We have a special request for GCBC this week from one of our participants, Michelle: Would you consider Paul V. Johnson’s talk for this next week? I have been asked to speak in Sacrament on the the 26th…would love others insights as I prepare.
So, let’s hear your best thoughts, GCBC folks… I know you’ve got some great ones.
“More Than Conquerors through Him That Loved Us” by Elder Paul V. Johnson
What stood out to you as you read? How can we apply his message? Share your some conversation in the comment thread below. If you’re new to GCBC, check out the club here.
Diapers and Divinity 
Thank you so much! I appreciate it! Michelle
What an excellent and reassuring talk. One of my favorite quotes: “In the midst of problems, it is nearly impossible to see that the coming blessings far outweigh the pain, humiliation, or heartbreak we may be experiencingat the time.” Nice.
~Shari R.
This was one of my favorite talks, in combination with Elder Richards’ talk. I’m also reminded of Elder Oaks’ talk at BYU years ago on the Lord’s timing.
I was particularly moved in this talk by the quote from Elder Hales. I have struggled with chronic health problems for over 8 years and there have been so many times when I have felt, “Haven’t I learned enough already?” I have felt the Spirit help me adjust my expectations so that I can try to endure well and be patient with the Lord’s timing. I try to remind myself that His ways are not my ways, and that He sees a bigger picture. I know there are things that I and my family are learning through all of this. I just remind myself that, “We just never know what work the Lord is doing in our lives.”
~Another Michelle 😉
p.s. I also appreciated Elder Christofferson’s reference to Elder Johnson’s talk:
In addition to stimulating our repentance, the very experience of enduring chastening can refine us and prepare us for greater spiritual privileges. Said the Lord, “My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom” (D&C 136:31). In another place He said, “For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified” (D&C 101:5; see also Hebrews 12:10). As Elder Paul V. Johnson said this morning, we should take care not to resent the very things that help us put on the divine nature.
I love how themes weave through the different talks to let us know what God wants us to hear!
One of my favorite lines was “Being good is not enough” which came after he talked about passing through the refiners fire. Being good is not enough because we want to become like the Savior who passed through all things for us.
Another of my favorite quotes from the talk was “Sometimes we want to have growth without challenges and to develop strength without any struggle. But growth cannot come by taking the easy way.”
The following points stood out to me:
*even the very rich ore needs refining to remove impurities (even good people can become better)
*affliction helps purify
*NO trial is wasted
*after much tribulation come the blessings
*we must be careful that we don’t resent the very things that help us put on the Divine Nature
*NO trial is beyond our limits because we have access to the Lord
*When we go to the other side of the veil we don’t want to hear “Well, you’re done,” we want to hear the Lord say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
I loved his last quote from the apostle Paul — “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” I think this is the important lesson to learn about enduring trials. The trials themselves don’t separate us from our Savior. WE do that. If we don’t continue to develop and rely on our faith, it is easy to feel that the Lord has given us more than we can bear. The easy thing is to blame Him (making us the victim). The hard thing (and the refining thing) is to see this as an opportunity for growth and to see that the Lord’s hand is still there, even in the smallest ways. This way our trials draw us closer to Him.
Hearing this talk made me feel grateful for the challenges I have in life, past and present. I am only glad I have never had a major trial such as losing someone I love. Although I know this will happen someday, hopefully the trials that have come before will make me strong enough to deal with such difficult times.
There is something fascinating when, in the gospel, we are asked to “put on” something. It usually means we need to “put off” something else. In Elder Johnson’s talk, he teaches that “trials are not just to test us. They are vitally important to the process of PUTTING ON the divine nature.” It makes me think of the many things I need to “put off” in order to comfortably “wear” divine nature, without having it cumbersome or annoying. Trials can do that for me, if I let them. 🙂
Elder Johnson also teaches that “it should come as no surprise that . . . trials can be very personal – almost laser guided to our particular needs and weaknesses.” Laser guided! That indicates to me that God, who is our Ultimate Physician, knows us so well that He will make no mistake in the ways His Light can penetrate our souls.
Elder Johnson ended, reminding us WHY trials are essential. “Someday,” he said, “when we get to the other side of the veil, we want more then for someone just to tell us, ‘Well, you’re done.’ Instead, we want the Lord to say, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant.'” I cannot think of anything I would want more than the Lord assuring me that I did it! I made it! I gave this life my very best!
Thank you all! I very much appreciate your thoughts and comments! If you’d like to read my talk, I posted it on my blog as well as on another LDS blog for which I am weekly blogger…http://ldwmagazine.com/?p=4662
Great talk. I loved all of the comments. I loved the scripture at the end from Romans from which the title was derived.
I’m super late posting this over here, but I also really enjoyed this talk. I posted about it here on my blog.
A few snippets of my comments:
My favorite part of the talk was this statement by Elder Robbins, “Sometimes we want to have growth without challenges and to develop strength without any struggle. But growth cannot come by taking the easy way… We must be careful that we don’t resent the very things that help us put on the divine nature.” Sometimes in the midst of my trials, I forget why we have trials. I want to be strong and mature and have a testimony – but I want it without the pain, suffering, and trials.
After posting this I’m caught up! I liked all the parts that the previous comments mentioned, but I think the one thing that stood out was how trials help us “put on the divine nature” and how “we must be careful that we don’t resent” those very things. Trials are never easy; otherwise, they wouldn’t be called trials. However, remembering the plan of salvation certainly makes it easier to appreciate the lessons we can learn as we deal with them. And it’s comforting to know that we always have “access to help from the Lord” as we face them.