Elder Ronald A. Rasband on challenges with family members and loved ones

Elder Ronald A. Rasband (b. February 6, 1951) served as a Seventy beginning in 2000.  He was the senior president of the Seventy when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in October 2015.

"To all of you who have challenges, concerns, disappointments, or heartaches with a dear one, know this: with infinite love and everlasting compassion, God our Heavenly Father loves your afflicted one, and He loves you!

"Some might ask when faced with such suffering, how could Almighty God let this happen? And then that seemingly inevitable question, why did this happen to me? Why must we experience disease and events that disable or call precious family members home early or extend their years in pain? Why the heartaches?

"At these moments we can turn to the great plan of happiness authored by our Heavenly Father. That plan, when presented in the pre-earth life, prompted us all to shout for joy (see Job 38:7). Put simply, this life is training for eternal exaltation, and that process means tests and trials. It has always been so, and no one is spared.

"Trusting in God’s will is central to our mortality. With faith in Him, we draw upon the power of Christ’s Atonement at those times when questions abound and answers are few."

- Ronald A. Rasband, "Special Lessons," Ensign, May 2012, pp. 80-82
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In this tender address, Elder Rasband tells of his family's emotions and concerns as they dealt with the birth of a grandson who was significantly handicapped. He quoted Elder Russell M. Nelson, who taught, "A perfect body is not required to achieve a divine destiny. In fact, some of the sweetest spirits are housed in frail frames" (Ensign, Nov. 1998, 85). In discussing the challenges of dealing with physical handicaps, Elder Rasband offers suggestions that can apply to many of the aspects of our relationships with family and friends in general:

It is sometimes difficult to "trust in God's will" when we are faced with disappointments, challenges, burdens that seem unfair, or individuals who have let us down. But the reassurance is that God knows all the details and all the reasons in these situations. He will not only sustain us through them, but will eventually help us to understand fully the "great plan of happiness" that is behind all of these challenges. We must strive always to grow in faith in order to "draw upon the power of Christ's Atonement" to carry us through.