Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth
H. Burke Peterson
“Let us remember—trials are an evidence of a Father’s love. They are given as a blessing to his children. They are given as opportunities for growth.
“Now, how do we approach them? How do we overcome them? How are we magnified by them? There seems to be a reason why we lose our composure in adversity—why we think we can no longer cope with what we’re faced with here in this life. There is a reason why we give up, why we ‘fall apart at the seams’ so to speak. The reason may be so simple that we lose sight of it.
“Could it be it’s because we begin to lose contact with our greatest source of strength—our Father in heaven? He is the key to our enjoying sweetness in adversity—in gaining strength from our trials—he and he alone.
“As a reassurance to us, let us read from the New Testament: ‘There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.’ (1 Cor. 10:13.)
“Did you get the significance of that scriptural promise—we will have no temptation or trial beyond our ability to overcome—he will provide a way for us to rise above—whatever it may be.” (“Adversity and Prayer,” Ensign, Jan. 1974, 19)
Orson F. Whitney
“There is always a blessing in sorrow and humiliation. They who escape these things are not the fortunate ones. ‘Whom God loveth he chasteneth.’ "#Heb. 12:6When he desires to make a great man he takes a little street waif, or a boy in the back-woods, such as Lincoln or Joseph Smith, and brings him up through hardship and privation to be the grand and successful leader of a people. Flowers shed most of their perfume when they are crushed. Men and women have to suffer just so much in order to bring out the best that is in them. (IE, November 1918, 22:5-7.)” (Roy W. Doxey, comp., Latter-day Prophets and the Doctrine and Covenants [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1978], 4: 231.)
Ezra Taft Benson
“May God bless us to be grateful, even in times of trouble and reverses. We all have our reverses: ‘Whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth’ (Hebrews 12:6). It is in the depths where men and women learn the lessons which help them gain strength-not at the pinnacle of success. The hour of man's success is his greatest danger. It sometimes takes reverses to make us appreciate our blessings and to develop us into strong, courageous characters. We can meet every reverse that can possibly come with the help of the Lord. The Lord taught the Prophet Joseph Smith that every reverse can be turned to our benefit and blessing and can make us stronger, more courageous, more godlike (D&C 122).” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988], 465.)
Neal A. Maxwell
“There is another dimension of suffering, and other challenges that come to us even though we seem to be innocent. These come to us because an omniscient Lord deliberately chooses to school us…A good friend, who knows whereof he speaks, has observed of trials, ‘If it's fair, it is not a true trial!’ That is, without the added presence of some inexplicableness and some irony and injustice, the experience may not stretch us or lift us sufficiently. The crucifixion of Christ was clearly the greatest injustice in human history, but the Savior bore up under it with majesty and indescribable valor.” (All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1979], 31.)
Neal A. Maxwell
“…brothers and sisters, no one ever promised us that discipleship in the last days would be a picnic in the park.” (“The Great Plan of the Eternal God,” Ensign, May 1984, 23)
Joseph Fielding Smith
“Moreover, those who stand before the throne dressed in white are they who have ‘come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.’ There is great experience in tribulation that brings to pass much good. The person who goes through life without pain or sorrow, and who is not called upon to sacrifice comforts and partake of hardships, never receives the full value of life. We came here for experience, the benefits of which are not to be limited to this mortal life, but to be of value to those who receive the exaltation in the Kingdom of God.” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 4 vols. [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1946-1949], 3: 202.)
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