Day Fourteen

Finally, I was able to do some spring cleaning today! The Sunday evening session of this last LDS General Conference was playing in the back as I cleaned. Elder Dallin H Oaks, one of the twelve apostles called of God, spoke on how there is opposition in all things.

He gave the example of when the Prophet Joseph Smith, after months of all-day translation, sought to get the Book of Mormon publish. It took asking four different publishers and weeks of rejection. Elder Oaks speaks for the, "bewilderment," Joseph Smith must have felt. Why did it need to be that hard? He was called of God and he was on the Lord's errand. Eventually, the Lord provided away and the Book of Mormon was published, but not with out much sacrifice and opposition by Joseph Smith and other men and women called of God. 

I know in these moments, when I think I am doing something good, and I am met with so many trials and "unneeded" challenges, my mind often questions my Father in Heaven's love for me. I think, if He loves me so much, why would He let me hurt like this? 

It is inspiring to see other great people, who obviously were well loved of God, like every prophet ever, also have so many challenging points in their life. The way through is eventually made evident, as is the hand of the Lord throughout the process. 

I know that we don't experience trials because we are bad or have done something bad. It is hard to remember that in the moment, but we can hold on to the stories of how men and women went through much worse before us who were deeply loved by God. 

If He truly didn't love us, then He would want us to progress.