The Climb: Finding Strength in Adversity

       If you were hoping for a Miley Cyrus tribute because of the title of this post, you will be sorely disappointed. The lessons I learned from the good people of Chile on my mission are countless. But I remember one in particular that came from a wonderful mission leader while I was serving in Valparaiso. We'd had a few bumps that transfer and I was getting frustrated over certain things. I was ready for a change of scenery and as usual, needed a spiritual (and probably literal) slap to the face to help me recognize that there were countless blessings at my feet. My mission leader sensed my frustration and told me, "Hermana Nichols, you can't wait for the Lord to move mountains for you, even though He's capable of doing so. He may not move them, but He will surely help you climb them." This hit me so hard, and it's something I have remembered every time the Lord has pushed me to my limits and given me something I felt I wasn't capable of overcoming.

       I've thought a lot about the trials that come to us in this life over the past few weeks as I have watched close friends and family struggle to "climb their mountains". Over the past couple of weeks alone I have heard from a close friend going through an unexpected divorce, watched another individual wait over ten years to have children, another lose their faith and leave the church, and more. It seems like people are just having to go through some tough stuff lately. If anything, all these trials are evidences that we are in the last days and getting that much closer to welcoming our Savior! #Booyah. We know He saved the elect and strongest of His children for the last days, and the trials He is trusting us to bare are evidence that we are a part of a chosen generation. Pretty cool, eh? While we know we are loved and chosen and elect and all that jazz, it can be pretty tough to trek up the mountains God is putting before us. I think in our most difficult times, we forget some of the most basic and essential gospel truths.

Things to remember when faced with hardship and trials:
1. God loves His children
2. All life experiences are meant to make us more like Christ
3. The Atonement of Jesus Christ will enable our efforts
4. There is no race along the iron rod
5. You, in your divine potential, can do all things

God Loves His Children
       Nephi was undoubtedly faced with opposition after opposition. Their names were Laman and Lemuel. Aside from brothers who weren't a real delight to be around, Nephi endured years spent traveling to an unknown and unseen promised land, hunger, persecution from Laban and his brothers, and the eventual division of his family completely forming two new civilizations. (Not exactly my cup of....hot chocolate.) There were very rare days that were real peachy. However, Nephi remains obedient and optimistic for the future. While he was striving to increase his spiritual knowledge, an angel appeared to teach him. Among other questions, the angel addressed Nephi and asked "Knowest thou the condescension of God?" By which Nephi responded "I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." (1 Nephi 11:16-17) Did you see what Nephi did here? When faced with opposition, we first must hold tight to what we already have concrete knowledge of, that our Heavenly Father loves His children. But, we certainly don't know all things.
      I recently watched the movie "The Cokeville Miracle" with my husband. Sheesh, what a story. I don't know why God allowed those little children to be exposed to that kind of evil. I don't know why they were so lucky and got to survive that day while other children elsewhere don't. But this I do know, I KNOW God loves every single one of His children. He is mindful of them and wants them ALL back.
       Knowing this one simple truth can sure answer a lot of questions for us, or at least provide the needed peace until the answers do come. I don't know why some men and women never marry despite years of faithful service in the church. I don't know why some of the most good-hearted people are faced with terminal illness and heartache. I don't know why some of the most obedient parents (like my man, Lehi) are given some of the most disobedient children. I simply don't know. BUT, I know God loves them. I know He loves me. So I know His motives are good. They are perfect. Trials will certainly come as a natural consequence of sin, but I believe the Lord would never give us trials out of disappointment, frustration or anger towards our flaws and imperfections. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Knowing that we have the love and encouragement from the most noble individual in existence should be motivation enough to keep us going in tough times, no? If that's not enough, our beloved prophet gives us this beautiful reminder:

"My dear brothers and sisters, your Heavenly Father loves you—each of you. That love never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents and abilities. It is simply there. It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there." 

President Thomas S. Monson, "We Never Walk Alone"

All These Things Shall be for Thy Good
       I've always been impressed as I have read stories of the pioneers or countless other members of the church that through adversity, are still able to manage optimism and happiness. Nothing can bring em down! But how in the heckleberry can we be happy when that mountain seems to get a little steeper?

       Some of the most comforting and beautiful scripture in Doctrine and Covenants came from some of the darkest and most difficult days in early church history. The revelation came from a small jail that held the prophet and some of his closest friends in March of 1839. We've all seen the Joseph Smith Movie, and we've all cried our way through every heart wrenching scene of the saints being driven from their homes, Joseph being held in prison but longing to be with his wife Emma, and the countless times Joseph relied on the Lord to bring him out of a trying experience. When Joseph is it his lowest point, he cries out to the Lord, "O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?" (D&C 121:1) To which the Lord gives this answer that has undoubtedly been given to each of us at some difficult trial in our own lives.

"...know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."

Doctrine and Covenants 122:7

       This counsel came as a great comfort to the prophet, and those trials were only a small moment in the eternal perspective that our Heavenly Father could see.

       God's "work and His glory" is to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39). That means that every waking moment, He is up there thinking how He can make it easier for us to return back to Him. That's all He dreams about, is having His eternal family back in His presence. He knows the only way we can do that is by becoming like Him. There are specific qualities that we must possess while here on the earth in order to return back to His presence. I heard a Sunday school teacher say the following a few weeks ago:

"Some can and do learn by counsel alone. But others require learning through experience"

Nathaniel Jones

       There are some God-like qualities that we can only learn to develop as we go through difficult experiences. These experiences force us to rely on the Savior and practice patience and faith. Almost always, we can walk away from a trial recognizing that we have become a little better, a little humbler, and a little more like our Savior, Jesus Christ. Have you ever heard someone is sacrament meeting say they are grateful for their trials? (I'm still not there.) Maybe it's because they've finally understood that these trials aren't punishment, rather a help from our Heavenly Father. They are the experiences which will help us become like Him. The experiences are for our good.

The Enabling Powers of the Atonement
       I'd really just rather leave the link to the amazing talk I gained my testimony of this principle from. Read it. It will do a much better job than I could of explaining this amazing principle. Long story short, the enabling powers of the Atonement of Jesus Christ can ease our burdens and provide much needed strength and energy to endure. Just read the talk. I'm begging you. It's phenomenal.

"The enabling power of the Atonement strengthens us to do and be good and to serve beyond our own individual desire and natural capacity."

Elder David A. Bednar, "The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality"

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/04/the-atonement-and-the-journey-of-mortality?lang=eng


There is no Race Along the Iron Rod
       Brothers and Sisters, we are all on the same path leading us to the tree of life. We are all trying to hold on tight to that iron rod and get to the fruit that will provide lasting happiness and rest from our trials. What's ridiculously silly is that sometimes we seem to think it's a competition or a race. That somehow some of the fruit is a little sweeter than the rest or that the first place finishers are rewarded differently. Let me correct you. That's a bunch of garbage. Brothers and Sisters, slow down. It's okay to take your time and to even sit down at the bar and rest for a minute. There are lots of travelers that will be willing to take your hand and help you keep moving. There will surely be enough fruit for you when you get to the tree. Don't worry. Just make sure you're moving in the right direction.

Your Potential is Divine
       Christ came to the Earth to do the unthinkable in the most selfless way. He came in great humility to provide a way for His brothers and sisters to come back to the Father. Because He too was born with divine potential, He was able to live a sinless and selfless life that prepared Him for the miraculous performance of the gift we call the Atonement.

"What He did could only be done by Deity. As the Only Begotten Son of the Father in the flesh, Jesus inherited divine attributes. He was the only person ever born into mortality who could perform this most significant and supernal act. As the only sinless Man who ever lived on this earth, He was not subject to spiritual death. Because of His godhood, He also possessed power over physical death. Thus He did for us what we cannot do for ourselves. He broke the cold grasp of death."

James E. Faust, "The Atonement: Our Greatest Hope"

       Because we too are born with divine potential, we are capable of doing difficult things. The enabling power of the Atonement (did you read that talk yet? Well, you should..https://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/04/the-atonement-and-the-journey-of-mortality?lang=eng) will strengthen us beyond our mortal capacity to bear our burdens and to endure happily. We are not your average little creation, guys. We are sons and daughters of God. Holy cow. Santa vaca. A doctrine so insane it's got to be emphasized in two languages. I think sometimes we forget just how stinking awesome we are because we come from such a stinking awesome family! You haven't forgotten right? You haven't forgotten your legitimate family tree? We came from God! The most all-powerful being! He is our FATHER! We are His CHILDREN! Come on, we are bound to do big things. He's rooting for us with the rest of our family because they know who we are and what we are capable of becoming. Trials in this life can seem so meaningless and small when we recognize the grand scheme of things and what we are destined for. As my lady Sheri Dew says, "we were born to lead, we were born for glory."

       Now, I don't pretend to have a life full of trials and difficulties and to understand them all perfectly. I frankly am quite blessed and have had far more happy times in my life than sad. So for those of you reading this thinking, "who does this girl think she is? She certainly doesn't understand what I have gone through. She's 22 and happily married. What could she possibly know about heartache and adversity?" Well. I don't know much. I know sometimes life isn't fair and we are dealt some pretty difficult cards. Sometimes we are victims of some of the most difficult experiences mortal life has to offer. I have asked countless times why bad things happen to such amazing people. Then I remember Him. A perfect individual who never said anything ill or negative to anyone. He never took a moment for Himself or cared what others would think of Him. His life was dedicated to the lonely and the outcasts, yet He was punished and executed like a vile prisoner. Tell me how that is fair. If you're still not at ease, let me bring in the powerhouse to help me out a little. It's a talk originally given to struggling missionaries but the same principle applies to all who might be struggling to "climb the mountain."

"Anyone who does any kind of missionary work will have occasion to ask, Why is this so hard? Why doesn’t it go better? Why can’t our success be more rapid? Why aren’t there more people joining the Church? It is the truth. We believe in angels. We trust in miracles. Why don’t people just flock to the font? Why isn’t the only risk in missionary work that of pneumonia from being soaking wet all day and all night in the baptismal font? 

You will have occasion to ask those questions. I have thought about this a great deal. I offer this as my personal feeling. I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience.Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane. Missionaries and mission leaders have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary. 

Now, please don’t misunderstand. I’m not talking about anything anywhere near what Christ experienced. That would be presumptuous and sacrilegious. But I believe that missionaries and investigators, to come to the truth, to come to salvation, to know something of this price that has been paid, will have to pay a token of that same price. For that reason I don’t believe missionary work has ever been easy, nor that conversion is, nor that retention is, nor that continued faithfulness is. I believe it is supposed to require some effort, something from the depths of our soul. If He could come forward in the night, kneel down, fall on His face, bleed from every pore, and cry, “Abba, Father (Papa), if this cup can pass, let it pass,”then little wonder that salvation is not a whimsical or easy thing for us. If you wonder if there isn’t an easier way, you should remember you are not the first one to ask that. Someone a lot greater and a lot grander asked a long time ago if there wasn’t an easier way."

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "Missionary Work and the Atonement

       Let us choose joy. Joy is our journey. Trials and heartache will be such a small moment when we can see things as our Father does. Remember He loves you effortlessly and perfectly. Trials are meant to help us back to Him and are motivated by the most sincere and powerful love that exists. The enabling powers of the Atonement will carry us up our mountains (read that talk yet?). There is no race along the iron rod. And our divine potential enables us to overcome difficult things. I love you, the Lord loves you, everyone loves you. And always remember, we rarely have more problems than we do blessings.