Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin's Last Testimony

Come What May, and Love It

... The advice my mother gave to me then wasnt altogether unexpected. It has stayed with me all my life. Joseph, she said, come what may, and love it. I have often reflected on that counsel.

... 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... 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.

... But whenever my steps led through seasons of sadness and sorrow, my mothers 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 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...

The first thing we can do is learn to laugh. There is an antidote for times such as these: learn to laugh. The next time you're tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable.

The second thing we can do is seek for the eternal. You may feel singled out when adversity enters your life. You shake your head and wonder, Why me? But the dial on the wheel of sorrow eventually points to each of us. At one time or another, everyone must experience sorrow. No one is exempt.

I love the scriptures because they show examples of great and noble men and women such as Abraham, Sarah, Enoch, Moses, Joseph, Emma, and Brigham. Each of them experienced adversity and sorrow that tried, fortified, and refined their characters.

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 sublime words of the Savior to the Prophet Joseph Smith when he suffered with his companions in the smothering darkness of 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....

Sometimes the very moments that seem to overcome us with suffering are those that will ultimately suffer us to overcome.

The third thing we can do is understand 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...

The fourth thing we can do is put our trust in our 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.

... The simple secret is this: put your trust in the Lord, do your best, then leave the rest to Him.
...
I know 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.

As we look for humor, seek for the eternal perspective, understand the principle of compensation, and draw near to our Heavenly Father, we can endure hardship and trial. We can say, as did my mother, Come what may, and love it. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-947-9,00.html

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[elfhammer]

Such a deceiving gobshite

[Wehrheim04]

@elfhammer Such a useless comment. What contribution is that? What argumentation? What logic? I believe the world in which we live has much more use for Elder Wirthlin's Testimony and exemplary life, instead of the deceiving gobshite of false religions and false ideologies which have undoubtedly and unequivocally caused havoc in the history of the world...

[GIPIMP26]

I love my parents. And I love my God, he has never left me and will always be with me. In God We Trust.

[comeonyougarn]

Turely amazing man, loved by us and by god.

amazing speaker.

[Jerrykins1991]

I Love This <3

I Love You President Joseph B. Wirthlin :D

Rest in Peace !!!

I Know your with Heavely Father <3

[SWarren958]

President Wirthlin I love you. Please say a few kind words to our Lord and Savior on my behalf.

[TrueSaintsLDS]

May you rest in peace, Elder Wirthlin. A throne has been prepared for you in His Almighty kingdom.

forever and ever and has no end.

[omiolo]

"Would you have rather her say "Come what may, and hate it."? "

I really do NOT understand the point of your posting this?

please clarify!

[NewYorkTitan08]

omiolo1: Would you have rather her say "Come what may, and hate it."? By referring to "love it" she was encouraging to be positive about it. Love is also referenced to God. Adding these two together of being positive and God concludes to be positive and trust in God. I'd say his mother was very wise by saying: Come what may, and love it. or in other words: Come what may, be positive and trust in God.

[momofsjtm]

This is a beautiful video -- I feel so privileged to have been present for this testimony. I'll never forget this talk.