For Thy Good

In the most recent general conference, Elder Gerrit W. Gong taught, “This fickle world often feels tempest tossed, uncertain, sometimes fortunate, and—too often—unfortunate. Yet, in this world of tribulation, ‘we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.’ Indeed, as we walk uprightly and remember our covenants, ‘all things shall work together for your good.’” He quoted here two scriptures with similar messages. The first was from Paul to the Romans: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). The second was from a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another” (Doctrine and Covenants 90:24). A similar message as given to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon in another revelation: “Therefore, let your hearts be comforted; for all things shall work together for good to them that walk uprightly, and to the sanctification of the church” (Doctrine and Covenants 100:15). So as we strive to do what the Savior would want us to do, or as we love God, things will indeed work out in the end.

The Lord repeated a similar message concerning the Saints who were struggling with afflictions in Jackson County. The Lord revealed through the Prophet Joseph, “Your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted. Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord. And now, verily I say unto you concerning the laws of the land, it is my will that my people should observe to do all things whatsoever I command them” (Doctrine and Covenants 98:2-4). As they sought to keep the commandments, He promised that their afflictions would work for their good. Later, after they had been driven from their homes, the Lord said this: “And make proposals for peace unto those who have smitten you, according to the voice of the Spirit which is in you, and all things shall work together for your good” (Doctrine and Covenants 105:40). The Lord promised that their terrible suffering would in the end be for their good as they sought to follow the Holy Ghost in the way they responded. It must have been so hard for them to understand why they had not succeeded in building Zion despite their earnest efforts and why there enemies seemed to triumph over them. The Lord’s promise was that in the end it would all work towards their good. That is a hard lesson for all of us, for in the midst of our trials it is hard to see how things will work out or how they will possibly be for our good. But we can trust that as we seek to live uprightly, love Him, and follow the Spirit, His immutable promise will be ours as well: “All things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good.”  

Several years later, when Joseph Smith was languishing in Liberty Jail and the Saints once more had been torn from their homes and suffered incredible afflictions, the Lord reminded the prophet of this same truth: “Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good” (Doctrine and Covenants 122:7). We can trust that God is at the helm and as we strive to follow Him, whatever happens will in the end be for our good. I love Elder Gong’s final words of this talk: “In time and eternity, the purpose of Creation and the nature of God Himself are to bring all things together for our good. This is the Lord’s eternal purpose. It is His eternal perspective. It is His eternal promise. When life is cluttered and purpose isn’t clear, when you want to live better but don’t know how, please come to God our Father and Jesus Christ. Trust They live, love you, and want all things for your good. I testify They do, infinitely and eternally.”