Hello! So this week I found out I’ll be staying in Oakland for another transfer. I’m pretty happy about it. My comp Elder Occon is leaving, it’ll be sad to see him go. I’m staying with Elder Sullivan and getting Elder Pobanz. We were in the same district in Hershey. He actually served in Oakland before the pandemic started.
I gave a talked in sacrament this week so I thought I would paste that in to this email!
-Elder Souza -Southern, Oregon from a town called Central Point, right next to the Medford Temple if you know where that is at, you can look it up if you want. -at home I have 2 awesome parents, 2 older sisters one of which is my twin, and a younger brother. -originally called to the PA, Pittsburgh mission, I have enjoyed my time here in Oakland so far!
My topic today is on the talk given by Elder Jospeh B. Wirthlin in Oct 2008 general conference.
He starts off by telling of a story when he was growing up playing sports. He says: “I remember one day after my football team lost a tough game, I came home feeling discouraged. My mother was there. She listened to my sad story. She taught her children to trust in themselves and each other, not blame others for their misfortunes, and give their best effort in everything they attempted. When we fell down, she expected us to pick ourselves up and get going again. So the advice my mother gave to me then wasn’t altogether unexpected. It has stayed with me all my life. “Joseph,” she said, “come what may, and love it.”
I think she may have meant that every life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems that the birds don’t sing and bells don’t ring. Yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result.”
I personally can relate to Elder Wirthlin, I remember growing up spending hours of my days playing Basketball or another sport, and dreaming of going pro. Whenever we lost or I didn’t have a good game, I felt like it was the end of the world. But over the years I learned to deal with the adversity, and to try again. I know that as we trust in the Lord and rely on his strength we can be blessed. Elder Wirthlin goes on to say:
“For me, the Lord has opened the windows of heaven and showered blessings upon my family beyond my ability to express. Yet like everyone else, I have had times in my life when it seemed that the heaviness of my heart might be greater than I could bear. During those times I think back to those tender days of my youth when great sorrows came at the losing end of a football game. How little I knew then of what awaited me in later years. But whenever my steps led through seasons of sadness and sorrow, my mother’s words often came back to me: “Come what may, and love it.” How can we love days that are filled with sorrow? We can’t—at least not in the moment. I don’t think my mother was suggesting that we suppress discouragement or deny the reality of pain. I don’t think she was suggesting that we smother unpleasant truths beneath a cloak of pretended happiness. But I do believe that the way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life. If we approach adversities wisely, our hardest times can be times of greatest growth, which in turn can lead toward times of greatest happiness.”:
Like Elder Wirthlin, many other challenges and trials have come my way and I’m sure they have come your way too, since those younger years. Things with much more weight and hurt than losing a game.
Elder Wirthlin goes on to suggest a few ways that have helped him through those hard times and I hope to share some of my personal experiences to go along with each of those.
The first is LEARN TO LAUGH. Elder Wirthlin told a story about when he and his family got lost on a road trip. I can tell you I have been lost, turned around, stuck, and distracted many times in my life. One instance, my buddy and I went mountain biking at a near by trail system called Mt. Ashland. The plan was to park my truck at the base of the mountain and drive his car to the top. Then we would ride down the mountain back to my truck and drive back to the top to get his car. It’s called shuttling and it was the best we could think of with 2 people. The plan worked until coming back up the mountain in my truck my low fuel light came on. We both had told ourselves to get gas on the way up but totally forgot. In my truck when the low fuel light comes on you can’t just go another 20 or so miles, you have about 30 yds of fuel left. So there we were halfway up this mountain, out of gas. Long story short we got a hold of a friend and they saved the day and I coasted back down the mountain to the gas station. But I can tell you there is great power in laughter and in a smile. Although it was not an ideal situation, our positive attitudes helped make it bearable. I encourage you to learn to laugh and see the blessings that come from it!
The Second lesson is to SEEK FOR THE ETERNAL. No one is exempt from feeling sorrow and pain. At some point we will face challenges where we ask, why me? I take comfort in this counsel from Elder Wirthlin; “Learning to endure times of disappointment, suffering, and sorrow is part of our on-the-job training. These experiences, while often difficult to bear at the time, are precisely the kinds of experiences that stretch our understanding, build our character, and increase our compassion for others. Because Jesus Christ suffered greatly, He understands our suffering. He understands our grief. We experience hard things so that we too may have increased compassion and understanding for others.” Remember the words of the Savior to the Prophet Joseph Smith when he suffered in Liberty Jail: “My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; “And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.” With that eternal perspective, Joseph took comfort from these words, and so can we. Sometimes the very moments that seem to overcome us with suffering are those that will ultimately suffer us to overcome.
The Third Lesson is the PRINCIPLE OF COMPENSATION. “The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude. One of the blessings of the gospel is the knowledge that when the curtain of death signals the end of our mortal lives, life will continue on the other side of the veil. There we will be given new opportunities. Not even death can take from us the eternal blessings promised by a loving Heavenly Father. Because Heavenly Father is merciful, a principle of compensation prevails.” I have seen this in my life. When I recieved my endowment at the Medford temple a couple months before I left for my mission, I had the opportunity to receive it on the same day as my Aunt and Uncle. My uncle investigated the church off and on for many years. Fast forward about 2-3 months into my mission my Aunt and Uncle and their 3 kids were sealed together for time and all eternity as a family in the temple. Being out here, one of the hardest things has been being away from my family back at home. I can promise you that the Lord knows you and he will never forget about your loved ones.
The final suggestion is to TRUST IN YOUR LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.” The Lord Jesus Christ is our partner, helper, and advocate. He wants us to be happy. He wants us to be successful. If we do our part, He will step in. He who descended below all things will come to our aid. He will comfort and uphold us. He will strengthen us in our weakness and fortify us in our distress. He will make weak things become strong.”
So whether you are a struggling college student, a tired missionary ready to start your next chapter in life, a soul coming to the knowledge of the truth, or just someone who has been through a hard time, Elder Wirthlin says: “The simple secret is this: put your trust in the Lord, do your best, then leave the rest to Him.”
I have learned why there must be opposition in all things. Adversity, if handled correctly, can be a blessing in our lives. We can learn to love it. Elder Neal A. Maxwell said,”The cavity that suffering carves into our soul will one day be the receptacle of joy.”
I know Christ has an infinite capacity for joy, and if you trust him he can help you. If you remember to laugh and share a smile. Look with an eternal perspective, draw near to our Heavenly Father, you can do hard things and endure any trial. You can say as Elder Wirthlin’s mother, come what may and love it!
Brothers and sisters I am grateful for each of you and what I have learned from you. I know you are made to do so much good and can endure more than you know. I know that God loves you. And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Have a good week. Read the Book of Mormon. Have fun. Love, Elder Souza
Elder Souza's Mission 