BEDNAR: 'Do Not Shrink'

Elder Bednar and his wife, Susan, leave the Conference Center following a session of the October 2010 General Conference. Photo courtesy of LDS Public Affairs.

Sometimes, it's all you can do to hold on.
But other times, surviving is not enough. We must seek to actively grow, to 'not shrink' in front of temptation and trial.
That was the message of Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles at a CES broadcast on Sunday, Mar. 3, 2013 at UT-Arlington.

"Even with strong faith, many mountains will not be moved," Elder Bednar said. "And not all of the sick and infirmed will be healed. If all opposition were curtailed, if all maladies were removed, then the primary purposes of the Father's plan would be frustrated."

Passing through trials does not mean the Lord has left us. Rather, it means He is hearing our prayers, is guiding our paths and leading us through these times by the hand. Our job is not only to survive these challenges, but also to not shrink in front of them. Having the strength to not shrink in front of our trials is a gift for all church members, not just General Authorities and others specially chosen by God.
Remember that having faith in God is not knowing that He WILL heal us, but only that he CAN heal us.
"We must have the faith to accept the Lord's will, even when it is not what we want," Elder Bednar reminded us. Learning to accept God's will is one of the chief learning opportunities of mortality.
For the full address by Elder Bednar, including a foreword by his wife, Sister Susan Bednar — "the love of [Elder Bednar's] life, and very cute" — click here.