An age old question revolves around the subject of suffering.
The now late Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin recently made a conference speech and has reflected upon said subject.
I have included his talk for those interested in gaining illumination to the proper role of suffering, not to mention our proper reaction to it.
I admit, this is a hard teaching to embrace, yet imagine the potential within this new found reality! We need but to practice the axioms of correct suffering in our lives to reap the joys of our own existence. Happiness is truly crafted and designed by our own hands..."The Universe is Mental".
Elementary principles are oftentimes the easiest grasped by the intellectual mind and therefore the most difficult to put into action.
Peace & Blessings.
2 comments:
"Come what may, and love it" is what Worthlin has to say on the link you provided. This is the proper role of suffering?
The amount of masochistic unecessary suffering that the human animal provides for himself has always befounded me.
On a surface reading of Worthlin's article, it seems that he is really just trying to say: "learn to laugh at life and whatever problems it brings." This is a way to alleviate suffering, not "put it in it's proper role."
I am not sure that this is consistant with the idea of "come what may and love it" that is quoted.
What do you think?
Thanks for your comment.
It seems to me that suffering should be a welcomed friend, not as a masochist seeking it out, but accepting it when it knocks at our door. I think we must learn to embrace all that life places before us, whether it is deemed "good" or "bad" by our temporal understanding. And therein is the key, we see our experiences in such a finite way that perhaps what we deem "bad" is actually good for us. Just re-read the quote below from the talk we are discussing and perhaps look at the example of Jesus the Christ when he suffered.
I wonder how much of our perspectives regarding "suffering" has been social programming and perhaps does not revolve around the truth of the matter? But i guess that can be another topic, the influence of society.
Here is the quote:
"The second thing we can do is seek for the eternal. You may feel singled out when adversity enters your life. You shake your head and wonder, “Why me?”
But the dial on the wheel of sorrow eventually points to each of us. At one time or another, everyone must experience sorrow. No one is exempt.
I love the scriptures because they show examples of great and noble men and women such as Abraham, Sarah, Enoch, Moses, Joseph, Emma, and Brigham. Each of them experienced adversity and sorrow that tried, fortified, and refined their characters.
Learning to endure times of disappointment, suffering, and sorrow is part of our on-the-job training. These experiences, while often difficult to bear at the time, are precisely the kinds of experiences that stretch our understanding, build our character, and increase our compassion for others.
Because Jesus Christ suffered greatly, He understands our suffering. He understands our grief. We experience hard things so that we too may have increased compassion and understanding for others.
Remember the sublime words of the Savior to the Prophet Joseph Smith when he suffered with his companions in the smothering darkness of Liberty Jail: “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.”1
With that eternal perspective, Joseph took comfort from these words, and so can we. Sometimes the very moments that seem to overcome us with suffering are those that will ultimately suffer us to overcome".
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