Treading Deep Water

Jul 2008 Issue

by Danielle Ellis

During his missionary labors, the apostle Paul experienced much trial and tribulation. He was often in the company of those who sought his life. He was arrested, beaten, plotted against, imprisoned for years, and shipwrecked. And yet he gloried in his trials.

Joseph Smith, whose life was filled with many similar trials, echoed Paul’s sentiments:
“And as for the perils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me, as the envy and wrath of man have been my common lot all the days of my life; and for what cause it seems mysterious, unless I was ordained from before the foundation of the world for some good end, or bad, as you may choose to call it. Judge ye for yourselves. God knoweth all these things, whether it be good or bad. But nevertheless, deep water is what I am wont to swim in. It all has become a second nature to me; and I feel, like Paul, to glory in tribulation; for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth; for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies, for the Lord God hath spoken it (D&C 127: 2, emphasis added).

God’s people have always experienced trials. They are what refine our character and help us to depend on the Lord. They challenge us to grow in ways we cannot when we swim in calm, shallow pools. Indeed, our latter-day prophets have spoken so eloquently of the role of trials, I decided to let them speak for themselves.

“Life is not meant to be easy. Trials must be borne and grief endured along the way. As you remember that ‘with God nothing shall be impossible’ (Luke 1:37), know that He is your Father. You are a son or daughter created in His image, entitled through your worthiness to receive revelation to help with your righteous endeavors. You may take upon you the holy name of the Lord. You can qualify to speak in the sacred name of God (see D&C 1:20). It matters not that giants of tribulation torment you. Your prayerful access to help is just as real as when David battled his Goliath (see 1 Samuel 17)” (Russell M. Nelson, “With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible,” Ensign, May 1988, 35, emphasis added).

“Into every life there come the painful, despairing days of adversity and buffeting. There seems to be a full measure of anguish, sorrow, and often heartbreak for everyone, including those who earnestly seek to do right and be faithful. The thorns that prick, that stick in the flesh, that hurt, often change lives which seem robbed of significance and hope. This change comes about through a refining process which often seems cruel and hard. In this way the soul can become like soft clay in the hands of the Master in building lives of faith, usefulness, beauty, and strength. For some, the refiner’s fire causes a loss of belief and faith in God, but those with eternal perspective understand that such refining is part of the perfection process. . . . Trials and adversity can be preparatory to becoming born anew” (James E. Faust, “The Refiner’s Fire,” Ensign, May 1979, 53-54, emphasis added).

“I stand before the Church this day and raise a warning voice . . . calling upon the Lord’s people to prepare for the troubles and desolations which are about to be poured out upon the world without measure. . . . Take heed, prepare, watch and be ready” (Bruce R. McConkie, “Stand Independent above All Other Creatures,” Ensign, May 1979, 92-93, emphasis added).

“Do not presume, because the way is at times difficult and challenging, that our Heavenly Father is not mindful of you. He is rubbing off the rough edges and sensitizing you for your great responsibilities ahead” (James E. Faust, “The Blessings of Adversity,” in 1978 Devotional Speeches of the Year [1979], 32, emphasis added).

“We’re living in the latter days. We’re living in the days the prophets have told about from the time of Enoch to the present day. We are living in the era just preceding the second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are told to so prepare and live that we can be … independent of every other creature beneath the celestial kingdom. That is what we are to do” (Marion G. Romney, in Conference Report, Apr. 1975, 165).

“We all knew when we elected to come into mortality, that we would here be proved in the crucible of adversity and affliction. . . .

“I have sought the Lord in my own extremities and learned for myself that my soul has made its greatest growth as I have been driven to knees by adversity and affliction” (Marion G. Romney, in Conference Report, Oct. 1969, 57, 60, emphasis added).

“There is no development of character without resistance; there is no growth of spirituality without overcoming” (David O. McKay, in Conference Report, Oct. 1945, 133, emphasis added).

“There can be no clouds so dark, so gloomy or so heavy, but God will roll them away in His own time and will bring good out of threatening evil” (Joseph F. Smith, in Conference Report, Apr. 1899, 41).

“There is no distinction between spiritual salvation—of course, with some qualifications—and temporal salvation…. And God gives revelations for the temporal salvation of His children—that is, for the salvation of their bodies—and they are as important in their place as His revelations concerning their spirits” (George Q. Cannon, Gospel Truth [1987], 518, emphasis added).

“[Adversities] can turn our hearts to God. Nephi was told that the natural enemies of his descendants would be a ‘scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in remembrance of me’ (2 Ne. 5:25). The idea of a scourge to cause people to remember God reaffirms a familiar teaching in the 12th chapter of Hebrews: ‘Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth’ (Heb. 12:6). Even as adversities inflict mortal hardships, they can also be the means of leading men and women to eternal blessings.

“Such large-scale adversities as natural disasters and wars seem to be inherent in the mortal experience. We cannot entirely prevent them, but we can determine how we will react to them” (Dallin H. Oaks, “Adversity,” Ensign, July 1998, 7–8, emphasis added).

“Much adversity is man-made. Men’s hearts turn cold, and the spirit of Satan controls their actions. In foreseeing the day of suffering in our time, the Savior said, ‘The love of men shall wax cold, and iniquity shall abound’ (D&C 45:27). Violence, immorality, and other evils run rampant on the earth.
Much adversity has its origin in the principle of agency. . . .

“But if we know and understand Heavenly Father’s plan, we realize that dealing with adversity is one of the chief ways we are tested” (M. Russell Ballard, “Answers to Life’s Questions,” Ensign, May 1995, 23, emphasis added).

“Every test, every trial, every challenge and hardship you endure is an opportunity to further develop your faith (see D&C 63:11; 101:4)” (Russell M. Nelson, “Choices,” Ensign, Nov. 1990, 75, emphasis added).

“Life never was intended to be easy. Rather, it is a period of proving and growth. It is interwoven with difficulties, challenges, and burdens. We are immersed in a sea of persistent, worldly pressures that could destroy our happiness. Yet these very forces, if squarely faced, provide opportunity for tremendous personal growth and development. The conquering of adversity produces strength of character, forges self-confidence, engenders self-respect, and assures success in righteous endeavor” (Richard G. Scott, “The Plan for Happiness and Exaltation,” Ensign, Nov. 1981, 11, emphasis added).

Clearly the Lord has given us instruction as to the real purpose of adversity: to get us to turn to Him. The challenge is never the real trial. The challenge is to see what it can help us to become. As Emma Smith was quoted as saying, “Strength isn’t something you have. It’s something God helps you find.”

As the trials of the last days begin to unfold with all their inherent complexities, I pray for you and for me faith to turn to the Lord, ask for direction, plead for help, and then get on our feet and go to work. Or perhaps, get comfortable in the deep end of the pool.