God Shall Exalt Thee on High

In general conference six months ago, Elder Cook spoke about being peaceable followers of the Savior. He spoke of the challenges that we face even as we strive to follow Him: “Those who believe in, humbly worship, and testify of Jesus Christ have always experienced trials, tribulation, and adversities.” He related, “Church leaders are frequently asked, ‘Why does a just God allow bad things to happen, especially to good people?’ and ‘Why are those who are righteous and in the Lord’s service not immune from such tragedies?’” He then commented, “We do not know all the answers; however, we do know important principles that allow us to face trials, tribulation, and adversities with faith and confidence in a bright future that awaits each of us. No better example exists in scripture with respect to passing through tribulation than the word of the Lord to Joseph Smith, the Prophet, while he was a prisoner in Liberty Jail. The Lord in part declared: ‘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 shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?… Fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.’” Though indeed we do not know all the answers to why things happen as they do, this scripture indeed gives us the clearest answer that I know of on why the Lord allows the righteous to suffer and experience injustice, pain, and loss: it is all to give us experience and to be for our good. Most importantly, in whatever trials we go through, God will be with us forever as we turn to Him. The Lord’s words to Joseph in Liberty Jail should provide comfort and healing to us no matter what we have experienced as we let these words speak to our hearts: “My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.” The section ends with this powerful assurance to those who turn to Him with trust even in affliction: “The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-8, 46).   

                And so, with that knowledge, how to we best face the trials of mortality that inevitably come upon us? The best answer is found in this scripture that Elder Cook quoted: “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:36). He added, “In Hebrews we are counseled to ‘come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’ Jesus Christ is ‘the author of eternal salvation.’” The key is that in our suffering we must come to the Savior for His strength and grace and mercy. As President Nelson would put it, “The answer is always Jesus Christ.” I love these words from Preach My Gospel that Elder Cook also quoted, “In His atoning sacrifice, Jesus Christ took upon Himself our pains, afflictions, and infirmities. Because of this, He knows ‘according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities’ (Alma 7:12; see also verse 11). He invites, ‘Come unto me,’ and as we do, He gives us rest, hope, strength, perspective, and healing (Matthew 11:28; see also verses 29–30). As we rely on Jesus Christ and His Atonement, He can help us endure our trials, sicknesses, and pain. We can be filled with joy, peace, and consolation. All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.” I hear a lot about things being “unfair” in my house as one child perceives that a different child received something they didn’t. We have tried, so far quite unsuccessfully, to convince our children that this is okay; life is not meant to be fair and if your goal is to ensure that you get everything that someone else gets in life, you will most certainly be miserable. But though our life may not seem fair during mortality, we can trust that all that has been unfair—and someday my children will realize there is a lot more painful unfairness in the world than a sibling receiving ice cream that they didn’t—will one day be made right through Jesus Christ. We trust that He is and always will be our Advocate, and no matter what happens to us here, He will eventually make right what needs to be made right.

                Last night I finished listening to David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, and I think the experience of Agnes is representative of what the gospel promises to those who hold on and seek to be righteous under all circumstances. Dickens wrote that she was the “real heroine” of the novel; she was filled with goodness, gentleness, kindness, and grace. She suffered immensely throughout the book, though how much is not realized until the very end. And yet she was in my mind a perfect example of the “peaceable follower of Christ” that Elder Cook invited us to be, even in times of trial. She was a perfect friend and counselor to David, never revealing to him until the end how she had always loved him. She was instrumental in helping him in his first marriage to Dora, despite how this must have pained her. She became a true friend to Dora and was there as an angel when she passed away from sickness. Agnes suffered through the manipulative and obsequious Uriah Heep who cheated his way into power in her household and father’s business. This detestable figure made life miserable for her and her father for many years, especially as he tried to get her hand in marriage. But she never complained or became embittered, and instead she always emanated love and light and goodness. Eventually, several years after Dora’s death, David finally realized that he loved her and that she loved him, and they were married. Agnes was finally rewarded for her patient endurance of all her trials. It will surely be similar for all of us who choose to follow Jesus Christ: if we endure as peaceable followers of Him throughout our trials, all that is wrong will eventually be made right.