Saints will Suffer

A quote from April's General Conference has been haunting me.  Not really haunting, but just simmering in my mind I guess, a phrase I think we need to pay more attention to.

"Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. Each of us will be tested. The Apostle Paul warned that in the latter days, those who diligently follow the Lord “shall suffer persecution.”¹² That very persecution can either crush you into silent weakness or motivate you to be more exemplary and courageous in your daily lives (Elder Russell M. Nelson, April 2011, bold added)."

At first glance this can be scary.  I have worried a bit over this not for my own sake, but for the sake of my children.  I don't worry for the persecution or the trials they may face so much as I wonder about these questions: 

Am I truly preparing them to withstand such trials and persecutions? 

Am I training them with the characteristics they will need to stand strong against the things that are to come?

What am I teaching them that will fortify their faith and strengthen their confidence that they can fight against trying times? 

In Peter we read:

" For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it ^apatiently? but if, when ye do well, and ^bsuffer for it, ye take it ^cpatiently, this is ^dacceptable with God.  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also ^asuffered for us, leaving us an ^bexample, that ye should follow his steps:  (1 Peter 2:20-21)."

"And who is he that will harm you, if ye be ^afollowers of that which is good?

But and if ye ^asuffer for ^brighteousness’ sake, ^chappy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

But ^asanctify the Lord God in your hearts:...

For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye ^asuffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

For Christ also hath once ^asuffered for sins, the just for the ^bunjust, that he might bring us to God,... (1 Peter 3:13-15, 17-18)."

In other words, our purpose is to become like our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He suffered not only for us, but as an example to us of how to endure suffering for righteousness' sake.  What better reason to suffer than for Him. 

Knowing this, putting this knowledge into context, has helped me to turn my fear into faith.  The Lord has a plan and His plan will prevail.  His atonement has given us the power to persevere through whatever may happen in the future.  Thus, Elder Nelson's title for his talk:  "Face the Future with Faith." 

We had an amazing lesson in Relief Society on Sunday wherein we focussed not on the bad and horrible things that are to come before the 2nd coming, but looked at the glorious and wonderful things that will happen before Jesus comes again.  All of it - the good and the bad - is part of the Lord's plan.

We have a part in that plan both individually and as a people.  Are we building upon our faith?  Are we teaching our children so they can lead out and usher in the coming of our Lord?  Again, Am I fortifying my children in faith and teaching them to stand up and be confident in their knowledge of the Savior and His plan for them?  I can only hope, pray and act on faith that I am. 

Faith

Okay!  So sorry for my last post.  It did end up being "one of those weeks" though.  But I can tell you, all experiences can become learning experiences.  While visiting with a friend this week, something she said led me on a journey  to study how to increase my faith.  She said, " Strengthen your faith, the kind of faith where you place everything on the Lord... and then you will be at peace."

I have been told that I am a woman of great faith.  But as I studied more on this topic I realized I had what Elder Dallin H. Oakes defines as "...faith in faith, which is something like relying on the power of positive thinking..." rather than pure faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Being a planner, I think a lot about the future.  I worry that what I or my spouse or my children are doing today won't lead us to the goals we have for the future.  I guess I'm still learning the lessons I was supposed to have learned during my illness at the beginning of the summer . . .  Live by faith, not by fear when you come across unknowns.  :-)

I love what Elder Richard G. Scott has said, "It is nobility of character, that fabric of inner strength and conviction woven from countless righteous decisions, that gives life its direction."  President Hinckley has also taught to just "take the next step."   Life really is supposed to be just one step after another.  We can and should have a big picture vision in front of us, but only as a guide, not as its own stumbling block!

Proverbs 3:5:  "Trust in the Lord, and lean not unto thine own understanding."  Our  small-minded vision may be blinded by fear at times, but as we exercise more faith in the Lord, I do believe we can only have peace and fulfillment in this life. "Faith isn't believing that He can, faith is knowing that He will."

So, as I face a new calling and wonder how it's  going to work out with my other church responsibilities, I will exercise faith in the Lord.  As I face a new year of teaching my children in the home, I will exercise faith in the Lord.  As I feel discouraged over the fate of loved ones in my life, I will exercise faith in the Lord.  Elder Scott states, "...by doing those things the Lord counsels us to do, we are given every understanding and every capacity necessary to provide peace and rich fulfillment in this life."