Please enjoy the following lesson from Lisa Thomas on "The Storms of Life" by Elder Ricardo P. Giménez.

 

Hi Sisters,
 

Let’s imagine us gathered together and sharing our thoughts on this lesson "Finding Refuge From the Storms of Life" by Elder Ricardo P. Giménez.
 

Quoting Elder Giménez: “Everyone will experience the challenges and storms of mortality, but the Savior offers refuge that will help those who have faith in Him to endure.”

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Question for you: Do you think that as Latter-Day Saints, the trial of Covid-19 affects us any differently than the rest of the world?
 

My answer would be: Yes and no, right? We are no different in our human experience of life—our bodies are subject to illnesses; members of the church have lost their jobs; many people work in hospitals and are experiencing Covid-19 on the front lines. On the other hand, we have the knowledge that we are protected under the strong arm of the church, coupled with the eternal knowledge that everything is in the hands of the Lord—everything!
 

Elder Giménez speaks to this:

• Suffering is universal but responding with faith in Jesus Christ is an individual choice.

• Latter-day Saints can be happy in any circumstance if they focus on Christ.
   

Elder Giménez’s learning moment regarding suffering came while working as a firefighter in Santiago, Chile during college. He was called to respond to an emergency on New Year’s Eve. As the fire engine raced to the emergency, he noticed crowds of people celebrating the holiday and enjoying the summer night. Meanwhile, people nearby were in serious danger.
 

This juxtaposition prompted a realization that every person will experience storms in life that challenge their capacity to endure. Fear and despair are natural human responses to such difficulties, but President Russell M. Nelson has taught that faith in Jesus Christ is the antidote to fear.
 

Sisters, when we can trust that Heavenly Father truly has a plan for us, and we take action to turn our fears, overwhelm and burdens over to the Lord, we will more readily hear the Holy Ghost speak words of wisdom and comfort in the mist of struggle and trials.
 

Elder Giménez says that those who are suffering can choose to seek refuge in Jesus Christ, and He will make our burdens light. “However, we have limited understanding of the things that happen here on earth, and often we do not have answers to the question of why.”
 

Continuing he says, “When answers evade us, that is when the words expressed by our Savior to the Prophet Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail are completely applicable: ‘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’  (Doctrine and Covenants 121:7–8).”
 

Through His atoning sacrifice, Jesus Christ understands perfectly the pain of every human being and can succor them according to their needs. As President Nelson has taught, when Latter-day Saints focus on the Savior, they can feel joy in any circumstance: “Come and see that He can lighten your burdens and be the refuge you are seeking. Come and help others find the refuge that they so yearn for. Come and stay with us in this refuge, which will help you resist the storms of life.”
 

Elder Giménez clarifies, “Of course, it is easier to say these things when we are not in the midst of a storm than to live and apply them during the storm. But as your brother, I hope you can feel that I sincerely want to share with you how valuable it is to know that Jesus Christ and His Atonement are the refuge that we all need, regardless of the storms that are battering our lives.”
 

Sisters, many of us might be feeling (maybe not even because of Covid-19) trapped, frustrated, controlled, lonely, empty, lost, sad, afraid of the unknown, and fearful of “what if”, which can cause us to imagine the worst-case scenario.
 

Is there a feeling that all will be well…at some point? Our leaders during this past General Conference spoke this truth to us: it will pass. Please be at peace knowing that Jesus Christ has felt every feeling and negative emotion that you will ever experience. He loves you; He believes in you and has promised we will never be given more than we can handle. It might be that the storms of life are to teach us precisely that there is no name or place, given under heaven, other than Jesus Christ, where we can find the refuge we need and seek.
 

We will never be given more than we can handle, but there will be soul stretching experiences. Life can certainly be a different test than what we could imagine.
 

In closing, may I encourage you to take five minutes and write all the positive things that have happened because of being isolated.

My list would look like this: Increased quality time with my husband; children coming over for dinner; late night walks while viewing skyline city lights no longer covered by smog; yard projects finally getting started; and let me not forget, my nails are healthier without polish.
 

Sending you love, 
Lisa Thomas