"We sometimes must do the hard things we have been asked to do before we will be blessed," wrote Elder Neal A. Maxwell in All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience.

"Joshua and his priests, in a little-read replication of the parting and crossing of the Red Sea, crossed the flooded Jordan River in another miracle. But the miracle did not begin for ancient Israel until after Joshua and his priests got the soles of their feet wet. (Josh. 3:15-17.)"The words of President John Taylor spoke of learning through suffering, calling it `a school of experience.' President Taylor also observed one Church member who had been mobbed - driven from a fifth home in less than two years: `I have seen men tempted so sorely that finally they would say, "I'll be damned if I'll stand it any longer." Well, you will be damned if you do not.' " (Journal of Discouses 22:318.)

Elder Maxwell wrote further: "In viewing life as a school in which the gospel message facilitates growth, we also see how very generous and loving God is. Past mistakes and imperfections need not keep us from present and future joy.

"One of the classic cases of pain and genuine suffering (because of reproof) is Eli, who, as a prophet, had apparently `not restrained his sons' from doing evil, and who apparently had been insensitive to some of the promptings of the Lord and thereby had, ironically, to hear the message of the Lord from a much younger Samuel. But to Eli's everlasting credit, when he realized the Lord had been communicating with Samuel, he told Samuel to tell him `every whit' and to hold back nothing. After Samuel recounted what the Lord had said to him, Eli, long familiar with the Spirit of the Lord, said, `It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good.' (1 Sam. 3:18.) In those painful moments Eli had learned, as we all must, to do as Peter said with regard to our relationship to the Lord: `Casting your care upon him; for he careth for you.' (1 Pet. 5:7.)

"Eli still knew enough about obeying to obey. He knew that he must not rebel against an omniscient God's purposes, but that he must - and could - remain a part of them."