Some saints could afford to buy a wagon, team of oxen and supplies to make the slow journey. Many saints did not have the money. They made wooden handcarts just big enough to fit the bare necessities for such a journey. The west bound saints traveled in companies. Two well known companies were called the "Martin and the Willie Handcart Companies." These companies are well known because most members had traveled by boat from Scotland and England to the East coast, then by train to Iowa, and then built their handcarts to begin their journey by foot to the new found Valley. These particular saints left too late in the year. Arriving in Wyoming in October, winter hit early. The saints had to cross frozen rivers and walk through blizzarding snow and wind. They were not prepared for winter. They did not have coats, enough blankets, and their shoes were worn out. In fact by that point in the journey, some walked with only rags on their feet, leaving foot prints of blood in the snow. A great number of the companies died. Eventually the rest set up camp and resigned themselves to death also. Brigham Young, already in the Salt Lake Valley, got word of the situation and sent out rescue teams. The saints were rescued and brought to the valley.
Here is my question: "If Heavenly Father is an all powerful God who loves his children, why didn't he stop the storms while his faithful, obedient disciples completed their journey?"
In the Book of Mormon we read in the very beginning the account of Nephi and his family. After leaving all of their riches (and they were "well to do" in Jerusalem), journeying in the wilderness and living as nomads in tents, suffering all kinds of hardship, the Lord commanded Nephi and his brothers to go back to Jerusalem to get the brass plates on which the teachings of the Lord were engraven. The problem was that Laban had possession of the plates and he was a very evil and powerful man. It took Nephi a long journey back, two failed attempts, a beating by stick from his brothers and a visitation from an Angel before he was able to attain the brass plates.
Here is my next question: "Nephi was a humble prophet of God, obeying the commandments in every way...Why did Heavenly Father allow so much hardship and trial to a man so righteous?"
There are so many examples of righteous people enduring unimaginable and horrific experiences. The Latter Saint Pioneers at Farr West, Joseph Smith, Alma & Amulek, to name a few.
The overall question is why does Heavenly Father allow bad things to happen to good people?
"For the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain that his justice and judgment may come upon the wicked; therefore ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost because they are slain; but behold, they do enter into the rest of the Lord their God." Alma 60:13
Eve partook of the forbidden fruit knowing that having a "mortal experience" of hunger, pain, and sorrow would only make known unto us the joy, happiness, and love that we would otherwise never know. This is the purpose of the "mortal experience."
"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be broutght to pass, enither wickendness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compond in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nore incorruption, happiness nor miser, neither sense nor sensibility. 2 ne 2:11
Kent F. Richards of the Quorum of the Seventy gave a talk in the Spring 2011 General Conference titled "The Atonement Covers All Pain." The following are excerpts from this talk, but I highly recommend reading the full version.
* Elder Orson F. Whitney wrote: “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude, and humility. … It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire.”1
* Much of our suffering is not necessarily our fault. Unexpected events, contradicting or disappointing circumstances, interrupting illness, and even death surround us and penetrate our mortal experience. Additionally, we may suffer afflictions because of the actions of others.3 Lehi noted that Jacob had “suffered … much sorrow, because of the rudeness of [his] brethren.”4 Opposition is part of Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness. We all encounter enough to bring us to an awareness of our Father’s love and of our need for the Savior’s help.
I'll close this essay with one of my favorite stories:
THE SILVERSMITH
Some time ago, a few ladies met to study the scriptures. While reading the third chapter of Malachi, they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse:
"And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver" (Malachi 3:3).
One lady decided to visit a silversmith, and report to the others on what he said about the subject.
She went accordingly, and without telling him the reason for her visit, begged the silversmith to tell her about the process of refining silver. After he had fully described it to her, she asked, "Sir, do you sit while the work of refining is going on?"
"Oh, yes ma'am," replied the silversmith; "I must sit and watch the furnace constantly, for, if the time necessary for refining is exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."
The lady at once saw the beauty and comfort of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
God sees it necessary to put His children into the furnace; but His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for us. Our trials do not come at random, and He will not let us be tested beyond what we can endure.
Before she left, the lady asked one final question, "How do you know when the process is complete?"
"That's quite simple," replied the silversmith. "When I can see my own image in the silver, the refining process is finished."
-Author Unknown
"And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver" (Malachi 3:3).
One lady decided to visit a silversmith, and report to the others on what he said about the subject.
She went accordingly, and without telling him the reason for her visit, begged the silversmith to tell her about the process of refining silver. After he had fully described it to her, she asked, "Sir, do you sit while the work of refining is going on?"
"Oh, yes ma'am," replied the silversmith; "I must sit and watch the furnace constantly, for, if the time necessary for refining is exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."
The lady at once saw the beauty and comfort of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
God sees it necessary to put His children into the furnace; but His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for us. Our trials do not come at random, and He will not let us be tested beyond what we can endure.
Before she left, the lady asked one final question, "How do you know when the process is complete?"
"That's quite simple," replied the silversmith. "When I can see my own image in the silver, the refining process is finished."
-Author Unknown
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