Trials

Trials are an inevitable part of life that can take many forms. Physical or mental illness can be debilitating and despairing. The loss of a loved one can bring inconsolable grief. Family strife can tear apart not only relationships, but individuals. Poverty, natural disasters, and pain at the hands of another are yet more examples of difficult trials. Because no two experiences are exactly alike and no two people experience all the same trials throughout the course of their lives, hardships can make us feel alone and hopeless.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, however, we see trials as a necessary part of our eternal progression. In BYU devotionals Neal A. Maxwell spoke of personalized trials that help each of us learn and grow, and Hugh B. Brown acknowledged that trials can be painful, even excruciating—but they help us to reach a potential that God in His infinite wisdom and love sees in us.

When He atoned for our sins, the Savior Jesus Christ suffered the afflictions of every child of God. Because He has suffered beyond what is possible for any of us to suffer, He can perfectly succor us in times of trial. And because He has “overcome the world,” we can be assured that we can overcome the tribulations that we face in this life. Instead of being stumbling blocks, Christ can turn our trials into stepping stones that lead us to celestial happiness.

The testimonies of others who have endured with the help of the Savior can offer perspective, comfort, and hope to those who are struggling. In these devotionals, Church leaders and BYU faculty offer perspective on the nature of trials gained through personal experience, academic principles, and theological doctrines. They give insight into the purpose of tribulation as well as how to overcome them through faith. Their stories and study provide strength to “all [those] that labor and are heavy laden” (Matthew 11:28) and lead them to the Savior who can give them rest.