The Purpose of trials.

Within the last seven years my family and I have experience some pretty intense trials. I have jokingly thought that the mirror's that I have accidentally broken wants payment. I don't know why I have been asked to go though these trials. Like I have said they have been intense. My family and I hate talking about our trials. Family, friends, and people in general do not understand, the pain, or the confusion we have experienced. This is the "Readers Digest" version of it. I just hope they don't mind.

One trial was an experience as a family, it was that the loss our home. This was before the economic melt down. Some strange, unexplainable events have happen that have caused this. It had started out that my parents getting sick. They were ok, sick, but ok. Then they lost their jobs, but still they were ok. They had saving, pensions, and promise of a new job, and so on. So they assured that things will be ok. Then I had a back injury. It took this back injury one year for it to heal, it was a muscle injury. So there was nothing to do but let the muscle heal it's own way, in it's own time. So of course I was home to heal. Then trouble started to happen and more trouble's. Savings, pensions was drying up, that promise of a new job was broken. I drained my accounts to help my parents, others have helped also. But in the end it wasn't enough. We have lost our home, respect, friendship's, family, and other acquaintances.

Another is a personal trail. I am still single. The reason is not so clear to me other then I am not married. It is not like I had planed to being single. I would loved to be married, just like any other single. But as it is I'm trying to do the best as I can right now with my life.

A "concerned" family member called me the day after I got home from Idaho. She was not very tactful. During the conversation she asked me how old I am. So of course I told her that I'll be 30 this December. Her response cut me to the core, and she rubbed salt into it. I shoved the phone into my fathers chest, and told him to talk to this family member. I cried for almost 2 hours, and I wrote what my mother would call a Scott's blessing on my facebook page. This family member was way out of line. She had no right to say what she had said, she doesn't understand what I have been going though. Right now my mother and I don't want to talk to this family member. We were both hurt, we don't want to hear any more.

My mother said this:

"I'm sorry that I had raised you to be a free thinker. I should have raised you to paint your nails barbie pink, bleach your hair platinum blond, try on shoes all day long, blow money, and to be stupid. Then maybe you would be married. Not happy but married. But when you do get married you will be happy because you have waited for that amazing guy."

She is right. I don't know why I am asked to go though these intense trials. Now this is in a book called "His Final Hours" by W. Jeffery Marsh. So please consider this:

"Knowing that the trials and afflictions awaited them [the Lords disciples], the Savior blessed his disciples: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27).

"He has promised similar rewards for our placing our trust in him. Even when we do not understand the purpose of a trial, ( as with me being single, loosing my home, family, friends, peoples respect, and etc.), or commandment, we can be confident that following God will always be to our benefit and blessing: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good-yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit, which will enlighten you mind, which shall fill your soul with joy; and then shall ye know,or by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive," (D&C 11:12-14) [emphasis added]

I believe that this promised that the Lord give his disciples, also is a promised to us. He knows what trials we are going though and will go though. So my advice to all of you in cyberspace land; put your trust in the Lord he will never lead you astray. Remember what the Lord said to Joseph Smith Jr. "And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and be for thy good." (D&C 122:7)

I am a great admirer of President Benson. He had many trials in his life, he is a great example to me. He was a great disciple of the Lord, he followed his words, did what the Lord told him to do. But his life was not all a "bed of roses." He had many health problems. But he still had great faith in God and His gospel, he still got up every morning and did what needed to be done. He himself may not understand all of his trials and problems but he still had great faith. The result God blessed him for his faith and his obedience. Remember: "All these things shall give us all experience, and be for our good." (D&C 122:7) [emphasis added]

Cheers Everyone!!!