Friday, October 12, 2018

President Henry B. Eyring on the Savior's help in our trials and tests

President Henry B. Eyring (born May 31, 1933) served in the Presiding Bishopric from 1985-1992, as a Seventy from 1992-1995, then was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. He has served in the First Presidency since 2007.
"Today I wish to encourage you in the troubles you face.
"Our mortal life is designed by a loving God to be a test and source of growth for each of us. You remember God’s words regarding His children at the Creation of the world: 'And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them.' (Abraham 3:25.)
"Since the beginning, the tests have not been easy. We face trials that come from having mortal bodies. All of us live in a world where Satan’s war against truth and against our personal happiness is becoming more intense. The world and your life can seem to you to be in increasing commotion.
"My reassurance is this: the loving God who allowed these tests for you also designed a sure way to pass through them. Heavenly Father so loved the world that He sent His Beloved Son to help us. (See John 3:16–17.) His Son, Jesus Christ, gave His life for us. Jesus Christ bore in Gethsemane and on the cross the weight of all our sins. He experienced all the sorrows, the pains, and the effects of our sins so that He could comfort and strengthen us through every test in life. (See Alma 7:11–12)"
- Henry B. Eyring, "Try, Try, Try," General Conference, October 2018
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

We should not be surprised when there are challenges and difficulties in our lives; as President Eyring notes, that is part of God's design for our mortal experience, to test our willingness to obey Him. And so we face challenges that are a result simply of being in a mortal condition; we also are confronted with the actions that result from Satan's efforts to destroy our happiness. We may feel there is "increasing commotion" in the world, including our personal world of circumstances.

But the great key to happiness and success in life lies in knowing that when the test come, there is help available:


We have the divine promise that our Savior will "comfort and strengthen us through every test in life." We need never fear or become discouraged; with Him to help bear the burden and with our faith and understanding of eternity, truly our burdens, like His, can be light.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

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