Hello, why religion friends, John Hilton here.

Several years ago, I gave a talk that focused on how when we keep the commandments, we're blessed.

I thought it was a great talk.

But afterwards, a woman handed me a note that said in part,

If the righteous are blessed and find success,

how come I have failed in every aspect of my life, no matter how hard I've tried and

how good I've been? Her words have never left me. I realized my talk wasn't that great after all.

I'd done a fine job of teaching about the blessings of obedience, which are real. But I hadn't

talked about how, in Elder Holland's words, some blessings come soon, some

blessings come late, and some don't come until heaven.

Scripture provides numerous examples of people whose lives did not turn out the way they

might have hoped.

Yes, Alma the younger repented, but Lehman and Lemuel brought no such happiness to their

father. Shadrach

Meshach and Abedigo escaped death but Abinandai was not so lucky while the sons of

Mosiah had great missionary success among the Lamanites Mormonites

watch the Lamanites destroy his people the reality is sometimes things do

not work out for the righteous immortality.

Even the greatest people often face horrific trials that do not go away.

And although this is not a pleasant concept,

better understanding how those with difficult lives are able to find strength in Jesus Christ

can bring us great peace.

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