I have been reading a book about the exploration of the Arabian desert in relation to Lehi and his family as they crossed the “wilderness” before heading to the “promise land.” I can hardly put the book down, it is so well written, and I have learned a great deal about the culture, livelihood, and structure of the Arabian Deseret. This is how I feel every time I read a new book, I become ecstatic with the knowledge I have gained. It gives a better understanding of our brothers and sisters on that side of the world.
Every detail of Lehi’s family journey was hard work, and even though the Lord was in every detail, without his guidance they most likely would not have survived, and for sure they wouldn’t have made it to the promised land. Even though we understand that, the Lord did not hand everything to Nephi and the rest of the crew. From figuring out how to travel in a tent, no longer with the comfort of their home, to knowing where to get water and food, who to talk to for the right to use the roads, and how to not only hunt, but to make a bow and arrow. Then to building a ship, this was not a fairy godmother event, Nephi, had to learn, and receive help along the way. This is no different for Noah back in his day, or Abraham, Isaac, Joseph of old, as well as Joseph Smith. This is the same for everyone who has ever lived. As we go through life, we experience trials–teaching moments, if you will. These moments, if we will allow, are all lessons learned, that we will be able to take with us to our life after our death. This is very exciting to me! This gives a whole new perspective on every moment of life when we understand we are literally building an eternal legacy.
Let’s for ponder this for a second. The Lord has told us to obtain knowledge both spiritual, and temporal. He has told us that all the knowledge we obtain goes with us to heaven. We can’t take our gold and silver, (interesting that Lehi also left his gold and silver when he headed to the “promised land”) and we can’t take our houses and cars, but we can take our knowledge and testimonies. This puts a whole new value to knowledge, regardless of how we obtain it. The conventional way is schooling, and that is an important way. Next, would be through work and experience. Then we have the learning from trial and error, such as parenting. Don’t forget we have knowledge from learning such as reading and observing. This world is about learning, the opportunities are endless and all around us. With all these different styles of learning and growing, there is nothing that compares to the experience and wisdom gained through tribulations. This type of learning is what brings us the closest to God if we will allow it, because it builds an unshakable trust that he loves us and would only subject us to those trials that he knew we could handle, and that would help us and assist us in helping others. They change our perspective on life, building empathy, compassion and charity.
“Trials are opportunities for our growth. The Lord said, “My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom.”
When we are being tried, we should ponder and ask, “What does the Lord want me to do in this situation?”
The Lord spoke these comforting words to the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?” We need to view each trial as an opportunity for growth. Someday we will understand the why.” -Elder Adhemar Damiani
A great example of “perspective” would be my older brother, Don. A year ago, he was diagnosed with brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive brain cancer. He was given 2-4 months to live. He’s made it a year, (HOORAY) but not without lots of hard work, difficult moments beyond description, 8 brain surgeries, countless daily seizures, 2 brain infections, limited use of motor skills, and much more. He just happens to be the father of 9 beautiful children, 7 of them who have muscular dystrophy. After this last infection, his suffering was so great, that many of us were begging the Lord to just take him, and to let him have peace and rest. However, Don is a fighter and he knew that the prayers of his kids outweighed his siblings, and he is back at it. The surgery and then the subsequent infection have left him with even greater limited mobility–even the simple art of writing must be relearned. It’s a very humbling place to be. Don recognizes that most of what he is struggling with from his condition are things that his children suffer from every day of their lives. He can understand how they feel. Even his perspective on his extremely difficult trial has helped me, and others, step back and understand how truly difficult life is for those who are born with disabilities, and it leaves us full of gratitude for what we have and builds compassion for others.
20 years down the road, as the stories are told of the miracles of Don’s life, we will share how he was given the option of going to hospice or having his 7th surgery and being paralyzed, then he came out of the surgery with many disabilities, but not paralyzed, which was nothing short of a miracle. Will people hear the stories and think that a magic wand was waved, and he was magically brought out of surgery without any repercussions or lessons to learn? When they hear of the infection, will they understand the pain that put him in a comma state, because it was too much to bear? When they hear about him outliving his estimated dates by triple, and still counting, and hear about the loss of being able to walk, the inability to think quickly, talk quickly, or write small will they realize how much he learned and grew?
This is the same for us. We hear of others’ miraculous lives, and their survival of the impossible, and assume it is without hardship, or with limited hardship. Yet, when we endure our own, the weight is heavy. As we recognize that every ounce of pain, every minute of despair, and every difficult day that we endure, that if we are following the Lord, it will all be for our good. It will all contribute to our immeasurable growth that we can take with us to the next life, as well as using it to help us in this life with our own lives and those we love and meet. What feels like a curse, is a gift. What feels like trash, is a treasure. What feels impossible is possible. It is all a wonderful learning experience for us!
This brings me to another question. So, if what we learn here goes with us after this life, then did what we learn in the premortal existence come with us to earth? If so, that means that the tough things we endured in the premortal life contribute to characteristics and attributes we now possess. Our strengths that we worked on in heaven are likely our strengths now. So, when the scriptures tell us that the Lord will turn our weaknesses into strengths if we will ask, and seek, then that is something we should probably seek after, for those changes are eternal.
How about the fact that after this life, we continue living. I have heard from some that we become angels who do nothing but sing after this life, and have no other purpose, not even our families. I am thankful for the understanding that our lives and our relationships as families can extend beyond the grave. I strongly believe we will be LIVING! We will be serving, teaching and learning. For eternity has a ton to offer, and like earth, it won’t be accomplished without hard work and desire. We know that the purpose of the fall was so that we could have joy and LIVE. That is what brings joy, the ability to understand sadness, to be able to make choices, to have faith and hope, and to be able to work hard and gain experiences. THAT IS JOY!!
2 Nephi 2:24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. 25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.
-Sherri Jorgensen
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