Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith. “Chapter 19: Stand Fast through the Storms of Life.”
How true it is that when life becomes difficult, sometimes approaching a point of being unbearably so, that we can find solace in only one place, in our relationship with God. It is so important, therefore, to develop and deepen that relationship in times of plenty so as to not find, in our moment of need, that we have nothing to draw on and that we have abandoned He who never abandons us, and in whom we can find peace and solace, a balm for the broken in heart and body.
Reading this chapter, I reflected on the experiences of the past few weeks and thought of the ways in which I found myself turning to God in moments of need and how a willingness to carry on, desiring after faith, and even “hoping against hope” as it were, that in those moments I was carried on eagles’ wings. There were, of course, moments where I simply slept, trying to forget everything, but those moments were overcome.
Quotes from the Text:
“Stand fast, ye Saints of God, hold on a little while longer, and the storm of life will be past, and you will be rewarded by that God whose servants you are” (227).
Wilford Woodruff, the fourth President of the Church, said: “the Lord told Joseph that He would prove him, whether he would abide in His covenant or not, even unto death. He did prove him; and although [Joseph] had the whole world to contend agains and the treachery of false friends to withstand, although his whole life was a scent of trouble and anxiety and care, yet in all his afflictions, his imprisonments, the mobbings and ill treatment he pased through, he was ever true to his God” (229).
John Taylor, the third President of the Church, said: “I heard the Prophet Joseph say, in speaking to the Twelve on one occasion: ‘You will have all kinds of trials to pass throgh. And it is quite as necessary for you to be tried as it was for Abraham and other ment of God, and (said he) God will feel after you, and He will take hold of you and wrench your very hearstrings, and if you cannot stand it you will not be fit for an inheritance in the Celestial Kingdom of God.’” (231)
“My only hip and confidence is in that God who gave me being, in whom there is all power, who now is presently before me, and my heart is naked before his eyes continually. He is my comforter, and he forsaketh me not” (231).
“I know in whom I trust; I stand upon the rock; the floods cannot, no, they shall not, overthrow me” (231).
“And as for the perils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me, as the envy and wrath of man have been my common lot all the days of my life; and for what cause it seems mysterious, unless I was ordained from before the foundation of the world for some good end, or bad, as you may choose to call it. Judge ye for yourselves. God knoweth all these things, whether it be good or bad. But nevertheless, deep water is what I am wont to swim in. It all has become a second nature to me; and I feel, like Paul, to glory in tribulation; for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth; for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies, for the Lord God hath spoken it” [Doctrine and Covenants 127:2] (232).
“About his recovery from an illness in June 1837, the Prophet said: “This is one of the may instances in which I have suddenly been brough from a state of health, to the borders of the grave, and as suddenly restored, for which my heart swells with gratitude to my heavenly Father, and I fell renewedly to dedicate myself and all my powers to His service” (233).
“All difficulties which might and would cross our way must be surmounted. though the sould be tried, the heart faint, and the hands hang down, we must not retrace our steps; there must be decision of character” (234).