#28 "O God, Where Art Thou?"

D&C 121:1-33; 122; Our Heritage p45-53
Last week we talked about trials, and the things we are supposed to be learning from them. This week we will be talking about how to deal with that information. Just because we know that our trials are only for our good and learning doesn’t make them any easier; but this lesson teaches how we can lesson the blow of our struggles and get through them with better attitudes and in a position of power against our enemies.

In these sections of study we know that they are revelations that came when he and the church members were going through great struggles; the question
Joseph asked was, “O God Where Art Thou”?
Some of the things the church was going through while Joseph was in Liberty Jail were, they were still being driven from the state, the Battle of Crooked River, where the mob was waiting at the election polls for any Mormons, so they could prevent them from voting and some were killed, the Haun’s Mill massacre where 200 men killed 17 men and boys, not to mention the hardships Joseph, Hyrum, and many other church leaders were being tried in the Jail with poisoned food, harsh living conditions, as well as abuse from guards.

During Joseph’s incarceration he learned what He or We could do to lessen the burden of our trials. I am constantly amazed by the different and funny ways the Lord teaches me things about my lessons. I am thankful I can learn some of the same lessons Joseph did without being in prison. As I was preparing for this lesson I had a funny experience that put me on track of these lessons.
*While I am telling you my story of how I learned some things that can lessen the burden we get from our trials, I want you to listen to, and remember some of the things that can lessen our burdens.
I woke up one morning and was getting ready to go on a run when I realized that my heal was hurting pretty bad, so I thought perhaps I need to change my exercise routine by doing a different activity. I thought “I’ll ride my bike”, (keep in mind I haven’t really ridden my bike on a long ride for years) I got on and took off down the road. I thought, I’ll just ride really fast as far as I can then come back. So I started to ride down 6000 S. I rode all the way west through midland drive all the way to the posse grounds, over to 5600 S. and over through a new neighborhood that was being built. I really had a great time the whole way down; it was fast, mostly downhill and it was early enough in the morning that it was a cool time of day. Life was good, life was easy, well I decided I was getting tired and had a long day ahead of me so I thought I’d head back, while I could still ride. I started home up 6000 S. when I realized I was heading straight into the sun and it was getting hot and I couldn’t see the greatest. As I headed up that slow and very gradual incline, I started thinking, “I am out of shape”, my legs were burning, I was starting to sweat, I was creeping, and I still had a long way to go! And I didn’t bring my cell phone to call Keith and have him come get me (which wouldn’t help anyway, because he would just laugh and tell me to suffer) I realized it didn’t take long for the pure happiness of my ride to turn into small complaints. As I continued, I said out loud “I’m really struggling here, this is ridiculous”, just then I had the thought that my lesson was on trials and how to get through them, so I laughed and said, I know now there is a lesson here with this bike ride, I asked him to help me figure it out. So, I continued; just then I thought okay so I just have to stay positive and continue at a steady pace and all will be well. Well just as I thought that guess what happened? Yep a big gust of wind came from the east. It about blew me off the road, but I continued it was really working against me and I laughed a nervous laugh, looked up and said “that is not funny, as if this isn’t hard enough” “I know thanks for the wind” So I tell myself, “even though you are going even slower now, keep a steady pace.” I put the bike into and easier gear(right decisions) so my legs weren’t burning so bad, but still going at a snail’s steady pace. I then started to look ahead clear up the road and realized I had a long way to go and was starting to get discouraged. I realized what was happening so I told myself to make shorter goals, get to that next street, make it to that phone pole, get to the 1st set of tracks etc. I started to rejoice as my goals came and went and the distance was closing in. I then was really feeling the heat, I started to think I should stop and rest and realized that it would just prolong the inevitable so I need to just keep going. I noticed up ahead a lady on a walk, I thought “I should’ve just went on a walk myself, but then I wouldn’t be learning anything, for you see as I continued I was also being taught about my lesson. As I noticed the lady I thought other people could help us through trials, but most of the time it is usually friends, so this lady isn’t going to help me. Well I was wrong again, once again the Lord likes to make me laugh. So I pass this lady not thinking much of it and after I am like 5 feet passed her she yells, “Hello, Good Morning!” I turned and said, “Good morning” then looked up and said, “Thou art hilarious!” Because of that, I was laughing again, and that thought kept me going for a while longer. I finally get to the church road and think, “There is the church road I am almost home.” I decide to turn into it just so I could see the church(Sunday meetings) and it gave me another boost because I knew I’d be home soon. I continued on, just before I get home I see Wendy, Jackie and Sue walking together, talking as they went and I decided I would cheer them on, not that they were struggling, but I just like to make people laugh, so I cheered them on and they of course indulged me, and laughed. I then laughed the whole rest of the way home. I got home and realized I received a great lesson on how I can lessen the burden of my trials. Whether the trial is something as simple as a bike ride or as difficult as a terminal illness, the things we can do are still the same, so what are they, what did you get out of my story? Name some of the things that lessened my burden?

*See all the bold and underlined phrases, which are ways my burden was lifted.
In our sections today I also dissected them to find the ways that Joseph’s burdens were lessened as well as the other members, as he passed on his wisdom.
121:1-6 Pray sincerely, fervently, humbly for help, peace, knowledge, etc.
121:4 Acknowledge God power in all things, know that He can stop all our suffering if He wanted to but doesn’t because it is not what will strengthen us.
121:5 Acknowledge fault of trials, whether from our own decisions or outside forces and change them, if we can.
121:7 From Now on the Lord is answering Joseph’s plea and we continue to learn that to lessen our burden we must keep the eternal perspective in mind. (It is but a small moment right?)
121:9 be a friend, let your friends in, let them stand by you as well as you by them. Have you ever experienced this, what did they do exactly or what can you do that would help lessen the burden? What benefits can come from serving others when we are in the midst of our own trials?
121:10 keep in mind that others have it worse than you do.
121: 16-19 Wo unto those who have offended my little ones. *Keep in mind the tables will turn one day and the Lord will punish our abusers.
121:26 get through trials by listening to the Holy Spirit, how will listening to the spirit help lessen our burdens? he can and will speak peace and comfort to us. He will teach us what we can do to lessen the burden and get past our trials.
121:27 keep your mind open to angels on the other side of the veil as well as this side.
122:4 Remember, God shall stand by thee forever and ever.
122:7 Know thou, my son (or daughter) that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. In other words, that which doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.
122: 8 Remember Christ felt all we feel, He experienced worse than we ever have and He got through it. Because of Him, through Him we can get through it too.

I loved the quote from Elder Neal A. Maxwell, “As part of His infinite atonement, Jesus…has borne the sins, griefs, sorrows, and , declared Jacob, the pains of every man, woman, and child. Having been perfected in His empathy, Jesus thus knows how to succor us…Nothing is beyond His redeeming reach or His encircling empathy. Therefore, we should not complain about our own life’s not being a rose garden when we remember who wore the crown of thorns!” (May 1987, 72 Ensign)

Joseph Smith, an expert on getting through trials states, “The Savior’s life is the perfect example of enduring tribulation. If we can look to the Savior as models of endurance, we can find hope and strength to endure our own afflictions.”


122: Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, FEAR NOT! Whatever happens, happens but if we fear not, get through life with a positive attitude, learning all we can then we will all come out better people, more refined people, the Lord’s people.

If we could be as fearless as David Patton who, after he had just been shot and was dying for the gospels sake, said (p47 in Our Heritage), “O that they(those saints who had fallen into apostasy) were in my situation! For I feel that I have kept the faith.’” He then spoke to his wife, “Whatever you do else, Oh do not deny the Faith.”

He lived without fear even while on his death bed caused by an enemy.

I leave you with the testimony of Marion G. Romney about afflictions, “I have seen the remorse and despair in the lives of men who, in the hour of trial, have cursed God and died spiritually. And I have seen people rise to great heights from what seemed to be unbearable burdens. Finally, I have sought the Lord in my own extremities and learned for myself that my soul has made its greatest growth as I have been driven to my knees by adversity and affliction.” (Improvement Era Dec. 1969 p 19:23)
He continues to advise us, “All who are being tried in the crucible of adversity and affliction: Take courage; revive your spirits and strengthen your faith. In these lessons so impressively taught in precept and example by our great exemplar, Jesus Christ, and his Prophet of the restoration, Joseph Smith, we have ample inspiration for comfort and for hope. If we can bear our afflictions with the understanding, faith, and courage, and in the spirit in which they bore theirs, we shall be strengthened and comforted in many ways. We shall be spared the torment which accompanies the mistaken idea that all suffering comes as chastisement for transgression…
We can draw assurance from the Lord’s promise that ‘he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven. Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, he said, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter and the glory which shall follow much tribulation. For after much tribulation come the blessings. (Oct. 1969, p59)

I am thankful for my trials I am learning how to lessen the burden of my struggles by clinging to the gospel principles taught in these sections of revelation. I testify that God loves us and wants us to not only come out of our trials and struggles stronger but come out of them His refined children. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.