It shall give you experience

Everyone faces trial, temptation, frustration, heartache, life; but not everyone is grateful for those experiences. While none of the above mentioned are a bucket of fun, they are, as the Lord promised, for our experience and our good. The trials we face can bring us closer to our Father in Heaven and if endured well, bring great joy. In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Alma says "And now, my son Helaman, behold thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me (every parent/teachers plea); for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.
I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him , and he will still deliver me."
As the Prophet Joseph Smith sat in Liberty Jail, the Lord tells him this; "And if though shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for they good."
Again he says "Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days."
What a blessing it has been in my life to experience and endure trial with the Lords help. I am not boasting in my own strength, left to my own, I would not endure them very well (I am the worst complainer!). However, through the last few years I have learned to put my trust in the Lord, completely trusting in his will and what he has in store for me. And as I tried to completely trust, the Lord poured out his love and peace upon me. What seemed insurmountable at first, became manageable. The Lord has filled our lives with love and joy and I repeat what Alma says, "I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day." I know because he carried me through and allowed me to learn and grow and draw nearer to him. I was too weak to face the trial alone, so he carried me through and not only carried me through but then blessed my family because we turned to him. The opportunity to learn and grow and draw near to the Lord cannot be accomplished any other way. He must test and try us, so that we have the opportunity to prove ourselves worthy. So that we may prove to the Lord that we love him and are willing to endure whatever comes.
I could not have endured sitting by my sons bedside, watching him endure great pain and continually fight for his life, with out the strength of my Savior, my Elder Brother, Jesus Christ. His mercy and love, his peace and comfort are the only thing that carried me through. He is the reason my son is here today, He is the reason I am able to be grateful for my trials and tribulations. Through Him all things are possible, all things can be endured, for he endured them all. He suffered ALL, so that he could comfort us in our trials and through our heartaches.
My neighbor asked if every day was like a bonus. Every day is a blessing. Every day I watch my son and my daughter grown and progress and I think to myself, I hope they know one day the Love the Lord poured out upon our family, I hope they know the miracles that have filled our lives. And I hope one day to teach them as Alma taught his son, to trust in the Lord with all their might, mind and strength.