Category: Trials

“If the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead.”

January 24, 2022

Did you know that lemons are the unnatural result of crossbreeding a citron and a bitter orange? Meaning, life never gave us lemons. We created them all by ourselves.  I think there is powerful symbolism in that. Adam and Eve created a bitter experience by choosing to eat the fruit… the Lord telling Eve, “I … More “If the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead.”

“You will face your greatest opposition when you are closest to your biggest miracle.”

January 22, 2022

Growing up in Oregon, I’ve been lucky enough to see the giant sequoia trees many times.  These trees are amazing. They can live as long as 3,000 years, They get as tall as 300 feet, They only grow in a 60-mile band in California. Another interesting fact? They need fire to reproduce. Seems counterintuitive, right? … More “You will face your greatest opposition when you are closest to your biggest miracle.”

“The Savior is never closer to you than when you are facing and climbing a mountain with faith.”

December 10, 2021

Joseph F. Smith’s family was hesitant to share the news of his daughter-in-law, Ida’s, passing. She had died in childbirth just months after her husband, Hyrum, had died unexpectedly from a ruptured appendix. Joseph F. Smith had been sick for five months—rarely seen by the public. He was very close to passing, himself. He had … More “The Savior is never closer to you than when you are facing and climbing a mountain with faith.”

“Only faith that He suffered for our sakes will help us endure to the end.”

November 4, 2021

In 1952, Florence Chadwick attempted something no woman had attempted before: swimming the Catalina Channel. It was cold and extremely foggy the whole time she was in the water. She could barely even see the support boats swimming beside her. Fifteen hours in, she decided to quit. She went to get into the support boat, … More “Only faith that He suffered for our sakes will help us endure to the end.”

“The Savior loves to restore what you cannot restore; He loves to heal wounds you cannot heal; He loves to fix what has been irreparably broken.”

October 23, 2021

Guest post by Taylor Ricks On the days I feel the smallest, I can know He has felt smaller. In the moments I feel most weak, I believe He has felt weaker. In the times I feel most alone, I know He has felt more lonely. When pain of body, mind, or spirit course through … More “The Savior loves to restore what you cannot restore; He loves to heal wounds you cannot heal; He loves to fix what has been irreparably broken.”

“Draw near unto God and He will draw near unto you” is a promise that God cannot break.

October 4, 2021

They had lost the land of Zion. They were kicked out of their homes by violent mobs. They were having financial struggles. There were threats on Joseph’s life. Joseph prayed, desperate for direction. And he got no answer. He said, “Heaven seems closed.” My heart ached when I read that. Because I have been there, … More “Draw near unto God and He will draw near unto you” is a promise that God cannot break.

Many dead ends only look that way to our mortal eyes.

September 4, 2021

I have a friend who fell in love and one day, the spirit said, “You will be sealed July 30th.”  She believed it and planned on being married to her husband on that day. However, due to circumstances out of her control, they got married in October.  She was so confused. She had truly thought … More Many dead ends only look that way to our mortal eyes.

Just because we have the comforter always with us doesn’t mean life will always be comfortable.

August 12, 2021

When I was five years old, I slept in a ball absolutely petrified to move at all—you know, because rats lived in my sheets. But only in the cold parts, of course. So I couldn’t. move. a. muscle. My mom tried to tell me that rats did not, in fact, live in my bed or … More Just because we have the comforter always with us doesn’t mean life will always be comfortable.

“Sometimes, when you are in a dark place and you think you’ve been buried, you’ve actually been planted.”

May 25, 2021

“Dreary and underdeveloped.”“Backwater trading post.”“Godless and rough.” These were the words to describe the land upon which Zion would be built. Many of the Saints were disappointed. Many couldn’t see how anything good could come from such a place. Joseph himself cried to the Lord in anguish, “When will the wilderness blossom as the rose?” … More “Sometimes, when you are in a dark place and you think you’ve been buried, you’ve actually been planted.”

“The Savior is never closer to you than when you are facing or climbing a mountain with faith.”

April 27, 2021

Lucy Smith was leading a group of Saints to Ohio, and they were in desperate need of help. They had already traveled five days down the Erie Canal and were hungry, cold, and exposed. So, when the haggard group saw they were stranded on an ice-locked harbor in Buffalo, they started to complain and argue … More “The Savior is never closer to you than when you are facing or climbing a mountain with faith.”

“If you saw the size of the blessings coming, you would understand the magnitude of the battle you are fighting.”

March 21, 2021

“The Eagle does not fight the snake on the ground. “It picks it up into the sky and changes the battle ground, and then it releases the snake into the sky. “The snake has no stamina, no power and no balance in the air. It is useless, weak and vulnerable, unlike on the ground where … More “If you saw the size of the blessings coming, you would understand the magnitude of the battle you are fighting.”

“There is help, there is happiness, there really is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

February 18, 2021

Revisiting Mary Whitmer’s story today— She was feeling overburdened when Emma, Joseph, and Oliver stayed at her house and she was out milking the cow when an angel showed her the plates. This is such an interesting thing for the angel to do. It reminds me of two more stories. The first story is of … More “There is help, there is happiness, there really is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

“Often, the answer to our prayer does not come while we are on our knees but while we are on our feet serving the Lord.”

February 11, 2021

There once were two boys trying to get home. They got halfway across the field and a bull started charging at them.  One boy said “I’m going to stop and pray” The other boy said, “you can do what you want, but I am going to run and pray! Run and pray.  This story reminds … More “Often, the answer to our prayer does not come while we are on our knees but while we are on our feet serving the Lord.”

“If you seek God’s truth, that which now may appear dim, out of focus, and distant will gradually be revealed.”

February 4, 2021

Anyone else use sleep to solve all their problems?Angry—sleep.Sad—sleep.Overwhelmed—sleep.The other day, I was in a funk and my husband said “sleep.” So I went into my room to take a nap and decided, you know what? No. I’m going to read my scriptures and write a post or two. Feeling quite proud of myself, I … More “If you seek God’s truth, that which now may appear dim, out of focus, and distant will gradually be revealed.”

There is joy in sorrow, light in darkness, hope in failure, redemption in sin, a balm for pain, a way when lost. His name is Jesus Christ.

January 21, 2021

Joseph Smith’s first baby passed away at birth. Emma almost died after the delivery as well. And just two weeks after this tragic time in Joseph Smith’s life, he learned that Martin Harris had lost the Book of Mormon manuscript. Joseph began to sob. “Oh, my God, my God,” Joseph groaned, clenching his fists. “All … More There is joy in sorrow, light in darkness, hope in failure, redemption in sin, a balm for pain, a way when lost. His name is Jesus Christ.

“…You have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future”

January 16, 2021

About three years ago, I lost my keys at the park.  I was locked out with two kids during lunch/nap time.  I knelt down and prayed. Got up, looked for two hours, and still didn’t find my keys.  The next day, after locking the house up and getting the kids in the car, I lost … More “…You have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future”

“He has not abandoned you. He will not forsake you.”

January 14, 2021

A missionary was laying on her bed in the middle of the night, praying through her sobs, “I have done everything I can, I have fought for so long. Why haven’t you helped me?”  For three years she had been struggling with an eating disorder. But she had never used the words “eating disorder”. Laying … More “He has not abandoned you. He will not forsake you.”

“Don’t focus on your problems, focus on God. He is the solution.”

January 11, 2021

A young man was leaving his house for a four day kayak trip with his friends when he noticed a rubber band on the counter and felt prompted to grab it. He was in a rush and ignored the feeling. As he was about to walk out the door, he felt prompted again, stronger this … More “Don’t focus on your problems, focus on God. He is the solution.”