Despair and Difficult Times

Good evening brothers and sisters! Life is very often difficult and hard to endure. Sometimes it seems that the harder we try to achieve a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, the harder and trial filled our lives become. Recently our family went through a very difficult trial, and when things felt their worst, we witnessed small miracles to help us through.

Jesus Christ is waiting to help us through our trials, as most of them are teaching moments for us to trust more and more in him. We must learn to turn to him and ask for his help and his guidance and we will be blessed much more than we can ever imagine.

Most people refer to this as the refiner's fire. However, I am a furniture builder and finish carpenter by trade and I like to think of it this way. A tree starts to grow in a forest and creates a nice foundation with its roots. through life it suffers drought, harsh weather and many other challenges. Finally when it is large enough to withstand most trials, it is cut down and hauled off to a lumber yard where it is cut down into boards. I like to think of that as the humbling process. Then it gets into the hands of a craftsman and is cut down and humbled even more. Later it is shaped, planed, sanded, glued, clamped, and many other hardship befall the poor tree.

But after all of the work is done, the tree is transformed into a beautiful work of art, whether it be a table, chair, bookcase, desk, or even an alter in one of God's holy temples. Through being humbled and faithfully enduring trials and hardships, the tree became something more than a tree.
Times will continue to get harder and more difficult, especially as we progress through the latter-days, there are many prophetic prophecies which tell us this is true. Remember to turn to your Father in heaven and your older brother, Jesus Christ, for guidance and for help. They will help you, and after they have blessed you, confess their hand in all things and you will be lead down the right path!

Thanks for reading again, remember to reach out to our brothers and sisters who are astray, missionary work is a commandment to every member. If you do so you will rejoice forevermore with your eternal family. Stay strong!