Tested as Abraham

By Brother Powell

Mountain landscape from church website: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/image/landscape-mountains-b04b6b4?lang=eng

In the April 2012 general conference, President Eyring shared a message titled Mountains to Climb.  In it, he related an experience when he heard President Spencer W. Kimball ask that God would give him a mountain to climb. President Kimball said, “There are great challenges ahead of us, giant opportunities to be met. I welcome that exciting prospect and feel to say to the Lord, humbly, ‘Give me this mountain, give me these challenges.'” 
President Eyring loved President Kimball and wanted to be like him.  So one night he prayed for a test to prove his courage. He said, "Within a day or two my prayer was answered. The hardest trial of my life surprised and humbled me.  It provided me a twofold lesson. First, I had clear proof that God heard and answered my prayer of faith. But second, I began a tutorial that still goes on to learn about why I felt with such confidence that night that a great blessing could come from adversity to more than compensate for any cost."

Upon hearing this conference talk, I couldn't shake the feeling that God was talking to me.  But I didn't want to ask for a trial or challenge.  I'm all too familiar with the stories of Joseph Smith, Job, and even Jesus Christ.  I have complete faith that we grow through our challenges.  But still, I had no desire to bring them on (then or now).
Several days later, I still was thinking about this talk.  I knew that I had to address it.  So, at night, I prayed, explaining to Heavenly Father that I had no desire to go through serious trials or challenges.  However, I concluded my prayer with the phrase "Thy will be done."  And then I waited and reflected.
The thought that then came to my mind surprised me.  I was taught that there are more ways to grow than by passing through trials.  I had the impression that if I were to continue serving in my callings in the church, these experiences would refine me and I would, temporarily at least, be sheltered from major trials.
I recently re-read and reflected on my patriarchal blessing that provided further insight into this personal revelation.  It states, in summary, the following:
It will be your privilege to receive many callings which will:

• Test your abilities
• Give you opportunities for growth
• Strengthen your testimony of the Gospel
• Strengthen your commitment to keep the commandments

Both of these experiences are personal.  Each of us will progress and grow through different experiences.  However, there is truth in the principle that growth occurs thorough both overcoming trials and through service.
Joseph Smith said:  "After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost, (by the laying on of hands), which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted.  When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and his election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints, as is recorded in the testimony of St. John, in the 14th chapter, from the 12th to the 27th verses." [History of the Church, 3:379-381; emphasis added]
I am grateful for our ward and the willingness of all who are called to serve.  I know that God will bless you through your service.