Patience: A Key to Happiness
Romans 5:3–4
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope . . .
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin wrote:
“One of the greatest sentences to fall upon human ears comes from the Book of Mormon: ‘Adam fell that men might be; and men are that they might have joy’ (2 Nephi 2:25.) That sentence captures the major possibilities of life. Let me add that we will have genuine joy only as we learn patience.
“Patience is defined in such terms as bearing pain or sorrow calmly or without complaint; not being hasty or impetuous; being steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity. . . .
“The Apostle Paul gave the purpose of patience in his epistle to the Saints in Rome: ‘We glory in tribulations . . . knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience, and experience, hope’ (Romans 5:3–4). . . .
“The Lord Jesus Christ is our perfect example of patience. Though absolutely unyielding in adherence to the truth, He exemplified patience repeatedly during His mortal ministry. He was patient with His disciples, including the Twelve, despite their lack of faith and their slowness to recognize and understand His divine mission. He was patient with the multitudes as they pressed about Him; with the woman taken in sin; with those who sought His healing power; and with little children. Finally, He remained patient through the sufferings of His mock trials and His Crucifixion.
“The Apostle Paul, during a ministry of about thirty years between his conversion and his martyrdom in Rome, was flogged five times, beaten severely at least three times, imprisoned several times, shipwrecked three times, and stoned and left for dead on one occasion. (See 2 Corinthians 11:23–27.) Through all of this affliction, he continued his powerful ministry. He wrote to the Romans that God ‘will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: but unto them that are contentious [impatient], and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish’ (Romans 2:6–9). . . .
“We should learn to be patient with ourselves. Recognizing our strengths and our weaknesses, we should strive to use good judgment in all of our choices and decisions, make good use of every opportunity, and do our best in every task we undertake. We should not be unduly discouraged or in despair at any time when we are doing the best we can. Rather, we should be satisfied with our progress even though it may come slowly at times.
“We should be patient in developing and strengthening our testimonies. Rather than expecting immediate or spectacular manifestations, though they will come when needed, we should pray for a testimony, study the scriptures, follow the counsel of our prophet and other Church leaders, and live the principles of the gospel. Our testimonies then will grow and mature naturally, perhaps imperceptibly at times, until they become driving forces in our lives.”
(Finding Peace in our Lives [1995], 201, 202, 203–4, 205.)
