I was looking at the Come Follow Me prompt "Patient endurance leads to perfection", and thought that I would like to write a little about patience and long-suffering as the name suggests.

Have any of you felt a deep sense of hopelessness, as if you are lost in a maze-like forest, desperately searching for a way out but always, somehow, winding up in the same spot? Have any of you been through a spiritual low? Have any of you felt abandoned by this world, and you don't feel loved or cared for? Have any of you felt an intense grief because of the passing of a loved one? Have any of you felt as if God has abandoned you, that you don't feel His Spirit as much or any longer, as if it's only you against the world?

Brothers and sisters in Christ, please understand that God loves you and it pains Him to see you suffer, "for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:16-17).

No matter what you may be feeling in such instances and episodes, "even if you cannot always see that silver lining on your clouds, God can, for He is the very source of the light you seek. He does love you, and He knows your fears. He hears your prayers. He is your Heavenly Father, and surely He matches with His own the tears His children shed" (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “An High Priest of Good Things to Come”).

But why do bad things always happen to me?

Well, let's address trials and temptations we face in two perspectives. First, the perspective of the devil. Satan tempts us and does all that he can to rob us of our celestial future. The devil stirreth the hearts of men to anger, one against another, and entices us to unlock the doors of our hearts and keep it wide open, therefore giving the spirit of contention entrance into our hearts. The Adversary wants to see us struggle and wants to make us be as miserable as he is, having no eternal future but eternal damnation.

On the other hand, the perspective of our Heavenly Father, is that he didn't prevent the devil to tempt us because he knows that through such trials that we face, we can experience personal growth and spiritual maturity. Every time we choose the right, we are making decisions and choices that have eternal impact. Every time we succumb to temptations and choose evil over that which is good, we are given ample time of opportunity to repent, even the gift of daily repentance. Heavenly Father knows that the devil is going to tempt us beyond what we can bear, and that is why He prevents the devil from such extreme temptations and afflictions, though we can't see it but we can come to know it.

To answer the question, bad things happen to us because it would help us grow and become more like Christ, and it is especially in these trying times, that we ought to firm up our grip on the rod of iron despite the mists of darkness and the mocking from the people in the great and spacious building at us. And it is especially in these trying times that we ought to learn the virtue of patience.

A disciple of Jesus Christ ought to be one that strives to be patient all the time. Patience is a product of having an eternal perspective even in the midst of our afflictions and trials. Each time we suffer, we diligently press forward and be patient in our sufferings, knowing full well that what we are going through is for our own good and that this too shall pass. One way is to look upon afflictions with joy (James 1:2), and view it as a God-given opportunity to learn something, to be humble, to exercise patience, and not resenting or bearing a grudge against God.

In my previous sharing, I talked about the first great principle of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Now, I wish to talk about the last great principle of that same Gospel, endure to the end, of which patience is an irreplaceable aspect of it, for without which, no one would be able to successfully endure through difficult periods of life. Enduring to the end requires patience, it requires hope, and it requires faith, by which patient endurance leadeth us unto perfection, lacking nothing.

Now, how would patient endurance lead to one's perfection, so much so that we lack nothing?

Well, I would like to first address the need for faith, because faith and patience goes hand-in hand. In Hebrews 6:13, we read:

    "That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

It is promised that those who were faithful and patient in their mortal sojourn would inherit the promises. Now, we know that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1), so when we encounter challenges and hurdles along the way, please remember Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life, particularly 1 Nephi 8:24:

    "And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree."

We see that those who hold fast unto the rod of iron and pressed forward, despite the mists of darkness, eventually are blessed with the fruit from the tree of life to partake. We learn that some of those who were grabbing onto the rod of iron eventually let go of their hands and wandered off unto forbidden paths. Those who chose to hold fast unto the rod of iron and didn't let go, and that, brothers and sisters in Christ, is faith. They cannot know that what lies ahead is the tree of life because it's darkness all around them as if someone had turned off the lightswitch. They can only rely on their faith in Jesus Christ, the promise of eternal life, and in patience, telling themselves that this too shall pass, if only I would just hold on to the rod of iron and press forward a little, step by step, I would be moving closer to the exit.

The mists of darkness, like the struggles we face in this life, brings fear into our hearts because everywhere we look, it is pure darkness, and no light can be seen. However, when we endure through such difficult and frightening moments in our lives with patience, trusting that the rod of iron we are grabbing onto right now would lead us out of our struggles and allow us to see the light at the end of the tunnel, we would eventually be brought before the tree of life and enjoy the blessings that are found there.

The rod of iron is the Word of God, Jesus Christ. Thus, we need to hold fast to the scriptures, the counsels of living prophets, and the Holy Ghost in order to remain on the strait and narrow path. These three major aspects made up the Word of God, because through His scriptures, His prophets, and His Spirit, Jesus reassures us that He is with His people, that He is actively engaged in our lives and guiding us one step at a time, according to how prepared and worthy we are.

Brother and sisters in Christ, please be patient. Don't rush into things too quickly. Turn to your Heavenly Father in prayer, ask for His help. Do what you must to feel of His Spirit and seek His guidance while waiting for Him to deliver us from our plights. Please trust in the Savior Jesus Christ, He will comfort and rescue us in our time of need, please wait and endure patiently, and I promise it would all be worthwhile. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.