Just as tribulations and afflictions are frequently experienced during earthly life, so patience must also be developed so "we can endure the trials of life," said Elder Angel Abrea of the Seventy.

Speaking Saturday afternoon, Elder Abrea recounted many adversities experienced by early members of the Church, and recalled the counsel they received to be patient in affliction."Tribulations, afflictions and trials will constantly be with us in our sojourn here in this segment of eternity. Therefore, the great challenge in this earthly life is not to determine how to escape the afflictions and problems, but rather to carefully prepare ourselves to meet them.

"I say prepare ourselves because it demands persistent effort to develop patience as a personal attribute. In practicing patience one comes to understand it and to acquire it," he said.

"We must have patience in order to withstand pain and grief without complaint or discouragement, which detract from the Spirit. It's necessary to have patience in the face of tribulation and persecution for the cause of truth, which sets an example, because the manner in which we bear our cross will be an influence to others, to help lighten their load."

Elder Abrea emphasized that he was not talking about a passive patience, "which waits only for the passing of time to heal or resolve things which `happen to us,' but rather a patience that is active, which `makes things happen.' "

Patience, he said, means to "persist firmly and never forsake that which we know to be true, standing firm with the hope that in the Lord's due time we will gain an understanding of that which we do not understand now, and which causes us suffering."

The Savior's suffering in Gethsemane and His fervent prayer, "let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt," (Matt. 26:39) give an example of enduring suffering, said Elder Abrea.

However, "How often do we conclude our prayers with `Let this cup pass from me. . .?"

"Under circumstances when the symbolic cup might represent sickness, pain, anxiety, unemployment, or the suffering of a loved one, are we able to continue our prayer with "nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt"?

Even when facing skeptics, hatred, impatience or betrayal, "we must be able to pray in a manner that an abiding faith and a strong testimony that the Lord will be with us to the end, will compel us to say, `Nevertheless, Father, thy will be done. . . .' "