Suffering

Harold B. Lee, 11th President of the Church, 1972–1973

"There is a refining process that comes through suffering . . . that we can't experience any other way than by suffering. We draw closer to Him [Jesus Christ] who gave His life that man might be. We feel a kinship that we have never felt before. . . . He suffered more than we can ever imagine. But to the extent that we have suffered, somehow it seems to have the effect of drawing us closer to the divine, helps to purify our souls, and helps to purge out the things that are not pleasing in the sight of the Lord."

Funeral Services for Alfred W. Wesemann, Dec. 8, 1969, Church Archives, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, 7; spelling, punctuation, and capitalization standardized.

Orson F. Whitney, Apostle, 1906–1931

"No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. 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, more worthy to be called the children of God . . . and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father [in heaven]."

Quoted by Spencer W. Kimball, "Tragedy or Destiny," Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year, Dec. 6, 1955, 6.