Last night at our adult meeting of stake conference, Bruce Duffield gave a talk with this title. He said that just as we send our children off to college so they can learn and gain further experience so has our Heavenly Father sent us here to earth for the same reasons. He quoted the scripture "to every thing there is a season ...". He said that instead of "season" he would substitute "semester". A semester has a beginning and also an ending. Our semesters here on earth may include those with easy classes where things are joyful and simple. But other semesters may include health, financial, marital difficulties or problems with children or aged parents. Sometimes we wonder if we will ever make it through. But he reminded us that we have a teacher/professor who loves us and gives us chances to do extra credit or makes us feel like we are the "teacher's pet". He wants us to succeed and even though we must go through the difficult times, we will eventually be able to pass. President Duffield referred to Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail and the very difficult experiences of that time. But it was then that the Lord spoke to Joseph and gave him hope and comfort. The trial wasn't taken away but he came through it cleansed and refined.
Our "Semesters of Higher Learning" are different for each of us. He then told of a "midterm" exam that their family has been through recently. Sister Denise D. was diagnosed on July 30 with a brain tumor. In the October stake conference, Pres. D. asked us to pray for her as she was getting ready for some procedures to try to shrink the tumor as it was inoperable. She went through chemo and radiation therapy through the winter. Recently, the neurologist told them that the tumor hasn't grown and it looks like the treatment was effective. They now have much more emphathy for those who are suffering. They realize the blessings of the sealing power more than ever. They have appreciated the expressions of love and friendship that have been shown to their family. Even if the semester ends with death (looks like she will live much longer), they will have learned so much through the experience.
I thought his thoughts were so inspiring and wanted to share them with you. Even though I am not able to present his ideas adequately, I hope that I have been able to convey the general messages that he wanted to share.
It seems to me that a lot of our semesters overlap and we have to repeat classes sometimes. Of course, I know that this is just a metaphor and that life is very complicated. But having passed through many semesters in my life, I do feel that I can share my experience with those of you who are still in the middle of it all. Life with little children is HARD - life with teenagers is HARDER. I think that you are all "passing" with good grades and want you to know that Dad and I are pulling for you and want to help where we can. We love you!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Thanks for sharing that. I had no idea that Sis. Duffield had a brain tumor. Wow. It makes me think back to when my Mom and Bro. Palmer both had cancer. This semester I'm in seems hard but I do feel like, as difficult as it is, I can make it through. I KNOW that without my faith in Jesus Christ and my knowledge of him as my Savior and Redeemer and Comforter, there is NO WAY I would make it through every day with the amount of stress I deal with. I'm going to see about signing up for some extra credit. :)
That was great--Bro. Duffield always was a wonderful teacher. I liked how he related trials to exams. It's easy for me to forget that we're not being tried b/c we're being punished and that Heavenly Father isn't up there just rolling his eyes at us and making us suffer through things until we learn better. (Although I'm sure he does roll his eyes a lot at me!):)
He always did give good talks didn't he? That was a very good analogy - thanks for sharing. (And BTW, it doesn't make me feel better to know that teenage years are harder than the little years.)
Well, speaking from just the beginning of teenage years, I do believe that it most definitely is harder. That is a very good analogy, though; thanks for sharing. Sometimes the trials we have seem "eternal", but if you can think of them as exams, that helps.
Mom, that was really beautiful how you shared Bro. D's message. I always loved his analogies and lessons he taught. I feel so bad that Sister D. had to go through all of that. What a strong, inspiring family they are. I'm sorry I was behind on blog reading, but this really helped me today as I read it. Thanks so much for writing it so beautifully.
PS: Don't tell me that life gets even harder with teenagers!! I guess I should enjoy this time as much as possible then...
Post a Comment