President Harold B. Lee on trusting God through life's challenges

President Harold B. Lee (1899-1973) was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1941. He served as a counselor in the First Presidency from 1970-1972, then as Church president from July 1972 until his passing less than 18 months later in December 1973.

"So the all-important thing in life isn't what happens to you, but the important thing is how you take it. That's the important thing. In the closing of the Sermon on the Mount, you remember, the Master gave a parable. He said:

"'Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

"'And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock." [Matthew 7:24-25.]

"What was he trying to impress? He was trying to say that the winds of adversity, the floods of disaster, the difficulties, are going to beat upon every human house upon this earth; and the only ones who will not fall—when the bank fails, when you lose a loved one, in any other disaster—the only thing that will hold us through all these storms and stresses of life is when we've built upon the rocks by keeping the commandments of God....

"Wait patiently on the Lord in the season of persecution and deep affliction. The Lord said,

"'Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;

"'Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.' (D&C 98:1-2)"

- Harold B. Lee, "Education for Eternity," address given at Salt Lake Institute of Religion, 15 Jan. 1971, pp. 7-8

President Lee begins this excerpt with a key thought: "So the all-important thing in life isn't what happens to you, but the important thing is how you take it. That's the important thing." To a large extent, we choose how we react to the things that happen to us. There will be many challenges in life; but if our foundation is solid, if we have an established pattern of obedience and faithfulness, we'll be blessed in weathering the storms:

I love the scriptural exhortation to "Wait patiently on the Lord." He will hear the prayers of his friends, and grant them in due time.