Dear Sisters and Elders –
One of the most important abilities we should learn on a mission (and in life) is to rely on the Lord when we confront challenges.
When confronting difficulties, the “natural man” seeks to escape the situation or to remove the challenge. The natural man or woman will actually pray for the trial to be taken away. However, God provides challenges for us to grow and for us to become more like Him. In reality, trials can be great blessings!
We are not alone to face our challenges. God intends to help us! “Through the grace of the Lord…, through [our] faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of [our] sins, [we] receive strength and assistance to do good works that [we] otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to [our] own means” (See “Grace,” Bible Dictionary).
There are many examples of faithful saints in the scriptures who relied upon God to overcome challenges. A few of these include: Nephi (1 Ne. 7:17), the people of Alma (Mosiah 24:14-15), and Alma and Amulek (Alma 14:26-28).
Like these Book of Mormon saints, we too can access the strengthening power of the Atonement to overcome challenges. “The enabling power of the Atonement strengthens us to do and be good and to serve beyond our own individual desire and natural capacity” (David A. Bednar, “The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality,” Liahona, April 2012).
Isn’t it great? God does not leave us alone but stands by to support and help us accomplish what He requires of us. Through the Atonement we can receive strength to keep a difficult commandment or to change a bad habit. We can access the power to love and support a companion more effectively. We can find increased capacity to find, teach, and baptize in our areas.
To access the power of the Atonement we must first pray in faith, and ask for something specific (i.e., “give me strength to break these bands”). Then, we must put forth our very best efforts to accomplish that thing for which we ask. Finally, we must be clean (or in the process of repenting) in order to qualify for the assistance.
I invite each of us to conscientiously access the strengthening power of the Atonement in our lives. As we do, He will bless us to perform beyond our natural desires and capacities.
With much love,
President Pingree