The story of Joseph, as portrayed in this Come Follow Me lesson, is closely connected with confronting trials and overcoming adversity. Today, while it’s hard to believe that most of us face adversity like that of Joseph, I suspect that our trials still have a significant impact on our lives. Perhaps how we react to trials and adversity are relative to our experiences, how hard it is to get by in life, and the amount of suffering around us. We may not be sold into slavery and face the thread of starvation because of drought, but we do suffer when we are mistreated and face poverty, to say nothing of myriad other trials.

Perhaps then we can learn something from adversity.

 

The Lord will be with me in my adversity.

Like the words in the Bible, 19th century LDS poetry addresses the suffering and trials that members faced at that time, often seeing positive support from God to help through trials. I like this poem, published in England in the Church’s Millennial Star. The anonymous author sees the silver lining as evidence that God is helping us.

 

There’s a Bow in the Cloud

Author unknown

Children of earth, who in darkness and sorrow

Are pining the last of existence away,

Without e’en a flower for the tomb of to-morrow,

Or blessings to cheer you while yet it is day,

Oh, stedfastly turn to yon beautiful heaven,

Where stars, round the throne of the Deity crowd,

And learn that, though trial and anguish are given,

For those who will trust there’s a bow in the cloud.

 

The fond and the faithful, in death are they sleeping,

Do cherished ones leave you, and friendships decay,

Are the waves of adversity over you sweeping,

And the dew-drops of hope all dissolving away?

Too often the heart-breaking pang of affliction

Subdues e’en the spirit most prone to be proud;

Yet why should it stifle the rooted conviction—

Which tells us there still is a bow in the cloud.

 

Whatever the evils in life that betide yon,

The thunder may roll, and the tempest may rave,

There’s a power in all seasons to govern and guide you,

A hand to protect, and an ark that can save I

No matter the country, the clime, or the feature,

In palace exalted, or slavery bow’d,

The glory of God, and the joy of the creature,

Is, when at the worst, there’s a bow in the cloud.

1845

 

If I am faithful, the Lord will guide and inspire me.

In our trials we often want and need the Lord to help, guide and inspire us. I like the following poem, told from Christ’s perspective. In the end it’s unique perspective suggests that the guide the Lord gives us builds a relationship that keeps everyone from being lonely.

 

The Lonely One

by Claire Stewart Boyer

I have been called the Lonely One of earth

Because a wonder sanctified my birth,

Because I knew no master but was Lord,

That none companioned me or sought my board,

That my grave destiny was forged alone

Without the favor of my near and own;

I have been called the Lonely One, and yet,

I gave the world a dream it can’t forget.

In hearts as numerous as stars above

I left the essence of eternal love;

A part of me I gave to each glad soul

That caught the vision and divined the goal;

Can one be lonely when he gives away

Himself, a light to guide the world alway?

1936

 

With the Lord’s help, I can flee temptation.

This section of the lesson is clearly a reference to Joseph’s experience with Potiphar’s wife. But our need to flee temptation is often much more mundane, and involves simply being strong enough to resist, rather than exactly flee. In another unusual perspective, the following poem is a prayer for the strength missionaries need to avoid temptation.

 

A Prayer for the Mission Workers

by Mary Elizabeth Humphries

Father, within my peaceful home tonight

Resting secure, I lift my voice to Thee,

In simple, earnest, heartfelt prayer

For Thy workers wheresoever they be;

Let their feet wander not from the narrow way;

Give them the strength Thy work to do;

Shield them from temptation and from harm,

Keep their hearts ever pure and true.

Be with them Father, in the night’s deep gloom;

Walk close beside them through the busy day,

That they may know Thou art with them,

And theirs the safe and blessed way.

They are but mortal, flesh is weak,

Oh, draw them closely unto Thee,

Thy hand their guide, Thy love,

A refuge safe, where they may flee.

1914

 

The Lord will help me prepare for possible hardships.

Like many things in life, we can avoid problems by how we prepare. And a primary strategy for preparing involves relying on the Lord to help us prepare. While much of our poetry does talk about preparing, often it’s preparing for the second coming, or for gathering to the body of the Saints. While this poem is about preparing for the last days, it also suggests (in the 4th stanza) that we need to prepare for the trials of “that revolution it shall undergo, / The great restitution from evil and woe.”

 

Ye slumbering nations

by R.B.

Ye slumbering nations who have slept a long night,

Without revelation or heavenly light,

The latter day glory’s beginning to dawn,

Awake from your dreaming and welcome the morn.

Things unseen in darkness begin to unfold,

As view’d by the ancients in visions of old,

That stone from the mountain cut out without hands,

Becoming a kingdom to fill all the lands.

To every nation and people and tongue,

A late revelation from heaven hath come,

To all it is given, and all may behold

The purpose of heaven concerning the world.

A last dispensation, oh! let the world hear,

In every nation, that saints may prepare

For that revolution it shall undergo,

The great restitution from evil and woe.

The call is from heaven, and hear it we must,

“The first will be last, and the last will be first;”

Go forth to the nations and then to the Jews,

Who soon will obey it when Gentiles refuse.

The Jews will go forth, and the ten tribes shall come

From a land in the north, to inherit their home,

And Kings shall protect them, and Queens shall sustain

Their national rights till Messiah’s blest reign.

While Ephraim’s children, who roam in the west,

Shall gather round Zion, and with her be blest,

When truth shall be given then peace will abound,

And the kingdom of heaven on earth will be found.

1838