Dear Sisters and Elders –
Successful people do not blame their problems on circumstances, but instead change their circumstances for the better.
Have you ever heard someone say the following? "This is a difficult area; no one is interested." "My companion is too hard to get along with or doesn't want to work; I'm just going to wait it out until transfers." “The members in this area just aren't supportive." Or, “It’s just too hard to get up in the morning, why try.” When we believe these types of statements, we become victims to our circumstances.
God made us superior to our circumstances. He commanded us "to act…and not to be acted upon" (2 Ne. 2:26). What does it mean “to act”? It means that when we confront difficult circumstances, we do something to make our circumstances better. We also pray to God and rely upon Him to strengthen us.
The scriptures are filled with examples of those who were not willing to be victims, but instead chose to "act" and overcome difficult circumstances. Nephi, Ammon, Alma, Abraham, Elijah, Peter, Paul, and Joseph Smith all confronted very difficult circumstances. Instead of falling victim to their circumstances, they decided to rely on God and "act" in faith in order to bring about God's purposes. Of course, Christ is our best example. Through the Atonement, He acted in order to change the circumstances of the Fall of man.
This week I invite you to evaluate your current situation. Are you facing any difficult circumstances? Are you allowing yourself to be a victim to those circumstances? If so, determine what YOU can do to improve the situation. Share your plans with the Lord, plead with Him for strength, and then move forward in faith. He will provide you with the capacity to improve your circumstances.
With God's help, we can change any circumstance for the better! We can make a difficult area productive. We can make a challenging companionship effective. We can build enthusiasm in a ward where it did not previously exist. We can live the morning schedule.
God expects us to "be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of [our] own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness" (D&C 58:27).
With much love and respect,
President Pingree