Why Do The Good Have To Suffer?

Sometimes we wonder— why do the good suffer so much? Why do we who are living our lives to the best of our ability, doing all that the Lord has set forth for us to do, need to suffer? Are we not good? Well the answer to that is yes, we are good but we can always be better. There are a few examples in the scriptures of men that went through trials more than we can imagine and did all that the Lord asked of them for the benefit of others to the detriment of themselves. Paul is one of these men. In 2 Corinthians 11 he talks about the struggles that he has been though. "I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten

with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness." In Chapter 12 the Lord responds "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Pauls response to the Lords simple word is, "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Paul is not the only one that suffered for his faith. Joseph Smith a Modern Prophet went though many trials. He was poisoned, beaten, tarred & feathered, unjustly imprisoned, and once sentenced to die by firing squad. He and Emma seldom had a home of their own, and six of their children died in infancy. But he would not deny his faith. He said "I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God

knew it, and I could not deny it," (JS-H 1:25) However, in a moment of trial recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants  Joseph asks "O God, where art thou? . . . How long shall thy hand be stayed? . . . let thine heart be softened, and thy bowels moved with compassion." In response the Lord Counsels "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." (D&C 121:7-8) Joseph later recorded this statement "As for the perils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me, as the envy and wrath of man have been my common lot all the days of my life. It all has become a second nature to me; and I feel, like Paul, to glory in tribulation; for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all." (D&C 127:2)

Both of these men later suffered the martyrdom. But with their death was probably the only relief from the pain and torture that this life had to bare for them. They had lived to the best of their ability and yet had suffered. We also have struggles and sorrows that way heavily upon our hearts. Let me give one more example of a man that suffered even unto death. This man is our savior and redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ. He suffered most abundantly in the Garden

of Gethsemane. He plead with the father "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." (Matt 26:39) He bled from every pore, He was beaten, imprisoned and tried unjustly and finally He was crucified. But He did not have any comfort as these others did instead he cried "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matt 27:46). "because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path" (Elder Holland).

This path that we are on is not always an easy one but I know that it is a necessity Our Father is perfecting us through our trials. He knows what He wants us to become and is working to get us there. As we go though our trials remember that there is always one there to uplift. Christ understands us perfectly and is always willing to help.