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Have faith during testing times, God knows 'hearts, souls, needs'

Elder John H. Groberg, in an October 1978 general conference address, said it might seem easy to have faith in God when things are going well. But, he noted, there are times of testing.

He said he and others have asked "Why?" on many occasions: when an accident has occurred, or a terrible illness, or an untimely death, or when a mentally retarded or physically handicapped child has been born, or some other difficult-to-explain situation has taken place."I, along with you, have taken great consolation in the scriptures as they tell us that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without our Father knowing. (See Matt. 10:29.) We believe the scriptures, but when it happens to our loved one or our friend, the question of why still rings," he said.

He referred to the book of Jacob: " `Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man knoweth of his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God. . . .

" Seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works.' " (Jacob 4:8, 10.)

Elder Groberg said, "I testify that there is total and complete justice in eternity. God's dealings with man have no tinge of partiality or of favoritism or of capriciousness or of anything less than complete consistency and balance and perfectness. . . .

"To you who have the responsibility and the privilege and the opportunity of caring for others, may you through those long hours and days and years ever know, as I know, that the Lord understands.

"Do not be discouraged; do not attempt to counsel the Lord. He determines, not you. He knows hearts and souls and needs. He measures intents and knows spirits."

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