Receiving Peace in Times of Adversity
While Joseph Smith was jailed in Liberty, Missouri, he prayed to God and pleaded for the suffering Saints. God answered Joseph’s plea in Doctrine and Covenants 121:7–8:
“My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
“And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.”
From God’s answer, we learn that we can find peace during times of adversity and affliction, and when we endure to the end, God will exalt us and help us conquer our enemies.
Live by Faith
While there will always be trials and tribulations, we cannot allow fear to run our lives. We must “endure it well,” as described in Doctrine and Covenants 121:8. When we live our lives with faith, we can courageously find peace in times of affliction.
Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, so when we rely on Him and have faith in Him, we will be strengthened in those small moments of affliction that seem large in the moment. President Henry B. Eyring said, “It is only through following the Savior that any of us can find peace and serenity in the trials that will come to all of us” (“Peace in This Life,” Ensign, Dec. 2016, 4). Remember, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
The video below explains how our faith can overcome our fears and help us find peace in times of affliction. Watch, download, and share the video from LDS Media Library here.
Invite Students to Share
Invite your students to share their testimony on social media. Testify that if they live by faith, they will find peace in times of affliction, and remind them that through the Savior they will find peace. Shareable images can be found on the Seminary Facebook page and are included below.
Invite your seminary council, class president, or other class members to initiate a discussion online. Encourage them to challenge their friends to participate in the conversation by answering the following questions:
- How has the gospel brought you peace?
- What brings you peace during your trials?
