Life isn't meant to be easy; challenges bring growth
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Life is not meant to be easy, but wonderful growth will come if challenges are treated as opportunities and stepping stones, rather than barriers and stumbling blocks, said Elder John B. Dickson of the Seventy.
"I have learned that between challenges, it is very restful, but any real growth that I have ever enjoyed has always come with a challenge," he told the priesthood session Saturday evening.Elder Dickson encouraged young men and older couples to "not allow anything to stop you from fulfilling that wonderful opportunity to serve a full-time mission."
Elder Dickson told of an experience regarding his mission call as a young man. After he had received the call, he learned that he had bone cancer in his right arm and was told by doctors that he did not have many weeks to live.
The young man received a priesthood blessing from his father. Although his arm was amputated, he recovered from the illness.
"Ten months after having my arm amputated I entered the Mexican Mission, full of excitement and ready to work," he said. "You see, young men, I had several years earlier committed to the Lord that I would serve a full-time mission and that I would not let anything stop me from fulfilling that call."
He explained that having just one arm was "one of the greatest blessings of my life."
"It has been a great teacher to me, teaching me to be more patient and tolerant with others, as I have had to learn to be patient with myself.
"It has helped me to understand the necessity of our having challenges in life, to help discover our character and stamina, helping us to become what the Lord ultimately wants us to become."
