Orson F. Whitney on the blessings of enduring trials

Elder Orson F. Whitney (1855-1931), a journalist, teacher, poet, and historian, was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1906 and served until his death in 1931 at age 75.

"No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God... and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven."

- Orson F. Whitney, Conference Report April 1929, p. 110; quoted in Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle (1972), p. 98

Each life has its share of pain, trials, and suffering. Sometimes some of us feel we are getting more than our share. According to Elder Whitney, if we learn to "endure... patiently" the things that come, we experience growth in character and expansion of soul, and become "more worthy to be called the children of God." Perhaps we will understand some day what a blessing our trials and suffering are!

What a beautiful and tender testimony from a faithful servant of the Lord.