From "Zero" to "Hero"

One of my favorite books growing up was Holes, by Louis Sachar. The book starts with Stanley Yelnats, a member of the most unluckiest family in the world, being sentenced to camp Greenlake for stealing a pair of shoes, which he didn't actually do. While there they must dig deep holes the length and width of there shovels in the summer heat. He meets Zero who becomes a good friend. As they go through the trial of digging in the summer heat, troubled camp mates going after them, a crazy instructor, they decide to leave. Eventually they return upon realization of what really lies beneath the surface of camp Greenlake. They dig late one night, find the treasure that belongs to the Yelnat family, breaking the curse of bad luck that had loomed over them for years prior, and end up happy.

Many times in life we go through severe trials which seem unconquerable or without a purpose. Just like Stanley and Zero, we dig searching for peace, happiness, or answers. When things get the worst, we may be tempted to give up, to leave "Camp Greenlake." I know in my life I cant always see beyond the surface, but when I press on in faith, dig deep enough, I reach peace and happiness, I grow in the process. If I stop early, quit, I never reach the treasure. Our trials were never meant to be degrading, disheartening, or destructive. Nor were they meant to be simply just a test. They help us become like the savior.

Elder Orson F. Whitney said: “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. … All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable. … It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire.”

A woman recently asked me why there had to be so many trials in her life, with her sick husband. While I do not have all the answers, I know Christ lives. I know he loves us and wants what is best for us. His ways are higher than ours. He knows what will help us become our best selves. Because he lives, he will save us from death, all our pains will be turned for our good if we turn to him. As we experience pain we can grow. No trial is beyond tow people, if one of them is the Lord.   

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More Than Conquerors Through Him That Love Us