“If we, as a people, keep the commandments of God; if we take the side of the Church on all issues, both religious and political; if we take the Holy Spirit for our guide; if we give heed to the words of the apostles and prophets who minister among us—then, from an eternal standpoint, all things will work together for our good.”
Elder Bruce R. McConkie, “The Coming Tests and Trials and Glory”, General Conference, April 1980
When I read this, I was reminded of the scripture in D&C 122:7 that says everything that I endure, everything that I pass through, everything that is difficult, shall give me experience and shall be for my good.
But it will not work together for my good if I am not living as Elder McConkie says above. If I am not living right, then everything I pass through is just something that I have to pass through. I won’t learn, I won’t gain experience, I won’t strengthen my testimony, I won’t strengthen relationships, I will not draw closer to Christ. It will not be for my good at all.
The more we pass through, the more we endure, then the more we grow and the more we move closer to Christ. If, and only if, He is our focus.
I often think of our Heavenly Father in His earthly sojourn, before He became our Father, when He gained a physical body, endured trials, gained experience, overcame the natural man (eventually), and became like His Father. First of all, would His Father be our Heavenly Grandfather?? I digress. 😊
My point is, our Heavenly Father passed through this process, this plan. His wife too, our Mother. Everything they went through worked together to put them where they are. I’m sure it was difficult. I’m sure they made mistakes along the way. But…they made it. It can be the same for us. For you and me.
“As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be”. – President Lorenzo Snow