Lesson on Trials

Jupe,

I hope my thoughts here will help, but I’m afraid that my beliefs on mortal trials are hard to accept for some people. I think teaching these doctrines with sensitivity is possible, but the truths can nonetheless be upsetting for those who want to hear of an easier road to heaven. But as Elder Holland preaches, “. . . when we promise to follow the Savior, to walk in His footsteps, and be His disciples, we are promising to go where that divine path leads us. And the path of salvation has always led one way or another through Gethsemane.” https://www.lds.org/ensign/2009/09/lessons-from-liberty-jail?lang=eng

Faith in Christ leads to healing, both physically and spiritually, through acts of Almighty power we call ‘miracles’ because we have no other way of describing them. The reality is that because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ all other miracles are made possible. In other words, miracles are the power of the Atonement, enacted through the Priesthood, that manifest themselves in occurrences mortals cannot otherwise explain. The miracle of the Atonement makes possible such impossibilities as being cleansed from sin and the literal healing of physical bodies – or being made whole, both body and spirit.

Faith in Christ, then, is the key that unlocks the power of the Atonement, and therefore the blessings of miracles. “For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith.” Ether 12:12

The phrase “after their faith” has become the solitary lesson that my life-long diagnosis has led me to. It implies a demonstration, or action, wherein we prove our faith in Christ; and in order to prove something, that thing must first be tested or tried. Trials produce humility, and humility faith. Faith in Christ leads to unlocking the power of the Atonement, which leads to miracles and ultimately to the miracle of salvation through overcoming physical and spiritual death.

Therefore, the hard truth of it is whether they be physical or otherwise, trials are at the very core of the Plan of Salvation (the Atonement is itself the single greatest trial in the history of Earth). The problems start when people focus on the reward of the miracle and forget the purpose of the trial. They may ask “If Jesus can heal people physically, why isn’t that happening to me? Why am I not cured? Why must I suffer this way while blind men see and lame men walk?”

One of my personal sources of strength when feeling this way is to search out the trials which proceeded well-known miracles in scriptures. When I do this, it gives me perspective on how things really were (and are) for the Lord’s faithful disciples. A few examples:

·         Nephi’s faith led him and his family to the promised land. But Nephi didn’t simply board a ship and sail towards the blessings. Nephi built the ship himself, was betrayed on it, and was beaten to an inch of his life before the seas calmed and dry land spotted.

·         Alma and Amulek’s faith caused prison walls to tumble, but only after they were imprisoned, starved, smitten, bitten, spit upon and reviled. It was a naked, famished Alma alongside a swollen and bloodied Amulek who miraculously walked out of the rubble as lions among prey.

More difficult to understand are the miracles that seemingly never happen. If the story of the woman with the issue of blood recounted her 12 years of suffering and omitted her faith-filled touch of the Master’s cloak, would not her trial appear worthless? Would Abinadi be pitied instead of praised if the scriptural account ended with his death by fire? We know that the woman was healed and that Abinadi’s mission was successful only because we have the evidences of their faith displayed before us in a few short verses of scripture. Some people who feel that their prayers go unanswered or who feel they have suffered long enough with their burdens simply cannot see the rest of their personal story.

Trials present opportunities in our lives to reach new levels of faith in Jesus Christ. They are difficult to welcome, but understanding their purpose gives a greater hope that at the end of the trial, be it in mortality or in the spirit world, a more-perfected you will appear.

The invitation to take up our cross and follow Christ is the same invitation the Lord has given to all his faithful followers from Adam. It is an invitation walk His path that thereby we may gain His rewards. Those who have accepted this invitation bear the scars of a tried life and the fruit of Eternal Life. In the midst of despair, remain faithful and call upon God in the name of Jesus. Then watch as seas calm, prisons fall, and ailments cease. Be it in this life or the next, the Atonement heals.

My favorite verses in the hymnal:

1. 3. Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
   For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
   I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
   Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,
   Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
2. 4. When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
   The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o’erflow,
   For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
   And sanctify to thee, and sanctify to thee,
   And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
3. 5. When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
   My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.
   The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
   Thy dross to consume, thy dross to consume,
   Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
4. 1.