Tyler's Talk on March 28, 2010

My Topic to speak on is from the March 2010 Ensign "Enduring it well" by Emma Petty Adams.
One might ask how "Do I receive blessings from enduring through hardships that may seem impossible at the time?" or "Why do I have to endure hard things throughout life?" In D & C 14:7
(Read) eternal life is the greatest gift of God. We may not see what God has in store for us at our time of trouble and suffering, but he knows us better than we do ourselves. He will never lead us astray in our time of need. What do we need to do as we are enduring hardships? One thing that I think that we can do is think of it as a blessing rather than a trial, because if you can overcome ti, you are surely going to be blessed by it and have the strength to overcome more obstacles similar to the trial you have been fighting. I believe that Joseph Smith is a great example of overcoming trials that turn out as Blessings. In JSH 1 :16-17 (pg 49 in PGP, read..Joseph being released from Satan's power and is told to join none of the churches.) This was a start to Joseph's trials to come, but he knew that if he could not deny what had happened. It may seem that through all of Joseph's trials as he was establishing the Church, that it would be hard for him to receive blessings from what he was suffering. One blessing that I believe that is extremely wonderful is the fact that we have the knowledge of this true Church all because of a 14 year old boy that had asked the right question at the right time. With t his great blessing to us and Joseph came much hardships that we probably won't be able to imagine that he had to go through. In D & C 121, it talks about Prayer and prophecies written by Joseph Smith the Prophet, while he was a prisoner in the Liberty jail, Missouri, dated March 20, 1839.
D & C 121: 1-2;Joseph is wondering why God can just watch as his children do wrong. Much of what Joseph went through during this time period in the Liberty jail was much like Christ, as he was alone when no one was with him as he took upon himself the sins of the world. In verse 7 of the D & C 121 , God is telling Joseph (read scripture) "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;" As we are enduring our afflictions, they really may seem long, but if we really have a true desire to Endure to the End, we receive Eternal Life as said in D & C 14:7, which is forever. If we look at eternity, our life on this earth really is but a small moment. What if we believe a trial is so painstakingly hard that we can't overcome and endure through it? When I think of this question, one of the first things that comes to my mind is of Elder Holland's April 2009 address: None were with Him. In his talk, we were taught about how even though Christ had many followers throughout his years on this Earth, he was alone when he need them to help him out. Isaiah 63:3 (read) "I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment." This shows that Christ was alone. Through Christ suffering was the greatest act of kindness any man has ever showed, has given us as sinners the only way to become clean and return to live with Heavenly Father and Christ. With the Atonement came great trials and endurance shown by Christ which in turn you and I have to show to use it to become clean. In a quote by Tad Callister which reads:" With merciless fury Satan's forces must have attacked the Savior on all fronts-frantically,diabolically, seeking a vulnerable spot, a weakness, an Achilles' heel through which they might inflict a 'mortal wound' all in hopes they could halt the impending charge, but it was not to be. The Savior pressed forward in bold assault until every prisoner was freed from the tenacious tentacles of the Evil One. This was a rescue mission of infinite implications. Every muscle of the Savior, every virtue, every spiritual reservoir that could be called upon would be summoned into the struggle. No doubt there was an exhaustion of all powers. Only them, when seemingly all had been spent, would the forces of evil abandon their posts and retreat in horrible defeat. Only then did Christ deliver 'his saints from that awful monster the devil and death and hell." "If we are able to endure as these two men and many others that have had hardships, we will surly understand the true meaning of Enduring it Well. (bear Testimony and close)