Like the intense fire that transforms iron into steel, as we remain faithful during the fiery trial of our faith, we are spiritually refined and strengthened.
~Elder Neil L. Anderson
When you feel yourself thrown into the fire, as was Alma, and Amulek, Nephi and Lehi, and as were Shadrach Meshach and Abednego, it's crucial that we don't despair. Because although we may not yet realize it, we are about to learn something very special. Something we have had to learn in a way that we could never otherwise be instructed in fully. We are about to learn and grow and become something so much more. It is in this time, of the blackest abyss, and these our darkest hours, that we must turn to Christ, and surrender our wills for His. And it is then, that the relief from pain comes. It is then that we start to find hope amidst the pain, and it is then that our burdens begin to become light, and we start to see the light at the end of the long journey.
I was reminded of all this again this week, as I went through trials again. Yet as all my pains were "swallowed up in the joy of Christ." alma 31:5
1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples,he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast themout, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner ofdisease.
2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; Thefirst, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother;James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew thepublican; James the son of Alphæus, and Lebbæus, whosesurname was Thaddæus;
6 ...Go... to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 ...saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast outdevils: freely ye have received, freely give.
9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in yourpurses,
10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neithershoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of hismeat.
12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come uponit: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
16 ¶Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: ... for they will deliver you up to thecouncils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
18 And ye shall be brought before governors andkings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how orwhat ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that samehour what ye shall speak.
20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Fatherwhich speaketh in you.
21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death,and the father the child: and the children shall rise upagainst their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake:but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men,him will I confess also before my Father which is inheaven.
~matt 10
It is so helpful to know that when I am suffering, I am not suffering alone. Christ is right there beside me. And it's gonna be okay, because He's already felt it all; he's already won. And so when hurtful things happen, I know where to turn. Where to look. And I'm never alone. And He shall give me power unto utterance, and if I am faithful, I shall have 'strength such as is not known among men.*'
Okay. But now for my missionary experience.
Elder Edwards and I went out to knock doors and find someone to teach. As we neared our destination, I found myself with a stopped bike in front of a house that Elder Edwards had already ridden away from. But there were two people outside so I ushered him back, and then we walked with our bikes up their driveway.
Two African American men stood out front. One was sitting in a chair, the other was standing. They were both smoking cigarettes. I asked them if they wanted to hear a message of Jesus Christ.
Where are you from? The man asked. You aren't Mormons are you?
I responded that Yes, we were mormons.
He looked us up and down. And then he said,
I know all about mormons, and I know all about religion. I've studied seven day aventist, and I've looked in all sorts of churches. And I know about you mormons. He then proceded to tell me and my companion all about how he knew so much about God, about specific gospel principles. He ranted on and on and really quite quickly he started to intimidate us. And then he finished what he said with a sharp remark that meant something else but that was clearly along the lines of, what can you possibly teach me?
I felt scared. But I trusted in the promise. That if I would open my mouth, God would fill it. So I quickly prayed to God in my mind, and then I simply said.
Would you like to hear a little bit about what makes our church different?
Yeah. He said. I would.
I was shaking, but I stood strong, and I said. Look. I'm young. I dont know much about all of these other religions. I don't know a whole lot about all of the gospel principles out there, and I don't know much at all aboutBut what I do know is this. God lives. And what sets our church apart from other churches is that it's not what you know in your mind, its what you feel in your heart.
Everyone has tough experiences in life. I am no different. In high school, I almost committed suicide. But It's because of what I've gone through that I know that God loves all of us, and through Jesus Christ, we are able to get through anything. I know God loves all of His children, and I know He loves you. And that's my message you guys today. That I know Jesus Christ is real, and that through Him you can get through anything.
As I had started talking. at that broken down house in a little rundown neighborhood in Southside Tacoma, the Spirit came. And it filled my heart almost to overflowing. And the man who hadn't been talking, looked at me with new eyes. And the other man, for a moment was speechless. At a loss of words. And I know that somehow, despite the fact that I was most definitely one of the weak things of the world, and feeling a lot like David a Bednar who said when he was called an apostle, that he felt as though he were the weakest of the weak, I know that despite all that, because I was worthy and willing, my testimony was able to touch the hearts of these two men, and the heart of my companion.
There was a silence when I finished speaking. Then the man said, a little miffed, "Well, there's nothing wrong with that. Sharing a message about Jesus Christ. There's nothing wrong with that."
We then proceded to say a quick prayer, in which I reiterated what I had said in my short testimony to Him. And then we left.
Now I may not be much. I may struggle to explain even the simplest of Gospel principles. But what I do know is this. I know that this church is true. And if someone wants to take me off this rock, then Good Luck. Because now I know for myself that I can say as did Jacob, "I could not be shaken." And I know that it is through this experience that I have gained greater trust in the Lord.
My words are simple. I am definitely one of the weak things of the world. But I know that through Him I can do all things. And this is my humble testimony to you all this week. And my commitment to you all is this: Never stop fighting. Never stop showing who you are and who you know you want to be. Never Forget What you have been given. Or that the Savior of the Lord is with you every step. Never forget that you know He lives. And above all, never forget to live what you know, so that others can see it, and learn and grow from it.
I now know even more than I did before that through the eyes of a child and through giving heed to the words of the Lord are all things possible in Him.
Whatever it is that you are struggling with. Don't make it a solo experience. Involve the Lord, and you will be more grateful for action and what you can learn from it, than you can now presently comprehend.
God loves us. He really does. We just have to let Him in.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
~Revelation 3:20
This is the promise, Given to Oliver Coudrey in D and C 24:12:
12 And at all times, and in all places, he shall open his mouth and declare my gospel as with the voice of a trump, both day and night. And I will give unto him strength such as is not known among men.
Brothers and sisters, dont be afraid to act. We have the truth so lets go out and share it!
I don't have a lot of time left so I want to just finish up quickly with a message about trials and suffering and what they mean for us and kind of continue the message that I shared with those two men.
For it is when we are at the very peak of our suffering that we come to understand what it is that we were called to this Earth to become. And it is Light, and not Darkness that matters.
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