1 THE ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name, [ Joseph Smith History Chapter 1 verse 33 ] and fools shall have thee in derision, [ Joseph Smith once said "there are so there are so many fools in the world for the devil to operate upon it gives him the advantage often times" (Teachings of Joseph Smith page 331) ] and hell [ The evil one and those who uphold his principles. ] shall rage against thee; [ Will do all in their power to destroy Joseph Smith, and the church. ]

2 While the pure in heart, and the wise, and the noble, and the virtuous, shall seek counsel, and authority, and blessings constantly from under thy hand. [ In the midst of suffering, how would verses 1 and 2 be of comfort? ]

3 And thy people [ The members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints. ] shall never be turned against thee by the testimony of traitors. [ Those who hear the Lord’s servants hear Him, cp. John 5:45-47. While fools will mock the Lord’s servant, the elect will hear the servant’s voice, cp. D&C 29:7. ]

4 And although their influence shall cast thee into trouble, and into bars and walls, thou shalt be had in honor; and but for a small moment and thy voice shall be more terrible in the midst of thine enemies than the fierce lion, because of thy righteousness; and thy God shall stand by thee forever and ever.

5 If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;

6 If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; [ Lyndon W. Cook in Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith says: Verse 6 refers to the Prophet’s arrest and heart-rending departure from his family at Far West, Missouri in November 1838. Lyman Wight described the inhumane scene: About the hour the prisoners were to have been shot on the public square in Far West, they were exhibited in a wagon in the town, all of them having families there, but myself; and it would have broken the heart of any person possessing an ordinary share of humanity, to have seen the separation. The aged father and mother of Joseph Smith were not permitted to see his face, but to reach their hands through the curtains of the wagon, and thus take leave of him. When passing his own house, he was taken out of the wagon and permitted to go into the house, but not without a strong guard, and not permitted to speak with his family but in the presence of his guard and his eldest son, Joseph, about six or eight years old, hanging to the tail of his coat, crying father, is the mob going to kill you? The guard said to him, “you damned little brat, go back, you will see your father no more.” ] and if with a drawn sword [ A metaphor for “with threat of physical violence”. ] thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb;

7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. [ Verses 5-7 Is there any pattern to the possible tribulations that the Lord describes? Consider each one individually. Had all of them already happened to Joseph or were some yet to come? Did some never occur? Why is it a blessing to have experience? How can all of the kinds of things that the Lord names be for someone’s good? Elder Orson Pratt: "There is the reason. It is for our development, our purification, our growth, our education and advancement, that we buffet the fierce waves of sorrow and misfortune; and we shall be all the stronger and better when we have swum the flood and stand upon the farther shore." (Latter-day Prophets, 4:228) What do these scripture add to why we must be tried in all things? "Therefore, be not afraid of your enemies, for I have decreed in my heart, saith the Lord, that I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy. For if ye will not abide in my covenant ye are not worthy of me." (D&C 98:14-15)
"My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom." (D&C 136:31) see also 2 Ne, 2:11. ]

8 The son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he? [ Is this a rebuke? Or is the Lord doing something else here? The Lord puts the trials of man in perspective What signifigance does it have for us that the Lord suffered all of these things? In the garden and on the cross, Jesus saw each of us and not only bore our sins, but also experienced our deepest feelings so that he would know how to comfort and strengthen us. (Elder
Merrill J, Bateman, Ensign, May 1995, p. 14)
There are a number of verses in the scriptures that teach that the Savior knows us intimately and perfectly. Read these verses and consider their importance. Moses 1:35 - Acts 15:18 - Alma 18:32 - D&C 67:1,2 - John 4:29 - Page 5 of 9; D&C Lesson 28 - 1 Kings 8:38
If the Savior knows us intimately and perfectly, and if he loves us with an unconditional love, and if he has all power to stop our suffering but allows us to suffer anyway, what does that mean?

What role does attitude play in adversity? There are many of these injunctions in the standard works. They all seem to say that in times of adversity, attitude is everything.

What recommendations does the Lord provide for us as we deal with adversity? There are attitudes that will assist us as we experience adversity. If our afflictions are in fact to be good for us, we must meet them with a correct perspective. Note a few of the things the Lord suggests to those who face trials:

D&C 122:9 - “Hold on thy way” What does this message have to do with enduring adversity?

D&C 6:13 - “Hold our faithful to the end” How does this council help us in enduring adversity?

D&C 24:8 - “Be patient in afflictions” How does this council help us in enduring adversity?

D&C 61:36; 68:6; 78:18 - “Be of good cheer” How does this council help us in enduring adversity?

D&C 98:1 - "Rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks". Come on we are supposed to be thankful in our adversity?
When enduring trials, attitude is everything." Forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God" (D&C 98:11).
This is absolutely necessary. Times of adversity can give way to temptation. The challenges of Missouri and the closing days of the Kirtland era caused many good Saints to turn against the Prophet and the Church. They only ruined their own lives. Those that endured those difficult times, became the foundation the Lord built on to bring this great work to its present status in the world.

D&C 43:34 - “Let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds” How does does a knowledge of the Lords eternal plan for us help us in adversity?

Jacob 4;10 - “Seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand”. How does this council help us in enduring adversity?

Psalm 46:10; D&C 101:16 - “Be still and know that I am God” How does this council help us in enduring adversity?

The foundation of our faith should be the summarized in this expression of Job: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him . . .” (Job 13:15)

D&C 31:9 Be Patient & Revile not. "Be patient in afflictions, revile not against those that revile" How is reviling not good council when we are dealing with adversity? We only hurt ourselves by reviling and having hateful feelings against our enemies. The Missouri Saints are a wonderful example. In spite of the persecution they faced, being driven from their homes, with family and friends raped and murdered, the Saints quietly left the state. What if these Saints had taken up against the Missouri mobs? Given the temperament of the Missourians, there is no question that there would have been civil war and Governor Bogg's extermination order would have been carried out to the letter. Rather than revile, the Saints suffered this "moment" and were strengthened by it. The Saints, the Church, and the work of eternal salvation have all been blessed because of the patience of these wonderful Saints.
D&C 90:24 "Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another".
We need not walk the path of adversity alone. We must turn to the Lord in prayer. He knows our sorrows. He knows the difficulties we are passing through. He suffered the anguish of sacrificing his own son in our behalf. If we have faith in Him and lean on him, we will be strengthened, as the Prophet was strengthened in Liberty Jail.
"I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day" (Alma 36:3).
President Marion G. Romney: "I have seen the remorse and despair in the lives of men who, in the hour of trial, have cursed God and died spiritually. And I have seen people rise to great heights from what seemed to be unbearable burdens."Finally, I have sought the Lord in my own extremities and learned for myself that my soul has made its greatest growth as I have been driven to my knees by adversity and affliction." (CR, Oct 1969) Adversity in life is never easy and at times never seems to end. A study of the life of Joseph Smith is a wonderful example of how to deal with adversity. From the time of the First Vision to his martyrdom at Carthage, the Prophet never lost faith. He always continued to move forward in building the kingdom of God. What a wonderful example?

Joseph Smith: "I am like a huge, rough stone rolling down from a high mountain; and the only polishing I get is when some corner gets rubbed off by coming in contact with something else, striking with accelerated force against religious bigotry, priestcraft, lawyer-craft, doctor-craft, lying editors, suborned judges and jurors, and the authority of perjured executives, backed by mobs, blasphemers, licentious and corrupt men and women—all hell knocking off a corner here and a corner there. Thus I will become a smooth and polished shaft in the quiver of the Almighty." (HC, 5:401) ]

9 Therefore, hold on thy way, [ Given that this was received in Liberty Jail, what could “hold on thy way” have meant to Joseph? ] and the priesthood shall remain with thee; [ What does the promise “they priesthood shall remain with thee” mean? ] for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. [ Referring to the traitors and persecutors referenced in v. 4-7. ] Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.