"The Trial of Our Faith is More Precious Than Gold" I really liked what I studied this week in my New testament class. I studied 1 Peter 1-4.We have all had to suffer a trial at some point in our lives. In fact, I am sure there are many for all of us to endure. Some are harder than others. Some are trivial and fleeting. Then there are the ones that have the potential to shake you to the very core, like divorce, or loss of a child. When these trials come, how do we hold on and not lose our faith? In 1 Peter 2:21-25, we see that Christ is the example for us. He leads the way. In these scriptures, we see that He knows and understands our pain when we are falsely accused because He was free of sin, yet found guilty of false accusations. How much more so should we be free of guile as He was who are not perfect and free of sin?  And how often do we snap back at those who persecute us with a quick tongue and full of angry bitter words that condemn us whereas Christ "when...reviled, reviled not again...". How easy it is for us to threaten when we are threatened, but Christ did no such thing. Instead, he Turned to His Father who "...judgeth righteously". Christ, who atoned for our sins and "by whose stripes we are healed" will bare our suffering with us (1 Peter 4:13).

So why do we need to go through these trials? They are to refine and prepare us to be with God again.  Elder Neil L. Andersen of the quorum of the twelve apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints gives some advice on why they are necessary and what we can do to endure them,  “These fiery trials are designed to make you stronger, but they have the potential to diminish or even destroy your trust in the Son of God and to weaken your resolve to keep your promises to Him. …

“How do you remain ‘steadfast and immovable’ [Alma 1:25] during a trial of faith? You immerse yourself in the very things that helped build your core of faith: you exercise faith in Christ, you pray, you ponder the scriptures, you repent, you keep the commandments, and you serve others.

“When faced with a trial of faith—whatever you do, you don’t step away from the Church! Distancing yourself from the kingdom of God during a trial of faith is like leaving the safety of a secure storm cellar just as the tornado comes into view” (“Trial of Your Faith,” Ensign orLiahona, Nov. 2012, 39–40).

I testify of these truths which Elder Neil L. Andersen spoke of for I have gone through more than one of those great trials that had the potential to destroy my faith and trust in the Lord, but I have "doubt[ed my] doubts" (president Dieter F. Uchtdorf) and "[held]fast to what [I] already [new] and [stood] strong until additional knowledge [came]" Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. In the name of my loving Savior, Amen.