Dec 4, 2022

In April of 1838, Wilford Woodruff wrote in his journal that he and many of the Saints had “passed through trying scenes” and noted that “the Lord will have a tried people.” With remorse, he wrote that some of the Saints had begun to deny the faith, followed with his personal affirmation, “but the Lord has supported me through these trials and blessed be his name. I will trust in the Lord forever.”¹

Wilford Woodruff demonstrated this trust in the Lord throughout the rest of his life. A teacher in a recent Relief Society lesson asked the class if yoking ourselves with the Lord made life easier or more difficult. I realized that while our lives may not be easy when we take the Lord’s name upon us, because we will always face trials, our lives can be so much more fulfilling and joyful as we trust God to get us through those trials. 

Habakkuk 3:17–19 reads: “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.”

Sometimes it’s hard to trust that the Lord’s “yoke is easy” and His “burden is light,” but when we partner with Him and let Him lead us through our trials, we can receive more joy than we ever imagined. He can take us to higher places and elevate our lives to help us become like Him. 

I’ve always loved a quote by President Ezra Taft Benson that reads, “Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can.”² Each day I strive to turn my life over to the Lord so that He can make more out of each effort.

— Lyndie Jackson, Public Relations Assistant