Elder ZJones: Adversity is an Opportunity for Growth

Mucha Tierra

It has been a crazy week.

Last Sunday, my first companion and trainer, Elder Mason Oakes, was hit and killed by a drunk driver after being home for just two weeks. It was a difficult thing to hear and has been in the back of my mind since. I want you to pray for his family as well as his cousin's family because I know that they really need them right now in their lives.

Tennis

I was reading in "Our Search for Happiness" by M. Russell Ballard, and he wrote:

"Thus illuminated by the light of faith, adversity becomes a vehicle for growth and death becomes a doorway from one phase of eternal existence to another."

Many times our hardships and trials can seem difficult and hard. But for the Lord, it is His plan. Many times we might not understand His Plan for us or, especially, for others. But God know us all individually and perfectly. He knows what we need and what will help us grow. We can use this as an advantage in our life that can help us grow or we can choose to be angry, which is a way to weaken us. I see this a lot in the mission. Rejections, companions, the language. Everything is hard. But it wasn't supposed to be easy. As we use the Lord to lift us and guide us, those things can help us grow in ways we might not understand, but for God it is right.

Thanks for your prayers. Love you all and let the Lord in this week!

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