As a result of these struggles, our souls are stretched and our spirits are strengthened. And there can be blessings in the burdens we bear. There are no soft or slothful ways to become sanctified to the point that we are prepared to live in the presence of the Savior. Yet struggles are a part of the sacred sanctification process. Others come as temptations, trials, and tribulations. Many struggles come as problems and pressures that sometimes cause pain. We cannot always control everything that happens to us in this life, but we can control how we respond. Some of our struggles result from choices others make that affect our lives. Some of our struggles involve making decisions, while others are a result of the decisions we have made. We knew we would have experiences in this life that would cause us to struggle and sometimes to suffer. In our pre-earth life, we understood and sustained the plan of salvation with the principles of opposition and agency. We are given the agency to choose between these opposites in the proving process (see 2 Ne. Part of the plan is “that there is an opposition in all things” ( 2 Ne. The Lord explained the purpose for which we must be tested during this earthly experience: “My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them” ( D&C 136:31). He explained, “And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them” ( Abr. This earth is the place to prove ourselves worthy and to prepare to return to the presence of the Lord. In the Grand Council in Heaven, the decision was made to “make an earth whereon these may dwell” ( Abr. We must also learn and live the principles that the Lord has given to receive the strength needed during our struggles. We must realize that we have a personal Savior whom we can trust and turn to in our times of need. To gain strength in our struggles, we must have a positive perspective of the principles in the plan of salvation. Many people will suffer in personal struggles, while others will suffer as they watch their loved ones in pain. In the process of living we will face struggles, many of which will cause us to suffer and to experience pain. Life is not always easy to live, but the opportunity to do so is a blessing beyond comprehension.
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