often prevents us from learning."-Unknown
I think if we start looking at good examples in our lives. If we understand that we've always had weaknesses, but we have the potential to beat them. If we realize how important honor is. If we learn from our mistakes and keep an open mind, life will become a lot easier.
We will become a better people and we will be able to help others more.
