by Krista Ralston Oakes
As recorded in Doctrine & Covenants Section 122, the Lord responded to the prophet Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail by describing many awful possibilities, then saying: “know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.” When I was a young Seminary student, inexperienced with adversity, I wondered how all these things could possibly “give thee experience” and “be for thy good.”

Our Heavenly Father designed a great plan of happiness (Alma 42:8, 16) to bring to pass our immortality and eternal lives (Moses 1:39). And yet this plan of happiness necessarily includes opposition and adversity. When our life’s journey takes us down paths that we don’t expect – or want – we long for a more predictable, fair, and controlled existence.
However, we must remember that such an existence was proposed and rejected as contrary to the will of the Father.

The prophet Lehi taught that in order to accomplish his purposes, the Lord’s plan required an “opposition in all things” (2 Nephi 2:11). In order to bring to pass righteousness, the plan allowed for wickedness. In order for us to appreciate joy, we must also be subject to misery.

He testified to his son Jacob, “thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain (2 Nephi 2:2).” Many scriptural and personal accounts also testify of this truth.

Alma the younger explained that there could be nothing so exquisite and bitter as his suffering over his sinful state. After repenting, there was nothing so exquisite and sweet as his joy. He labored to bring more souls unto repentance and testified to his sons, “ I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind …yea, and I do put my trust in him.” (See Alma 36.)

When his father’s people were under extreme persecution, “the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all of the will of the Lord (Mosiah 24:15)”. I, too, found that I had been strengthened and prepared along my life’s journey so that I could bear my burdens more easily.

The apostle Paul described having “a thorn in the flesh,” which remained despite repeated prayers for relief. The Lord replied, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (see 1 Corinthians 12). The prophet Ether received a similar response: “I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them (Ether 12:27).”

We don’t always get to choose our life’s journey, but we always have a choice in our response. Paul’s choice was to glory and take pleasure in infirmities for Christ’s sake.
Considering my own covenant obligations regarding consecration, I have often pondered how I might in turn consecrate the “gains” from my afflictions to accomplish the Lord’s purposes.

Christ suffered our afflictions in order to succor his people (see Alma 7:11-12). Likewise, we can choose to develop compassion and empathy for others. Our experiences can make us instruments in the Lord’s hands, mourning with those that mourn and comforting those that stand in need of comfort (Mosiah 18:9). As we do this, our own burdens become lighter.

We can also choose to develop gratitude, because adversity reveals things that are often taken for granted. As we acknowledge the blessings and tender mercies in our lives, more of them are revealed to us. We become like the servant of Elisha, whose eyes were finally opened to see the chariots of fire protecting them against the enemy (see 2 Kings 6:17).

We can also choose to submit ourselves to the Lord’s will, and reap the blessings that come from trusting in him. “Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he” (Proverbs 16:20).

The Savior said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11: 28-29). He said, “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not” (D&C 6:36).

Someday we will be free from all of our earthly sorrows, but we will retain the experiences from this journey of life. As we trust in the Lord, he will direct our paths on this journey (see Proverbs 3:5). These experiences will be for our good, preparing us to realize our greatest potential as children of our loving Heavenly Father.