Hold On

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf  “You Matter to Him”

General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, October 2011.

 It is sometimes hard to understand why we or our loved ones experience trials and pain, often while others seem to have a free pass through all the toughest parts of life. I personally believe that every single person will at some point in their life experience great tragedy and heartbreaking sorrow. If you are experiencing it now, my heart goes out to you.  If you have experienced it in the past, take a minute to flex the strong spiritual muscles and faith you developed to get you through it, to enjoy the strength that now resides at your very core. You are a survivor.  

I believe that part of the reason we are on this earth is to test our devotion to God, and that without the trial of our faith, there is no witness received. (Ether 12:6). It is much easier to be faithful when everything is cupcakes and ice-cream.  I also believe that we have no way of knowing the inner struggles and trials in a person or a family’s life, things that we cannot see from the outside. So envy is one of the more pointless emotions mortals experience. No one, NO ONE, has a ‘perfect’ life.

And while we are struggling along, experiencing the imperfection of our lives, I also believe that it is essential to realize in those most imperfect moments 1) This too, shall pass and 2) Now is the time to cling tightly to the truths and the faith that will make all the difference in your life, to seize hope, to refuse to let go - to, above all, hold on. I really, really loved this part of Elder Uchtdorf’s counsel at General Conference.

“…please understand that what you see and experience now is not what forever will be. You will not feel loneliness, sorrow, pain or discouragement forever. We have the faithful promise of God that He will neither forget nor forsake those who incline their hearts to Him (Hebrews 13:5). Have hope and faith in that promise.  Learn to love your Heavenly Father and become His disciple in word and deed.

         Be assured that if you but hold on, believe in Him, and remain faithful in keeping the commandments, one day you will experience for yourselves the promised revealed to the Apostle Paul: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

One of my favorite Broadway musicals is the Secret Garden, and I love this song entitled‘Hold On.’ If you listen from the beginning the link will give you the song’s context in the story of Mary Lennox, but if you just want to hear the song, listen from where my link starts you out. Yes, the song may be specifically about young Mary facing up to an evil man bent on keeping Colin in a wheelchair---But it is also about life, about courage, and what it takes to face the more difficult days.