From Trials to Joy

Hello Sisters!

It’s been a while!  I was blessed to be able to go on a little family vacation, and sometimes it seems to take time to get back into the swing of things.  (Just the laundry alone sets me back a week. )  I hope you are doing well and feeling joy at the “Promise of Spring.”

I noticed something small, but worth noting, in our scripture reading this morning.  We were reading in 2 Nephi 1, when Lehi is reminding his family how blessed they have been because they were spared from destruction and led to a promise land.  

​He tells them that he knows through a vision that Jerusalem has been destroyed, and he reminds them that that would have had the same fate.  He points out that things have been hard, and refers to, “our afflictions.”  Certainly, they had their fair share of trials, wandering in the wilderness for several years, hungry much of the time, and their women giving birth in the wilderness, not to mention Nephi’s struggles with his older brothers binding him and even wanting to kill him. 

You could safely say that it had been a tough journey for their family. But, Lehi quickly followed his ‘even though we have had to go through a lot of hard things,’ with a reminder of the blessings that followed.  “We have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed.”

Lehi and his family were able to reach their land of promise, by enduring their “wilderness” and "wading through much affliction."  I belief it is the same for each of us.  The Lord has great things in store for us.  In a sense, we have a “Land of Promise” waiting for us, if we can strive to cheerfully endure those bumps in the road.

“The trials of this life will ultimately lead to joy if we patiently trust in God’s plan and discover how to use adversity to grow stronger.

If we turn to Christ with faith and patience, we can have the strength we need to face adversity. The doctrines of the restored gospel give us an eternal perspective that provides hope and courage to bear all of life’s trials. Each of us has the strength to bear our challenges in life because of who we are, who God is, and who we are together.”

(Larry Richman, Learning Through Life’s Trials)

I testify that as you turn to Christ and try to faithfully and cheerfully “hang in there,” the Lord has great things in store for you!  Try to keep an eternal perspective this week.

Sincerely,

Lydia