Chapter 29: In the Midst of Affliction
Moments away from being sacrificed by heathen priests is severe affliction. Abraham wrote: “As they lifted up their hands upon me, that they might offer me up and take away my life, behold, I lifted up my voice unto the Lord my God, and the Lord hearkened and heard, and he filled me with the vision of the Almighty, and the angel of his presence stood by me, and immediately unloosed my bands” (Abraham1:15-16).
Leaving your home and riches and thinking your sons are dead in the wilderness is severe affliction. This was Sariah’s situation when she called her husband “a visionary man.” Lehi responded by buoying her faith, reminding her that indeed he had seen “the things of God” and knew of God’s goodness. He assured her: “I know that the Lord will deliver my sons… and bring them down again unto us in the wilderness.” Little did they know that a miraculous moment of reunion was just over the horizon. Sariah later testified: “Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and… hath protected my sons… and [hath] given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which [He] commanded them” (1 Nephi 5:1-8).
Bearing testimony in times of severe affliction is also what Martha did after her brother died. When Jesus finally came she said to Him: “If thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.” Jesus then asked Martha if she believeth in Him. She said: “Yes, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God.” In a few minutes, Jesus brought her brother back to life. (See John 11:20-27.)
Being a prisoner during the coldest winter on record in the Liberty, Missouri jail is severe affliction. Joseph Smith and four friends suffered where the stone floor was their only mattress, their only bedding a little soiled straw. Their food was "so filthy that [they] could not eat it until [they] were driven to it by hunger" (CHC 1:521). Several times they were poisoned. In desperation Joseph begged, “O God, where art thou?” The Lord answered that if Joseph endured well, he would receive Godly knowledge by the gift of the Holy Ghost. (See D&C 121:7-8, 26).
President Joseph F. Smith (1838-1918) received godly knowledge by enduring affliction well. His father Hyrum was martyred in Carthage Jail when he was five. His mother Mary died when he was thirteen. As prophet and president of the Church thoughts about the topic of death multiplied as causalities climbed from World War 1 and the most devastating flu epidemic in history was in progress. (About thirty million people died worldwide between 1918-1920.) Death also stalked his own family. Twenty-eight percent of his children preceded him in death. On 3 October 1918, he was unwell. (He would die in six weeks.) In this state, he wrote: “I sat in my room pondering over the scriptures; and reflecting upon the great atoning sacrifice that was made by the Son of God” (D&C 138:1-3). As he pondered and read, the Lord comforted him with a magnificent vision of how life and personality continue after death. In the vision he saw Jesus Christ and many prophets and noble Saints of the past, including Adam and Eve and his own father.
Severe afflictions happen in most every life and when they do, these paths to divine comfort are available. Like Abraham and Joseph Smith, you can lift up your voice in mighty prayer. Like Sariah, you can wait upon the Lord and lean on others’ faith. Like Martha you can bear testimony. Like Joseph F. Smith you can turn to the scriptures and ponder them.
These established patterns for receiving divine intervention provide direct and personal comfort and unique opportunity to experience God—His voice, His presence, His teachings, His glory, His guidance, His rescue, His love. James Montgomery (1771-1854) described the blessings that come during adversity: “In the midst of affliction my table is spread with blessings unmeasured my cup runneth o'er” ("The Lord Is My Shepherd," Hymns#108).
Jeannine’s severe challenge came when her son admitted to a crime. She spent the night before the sentencing in mighty prayer that he would not have to do prison time. As she desperately prayed, her scriptures fell open to Alma 42, and her eyes rested on verse 25: “What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit.” Instantly, the warmth of the Spirit filled her with knowledge that he would go to prison. More powerfully, the Spirit assured her that her son and his family would become more cohesive through this tribulation.
Times of severe affliction are never desired or sought, but the opportunity of personal, sacred communication from the heavens both refine and define. The lessons learned during such trials reveal the hand of God. You can trust the promise: “I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions” (Mosiah 24:14).
(c) Marilynne Todd Linford, 2018
Leaving your home and riches and thinking your sons are dead in the wilderness is severe affliction. This was Sariah’s situation when she called her husband “a visionary man.” Lehi responded by buoying her faith, reminding her that indeed he had seen “the things of God” and knew of God’s goodness. He assured her: “I know that the Lord will deliver my sons… and bring them down again unto us in the wilderness.” Little did they know that a miraculous moment of reunion was just over the horizon. Sariah later testified: “Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and… hath protected my sons… and [hath] given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which [He] commanded them” (1 Nephi 5:1-8).
Bearing testimony in times of severe affliction is also what Martha did after her brother died. When Jesus finally came she said to Him: “If thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.” Jesus then asked Martha if she believeth in Him. She said: “Yes, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God.” In a few minutes, Jesus brought her brother back to life. (See John 11:20-27.)
Being a prisoner during the coldest winter on record in the Liberty, Missouri jail is severe affliction. Joseph Smith and four friends suffered where the stone floor was their only mattress, their only bedding a little soiled straw. Their food was "so filthy that [they] could not eat it until [they] were driven to it by hunger" (CHC 1:521). Several times they were poisoned. In desperation Joseph begged, “O God, where art thou?” The Lord answered that if Joseph endured well, he would receive Godly knowledge by the gift of the Holy Ghost. (See D&C 121:7-8, 26).
President Joseph F. Smith (1838-1918) received godly knowledge by enduring affliction well. His father Hyrum was martyred in Carthage Jail when he was five. His mother Mary died when he was thirteen. As prophet and president of the Church thoughts about the topic of death multiplied as causalities climbed from World War 1 and the most devastating flu epidemic in history was in progress. (About thirty million people died worldwide between 1918-1920.) Death also stalked his own family. Twenty-eight percent of his children preceded him in death. On 3 October 1918, he was unwell. (He would die in six weeks.) In this state, he wrote: “I sat in my room pondering over the scriptures; and reflecting upon the great atoning sacrifice that was made by the Son of God” (D&C 138:1-3). As he pondered and read, the Lord comforted him with a magnificent vision of how life and personality continue after death. In the vision he saw Jesus Christ and many prophets and noble Saints of the past, including Adam and Eve and his own father.
Severe afflictions happen in most every life and when they do, these paths to divine comfort are available. Like Abraham and Joseph Smith, you can lift up your voice in mighty prayer. Like Sariah, you can wait upon the Lord and lean on others’ faith. Like Martha you can bear testimony. Like Joseph F. Smith you can turn to the scriptures and ponder them.
These established patterns for receiving divine intervention provide direct and personal comfort and unique opportunity to experience God—His voice, His presence, His teachings, His glory, His guidance, His rescue, His love. James Montgomery (1771-1854) described the blessings that come during adversity: “In the midst of affliction my table is spread with blessings unmeasured my cup runneth o'er” ("The Lord Is My Shepherd," Hymns#108).
Jeannine’s severe challenge came when her son admitted to a crime. She spent the night before the sentencing in mighty prayer that he would not have to do prison time. As she desperately prayed, her scriptures fell open to Alma 42, and her eyes rested on verse 25: “What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit.” Instantly, the warmth of the Spirit filled her with knowledge that he would go to prison. More powerfully, the Spirit assured her that her son and his family would become more cohesive through this tribulation.
Times of severe affliction are never desired or sought, but the opportunity of personal, sacred communication from the heavens both refine and define. The lessons learned during such trials reveal the hand of God. You can trust the promise: “I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions” (Mosiah 24:14).
(c) Marilynne Todd Linford, 2018
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