From Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (deceased). . .
Your Father in Heaven has invited you to express your needs, hopes and desires unto Him. That should not be done in a spirit of negotiation, but rather in a spirit of willingness to obey His will no matter what direction that takes. His invitation to “ask, and ye shall receive”8 does not assure that you will get what you want. It does guarantee that, if worthy, you will get what you need, as judged by an all knowing Father who loves you perfectly and who wants your eternal happiness even more than you do.
I testify that when the Lord closes one important door in your life, He shows His continuing love and compassion by opening many other compensating doors through your exercise of faith in Him. He will place in your path packets of spiritual sunlight to brighten your way. They often come after the trial has been the greatest, as evidence of the compassion and love of an all-loving Father. They point the way to greater happiness and more understanding, and they strengthen your determination to accept and be obedient to His will.
It is a singularly marvelous blessing to have faith in the Savior and a testimony of His teachings. So few in the world have that brilliant light to guide them. The fulness of the restored gospel gives perspective, purpose, and understanding. It allows us to face what otherwise would appear to be unjust, unfair, or unreasonable challenges of life. Learn those helpful truths by pondering the Book of Mormon and other scriptures. Try to understand those teachings not only with you mind but also with your heart.
True enduring happiness, with the accompanying strength, courage, and capacity to overcome the most challenging difficulties, comes from a life centered in Jesus Christ. Obedience to his teachings provides a sure foundation upon which to build. That takes effort. There is no guarantee of overnight results, but there is absolute assurance that, in the Lord’s time, solutions will come, peace will prevail, and emptiness will be filled. Again we note that the Savior has proclaimed:
But blessed are they who are faithful and endure . . . for they shall inherit eternal life.9
For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments . . . and he that is faithful in tribulation,
the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven . Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes . . . the design of your God
Youconcerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow
after much tribulation. For after much tribulations come the blessings.10
A great leader I have come to admire very much, suffering from physical handicaps that come with advancing age, said, “I am glad to have what I have.” It is wisdom to open the windows of happiness by recognizing all discernable blessings. Don’t let the workings of the adversity totally absorb your life. Try to understand what you can. Act where you are able. Then let the matter rest with the Lord for a period while you give to others in worthy ways before you take on appropriate concern again. ~Richard G. Scott, Finding Happiness, Joy, and Peace (Salt Lake City, Deseret Book, 2007). 92-94
