Harold B. Lee on the process of soul-training in life

President Harold B. Lee (1899-1973) was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1941. He served as a counselor in the First Presidency from 1970-1972, then as Church president from July 1972 until his passing less than 18 months later in December 1973.

"Guided by faith taught by the word of God, we view life as a great process of soul-training. Under the ever-watchful eye of a loving Father, we learn by 'the things which we suffer,' we gain strength by overcoming obstacles, and we conquer fear by triumphant victory in places where danger lurks [see Hebrews 5:8]. By faith, as the word of God teaches, we understand that whatever contributes in life to the lofty standard of Jesus—'Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect' (Matthew 5:48)—is for our good and for our eternal benefit even though into that molding may go the severe chastening of an all-wise God, 'For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.' (Hebrews 12:6.)

"Thus schooled and drilled for the contest with the powers of darkness and with spiritual wickedness, we may be 'troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.' (2 Corinthians 4:8-9.)"

- Harold B. Lee, "Stand Ye in Holy Places," p. 339

Life is a "process of soul-training." That a beautiful and instructive phrase! It's not a series of random events or unrelated coincidences. When we are "guided by faith" as we learn from God's word, then we see those events and coincidences as parts of a divinely-directed process to help us train our souls as He understands best.

That soul-training can, on occasion, include harder things: suffering, obstacles, fear, danger, chastening. How we respond to those events and circumstances helps determine the training we experience through the guidance of God. With faith, we allow Him to mold us into the kind of soul that Paul describes in the final scripture quotes—one who can confront those obstacles without distress or despair, knowing that in the hands of the Eternal Soul Trainer, all will work together for our good and our gain.

L. Tom Perry on developing talents through consistency

Elder L. Tom Perry (born August 5, 1922- 96 years ago yesterday; died 2015) was called as an Assistant to the Twelve in 1972, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1974. At the time of his passing at age 92, he was the oldest living general authority and the third in seniority among the leading quorum.

"Develop a consistency in your lives of always trying to do the best with the talents you have. One of my favorite scriptures is found in the eighth chapter of Psalms.

"'O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who has set thy glory above the heavens....

"'When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

"'What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

"'For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. [Psalms 8:1, 3-5]'

"I guess this scripture appeals to me because I like to think of myself as a junior angel with the power and opportunity of an eternal being....

"It is the same with each of us as creations of our Father in Heaven. We have been given an abundance of talent, beauty, and ability. Lack of progress can never be blamed on the lack of raw material....

"What is needed, then, is for us to make this mortal experience one that is rewarding and fulfilling by developing a consistency in doing our best with whatever talents the Lord has blessed us with."

- L. Tom Perry, "On Staying Power," BYU Devotional, 17 March 1987
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You can just feel the joy and enthusiasm that characterized Elder Perry when he shares, "I like to think of myself as a junior angel" possessing potential to become an eternal being of power and glory. Elder Perry saw that potential in the consistency of developing our talents and using our gifts. We all have abundant "raw material" given to us; we just need to make the most of it!

Gary E. Stevenson on the proper balance of getting and understanding

Elder Gary E. Stevenson (b. August 5, 1955 - 61 years ago today) was called as a Seventy in 2008, then as Presiding Bishop in 2012. He was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in October 2015.

"'And with all thy getting get understanding' (Prov 4:7), or, said another way, 'Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding' (Prov 3:5).

"I have personally observed the heartbreak and personal havoc wrought upon those whose focus is on the worldly 'getting' and not on the Lord’s 'understanding.' It seems that those who lean unto their own understanding or rely on the arm of the flesh are more likely to develop a disproportionate focus or obsession for material gain, prestige, power, and position. Keeping the 'getting' in accordance with this scriptural guidance of 'understanding' will temper your temporal appetite. This will allow the proper context for your activities as a student and as a productive member of society and of the Lord’s kingdom....

"Ralph Waldo Emerson said, 'This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.' Fortunately, Latter-day Saints never have to look very far to know what to do. This is now your time. With your knowledge of a loving Heavenly Father and the great plan of happiness, you all have rudders deep in the water. Now, put your oars in deeply as well and pull hard and even.

"In a recent talk President Monson quoted from Proverbs, as he had done before: 'Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.' He then said, 'That has been the story of my life.' (Monson, Ensign, May 2010, p. 112; quoting Proverbs 3:5–6.) What a great life to emulate."

- Gary E. Stevenson, "Lean Not unto Thine Own Understanding," BYU Devotional, January 14, 2014
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Elder Stevenson warms about one of the challenges of our time; there seems to be a growing divergence between "focus is on the worldly 'getting' and not on the Lord’s 'understanding.'" Finding the proper balance between those needs and invitations is an important part of our purpose in mortality; it sets "the proper context" for our choices and activities in life.

Ezra Taft Benson on joy through service and sacrifice

President Ezra Taft Benson (born August 4, 1899 - 117 years ago today; died 1994) was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1943, and served as the 13th President of the Church from 1985 until his death in 1994 at age 94.

"Opportunities to lose oneself for the good of others present themselves daily: the mother who serves her children's needs; the father who gives his time for their instruction; parents who give up worldly pleasure for quality home life; children who care for their aged parents; home teaching service; visiting teaching; time for compassionate service; giving comfort to those who need strength; serving with diligence in Church callings; community and public service in the interest of preserving our freedoms; financial donations for tithes, fast offerings, support of missionaries, welfare, building and temple projects. Truly, the day of sacrifice is not past.

"One of Satan's greatest tools is pride: to cause a man or a woman to center so much attention on self that he or she becomes insensitive to their Creator or fellow beings. It's a cause for discontent, divorce, teenage rebellion, family indebtedness, and most other problems we face.

"If you would find yourself, learn to deny yourself for the blessing of others. Forget yourself and find someone who needs your service, and you will discover the secret to the happy, fulfilled life."

- Ezra Taft Benson, "This is a Day of Sacrifice," Ensign, May 1979, pp. 32-34
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President Benson's reminder of the many ways we can serve and sacrifice in our basic, daily roles is good to ponder. We are all blessed as we serve, and blessed more as we sacrifice to serve. But Satan would teach us to focus more on our own selves, becoming insensitive to those around us. President Benson points out that many of our modern challenges are the result of that pride and selfishness.

So the key to "finding yourself" and to a truly happy life lies in learning to deny self in order to bless others.

Spencer W. Kimball on the blessing of ongoing revelation

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985) was ordained an apostle in 1943 and served as President of the Church from 1973 to 1985.

"In our day, as in times past, many people expect that if there be revelation it will come with awe-inspiring, earth-shaking display. For many it is hard to accept as revelation those numerous ones in Moses' time, in Joseph's time, and in our own year—those revelations which come to prophets as deep, unassailable impressions settling down on the prophet's mind and heart as dew from heaven or as the dawn dissipates the darkness of night.

"Expecting the spectacular, one may not be fully alerted to the constant flow of revealed communication. I say, in the deepest of humility, but also by the power and force of a burning testimony in my soul, that from the prophet of the Restoration to the prophet of our own year, the communication line is unbroken, the authority is continuous, and light, brilliant and penetrating, continues to shine. The sound of the voice of the Lord is a continuous melody and a thunderous appeal. For nearly a century and a half there has been no interruption."

- Spencer W. Kimball, "Revelation: The Word of the Lord to His Prophets," Ensign, May 1977, p. 78
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I love President Kimball's expressive use of language almost as much as I love his deep and reassuring testimony! Revelation comes as "deep, unassailable impressions settling down on the prophet's mind and heart as dew from heaven or as the dawn dissipates the darkness of night." His voice is clearly the voice of experience in this area; and he is teaching us about a process that we can all follow as well.

President Kimball bears a powerful witness of his own experience in Church leadership, and the divine involvement in its ongoing administration and direction:

We sometimes find ourselves "expecting the spectacular" as well in our personal searching, and forget that there is a "constant flow of revealed communication" in our own lives as we learn to listen and heed.

Howard W. Hunter on refinement through the trials of life

President Howard W. Hunter (1907-1995) was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1959.  He served as Church President for only nine months, from June 5, 1994 to his death on March 3, 1995.

"Today other biographies of faith are being written—Saints who, like Job, suffer physical pain, emotional sorrow, and even disloyalty from friends—yet remain faithful; Saints who, like Jacob, see sons and daughters not so valiant as they should be, but who bless them for their potential; Saints who, like Paul, endure great ridicule and endure to the end; Saints who, like Nephi, must separate themselves from family because of their commitment to the gospel. There are those who know pain and sorrow because of loss of loved ones; who know spiritual sorrow because children go astray; who experience loss of health, financial reverses, and emotional distress, and yet, like Job, resolve, 'When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold' (Job 23:10)....

"We stand on the summit of 150 years of Church history; yet there are other summits to climb before the work of God is crowned with victory. There will be tribulations collectively and hardships personally—that resistance so essential to the eternal plan.

"What makes us imagine that we may be immune from the same experiences that refined the lives of former-day Saints? We must remember that the same forces of resistance which prevent our progress afford us also opportunities to overcome. God will have a tried people!

"I witness today this truth from a verse of one of our favorite hymns:

"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
(Hymns, no. 66)."

- Howard W. Hunter, "God Will Have a Tried People," Ensign, May 1980, pp. 24-26
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We sometimes reflect with awe on the lives and examples of those in the past. President Hunter suggests that many new "biographies of faith" are being written by those today who are struggling with great challenges in their own way. Those challenges include physical pain, emotional sorrow, disloyal friends, wandering children, loss of family support, loss of health, financial problems, and so on—the list is long.

So many of life's challenges are part of the "refining" process that brings us true progress! That's where our faith enables us to not only survive the challenges, but to remember the Lord's truly remarkable promise that "all things shall work together for [our] good" (D&C 90:24) when our hearts are filled with love for God and trust in his eternal plan, and our lives demonstrate that faith in our deeds.

Neal A. Maxwell on learning to trust God's timetable

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (born July 6, 1926, died July 21, 2004 at age 78) served as a Seventy from 1976-1981, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve until his death from cancer in 2004.

This excerpt is from an article that was being prepared for publication when Elder Maxwell passed away.

"God has a timetable for this planet and for each person: 'But all things must come to pass in their time' (D&C 64:32).

"Within all of the drama cited are many individual dramas, making it imperative for you to allow the Lord to tutor you amid your discipleship.

"Enoch rejoiced, and so can you over the grand, consoling reality regarding God: 'And yet thou art there' (Moses 7:30). Privileged Enoch even saw the God of heaven weep! (see Moses 7:29). Yet Enoch was very discouraged by the gross wickedness anciently. He said he would 'refuse to be comforted' (Moses 7:44). The mentoring Lord, however, told Enoch to 'lift up your heart, and be glad; and look' (Moses 7:44). Then revealed to Enoch was Jesus' Atonement in the meridian of time and also the latter-day Restoration. Enoch, who had been so distraught, now rejoiced!

"Do not 'refuse to be comforted.' Let the revelations comfort you. Let the scriptures refresh you!"

- Neal A. Maxwell, "These Are Your Days," Ensign, Oct 2004, pp. 26-31
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"God has a timetable"—those words reflect and understanding of eternal purpose and divine control. If we truly believe that, then it truly does become critical to "allow the Lord to tutor you amid your discipleship." With that faith and hope, we can, like Enoch, learn to lift our hearts in gladness in spite of wickedness around us, or personal trials and challenges.

And a great key to finding comfort amidst those challenges of mortality, according to Elder Maxwell, is to turn to the revelations and the scriptures. That will enable God to speak to us, as He did to Enoch; the reassurance will come.