Elder Richard G. Scott on challenges, faith, and growth

Elder Richard G. Scott (1928-2015) served as a Seventy from 1977-1988, when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.  He passed away in September 2015 at the age of 86.

"Challenge comes as testing from a wise, knowing Father to give experience, that we may be seasoned, mature, and grow in understanding and application of His truths. When you are worthy, a challenge becomes a contribution to growth, not a barrier to it. Yet no matter what the source of difficulty and no matter how you begin to obtain relief—through a qualified professional therapist, doctor, priesthood leader, friend, concerned parent, or loved one—no matter how you begin, those solutions will never provide a complete answer. The final healing comes through faith in Jesus Christ and His teachings, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and obedience to His commandments. That is why human reaction to challenge in life that engenders hatred, despondency, distrust, anger, or revenge must be supplanted by the tender mercies of a loving Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son.

"When anguish comes from evil acts of others, there should be punishment and corrective action taken, but the offended is not the one to initiate that action. Leave it to others who have that responsibility. Learn to forgive; though terribly hard, it will release you and open the way to a newness of life. Time devoted by one injured to ensure the offender is punished is time wasted in the healing process.

"In summary, do what you can do a step at a time. Seek to understand the principles of healing from the scriptures and through prayer. Help others. Forgive. 'Submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord' (Mosiah 24:15). Above all, exercise faith in Jesus Christ."

- Richard G. Scott, "To Be Healed," General Conference April 1994
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Challenges in life often come to us as tests, "that we may be seasoned, mature, and grow in understanding and application of His truths." This is a critical belief; if we truly hold to it and strive to be worthy, we will have perspective to pass through any challenge with faith in Jesus Christ and confidence in the results.

That does not mean challenges become easy. We still need to seek relief, as Elder Scott notes, through a variety of sources, professional and ecclesiastical. Or sometimes the support of a family member or friend. If, instead of seeking healing, we allow ourselves to become embittered or depressed, angry or seeking revenge, we will miss the healing power of the Savior's atonement.

And sometimes we are hurt by the wrongful, evil actions of others. Those are the times when we have to have even greater faith as we forgive and trust in the proper process to impose corrective action.

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