Solutions to Life’s Challenges – Phillipians 1-4

The scriptures are full of timeless wisdom. We have been admonished time and time again to look to the scriptures for guidance and comfort. How do the scriptures continue to teach people thousands of years after they were written? By the power of the Holy Ghost. 2 Nephi 32: 3 says, “Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.” No matter our predicament, the scriptures contain our solution. We just have to search for it. Look, for example, to the following three challenges:

Challenge 1: People sometimes argue and complain over petty matters in church meetings and throughout the week.

Solution: Be filled with the love of God and seek to place others above yourself. Life is not about being “right,” it is about being righteous. In order to be righteous, we must humble ourselves as Christ did and become servants to our fellow men. If we serve without complaint or argument, we will “shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:1-8, 14-15). Unity and peace greatly influence the success of the gospel and our testimonies, and petty arguments build up as a destructive force against righteous things. If we have the gospel and the love of God in our hearts, we will not argue with one another, but we will work together to build Zion.

Challenge 2: Many youth feel that their parents’ testimony is sufficient for them. Since they have good parents, they rely on them for all their spiritual strength.

Solution: We are only worthy of salvation if we allow God work in ourselves. We are the only ones that can grant that change. Salvation is personal, and we must develop our own testimonies (Phil 2:12-15). When we listen to others’ testimonies, we can hear the truth and can feel its influence on us. However, we cannot know the truth unless we study it out in our own minds and listen for the teachings of the Spirit. Coming to know the truth isn’t enough to work out our salvation, either. President David O. McKay said, “to work out one’s salvation . . . is to perform daily, hourly, momentarily, if necessary, the immediate task or duty at hand, and to continue happily in such performance as the years come and go, leaving the fruits of such labors either for self or for others to be bestowed as a just and beneficient Father may determine.” Salvation requires a life of service and commitment to God. The youth in this scenario must realize that he or she has work to do that requires a firm, personal testimony.

Challenge 3: An investigator is considering joining the Church, but his family will no longer associate with him if he does.

Solution: This man needs to understand that Christ will receive him. He is this man’s brother; therefore, not all of his family will dissociate with him. This man must proceed, “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before” (Phil. 3:13). This does not mean that he should disrespect his family, or love them any less, but that he will find comfort in Christ’s sufferings. Losing one’s family must be among one of the greatest earthly struggles. But the scriptures offer these words of comfort: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13).