Bourn into Adversity, Raised a Hero

Have you ever heard of a "Smoke Jumper"?  Smoke Jumpers are firefighters who jump out of airplanes right next to forest fires to put them out.  Their job is very dangerous, but they understand what their job is and are willing to do it.  They'll do everything they can to help stop the fire from spreading, and when the job gets too dangerous they are airlifted out.  They are right in the heat of the fire.  There must be a lot of stress in the job.

Sometimes you may feel like you were purposely placed where you are meant to suffer.  Not true.  We were born into this earth to gain experience.  Those experiences may be hard, but they are here to teach you things you will need to become great.  Before this earth was created you were told of the experiences you would have in this life, but you were promised that if you would be diligent and have faith in Jesus Christ, your reward in heaven would be great.  Smoke Jumpers don't simply walk into a plane and just jump out.  Before they are loaded into the plane, they are briefed over what is going on and are given the equipment they need to complete the job.  They are then loaded into the plane and flown to where they need to be.  Once they are at the drop point they jump out.  They are confident in the training they received before they made their first jump.  You don't remember your life before this one.  If we did we wouldn't learn anything in this life.  We have to go through this life by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:6-9).  We were prepared before the world was created for this life.  We understood the task at hand and were willing to do so.

God didn't leave us to just go about trying to be good all by ourselves.  He gave us commandments to follow to lessen the many bruises we may receive on earth.  Smoke Jumpers are given orders what they need to do, and we have commandments so that we know what to do.  Communication is something else we are not left without either.  Smoke Jumpers will carry radios with them so that if the situation gets too dangerous, they can be rescued.  When we pray to God, we establish a line of communication with him and make it possible to receive help.  Even though God knows what we need, he wants us to learn what we need.  Prayer helps us see what we need so that it is possible for us to learn and grow.

It may seem at times that you are right in the heat of everything.  I've felt that way too.  But I was taught that before I reached my adult age, I was being prepared for my mission in life.  Every hard moment, every struggle, and every time I felt pain was not to treat me like trash.  It was to prepare me for the purpose God had for me.  I have always found comfort in D&C 121:7-8 where the Lord comforts the Prophet Joseph amid a great and trying time in his life.  Joseph in despair cried, "My God, where art thou!"  The Lord's response was to take heart, and do not despair, the hard times are soon to end.  AND if he endured to the very end, God will reward him a Hero's reward.  In D&C 122:7 he said all our trials are for our good, so that we may be ready to carry out the work God has need for us to do.

The Savior has felt the pain of the Whole World and is ready to give you aid when you fell like you can go no further.  He has suffered more than any man alive.  I've seen the how my hard times have trained me for the task I have been and soon will be entrusted with.  So when you have a time where you feel like you can't go on, remember this: you are the hero in your own personal study.  You are a vital key in God's work and he needs YOU.  Remember that you are important and there is no one on this earth that can take your place.