Walking away with hope. There was so much reference to trials and struggles and their function for our spiritual growth. It reminds me of Eve cupping Adam’s face in her hands while reassuring him, “It is better for us to pass through sorrow…” Along with that, it is better for our children to know struggles too. That is hard as a parent when you work so hard to protect your children, to let them struggle and know that it will hurt and could make or break them – depending on what they choose. It is hard. It is especially hard when you, as the parent, are the one making decisions that will cause them to struggle. It is hard, but necessary for growth, real growth, the kind the prophet reemphasized in his talk. We are meant to become more like our Savior and we can’t do that coasting in life, avoiding all pain and struggle. It was referenced at least 3 different times the pleading of Joseph Smith while in jail and his response, “all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.” My favorite line comes next in that scripture, “The Son of Man hath descended below them all, Art thou greater than he?”
Nope, we are not greater than He. And so we will endure and move forward in our suffering AND find happiness in it still. God is happiness. He is love.
I am so grateful. I walk away from this conference looking ahead happy with hope. I do need to take care of some things, like better prepare my food storage etc, but mostly I feel prepared otherwise. I am so grateful to get to be a part of it.
