Lessons from the Doctrine and Covenants 2021
Lesson No. Forty-Two

Adversity and Affliction Require Patience and Faith Which Results in Sanctification

Adversity and affliction  – Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, and Sidney Rigdon, who comprised the First Presidency of the Church, and three other brethren personally suffered greatly for four months in the Liberty Jail.  Their suffering was compounded because members of the Church, including their families, were being driven out of Missouri by an Extermination Order from the Govenor.  Towards the end of his incarceration Joseph wrote two inspired letters, parts of which comprise D&C 121, 122, and 123.  These sections contain some of the most inspired language in all of scripture.  Joseph began with a plea to the Lord on behalf of the suffering Saints (D&C 121:1-6).  The Lord responded:  “My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment”(Vs 7, emphasis added).

Patience and faith – Alma and his people were living righteously in the land of Helam, “Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith” (Mosiah 23:21, emphasis added).  In a remarkable series of events Alma and his people were put in bondage, and their task masters were the wicked priests of king Noah lead by Amulon who threatened Alma and his people with death if they were found calling on the Lord for deliverance.  (See Mosiah 23-24)  But the people of the Lord “did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thought of their hearts.  And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort for I know the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.  And I will also ease the burden which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.  And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burden with ease….And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying:  Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage” (Mosiah 24:12-16, emphasis added).

Adversity, affliction, patience and faith are necessary parts of the sanctification process – The Lord promised Joseph while he was in Liberty Jail that “if thou endure it well [adversity and affliction], God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes” (D&C 121:8, emphasis added).  The patience and faith of the people of Alma was tried, but they were promised that “whosoever putteth his trust in him [the Lord] the same shall be lifted up at the last day.  Yea, and thus it was with this people [the people of Alma]” (Mosiah 23:22, emphasis added).  The Lord’s people in our day will also be lifted up at the last day if we put our trust in the Lord.

Cheerful submission to the will of the Lord is also a necessary part of the sanctification process – We learn that the people of Alma “did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord” (Mosiah 24:15, emphasis added), and the Lord delivered them in a miraculous way.  (See Mosiah 24:16-25)  Joseph Smith concluded D&C 121 – 123 with an inspired example and a profound promise:  “You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves.  Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed” (D&C 123:16-17, emphasis added).

I testify that the gift of the Holy Ghost purifies and sanctifies our heart, and brings happiness and joy as we endure to the end – Members of the Church, who have been given the gift of the Holy Ghost, can have the continual companionship of the Holy Ghost if we keep our covenants that we renew each week by partaking worthily of the sacrament.  The gift of the Holy Ghost brings love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.  (Galatians 5:22-23).  We become like the righteous Nephites who “did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God” (Helaman 3:35).    This marvelous gift of the Holy Ghost brings happiness and joy into our life as we endure to the end.  I pray that it be so with each of us.

I testify that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ gives us strength to endure to the end – “It is through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise could not maintain if left to their own means. This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts” (LDS Bible Dictionary, Grace). The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is promised to those who keep their covenants. It is the grace of the Lord that gives us strength to endure to the end. I pray that it be so with each of us.