I have yet to visit a seminary class this term. If I did, what would I find? What would you want someone to see if they walked in on your class?

My friend tells me this story. He was teaching seminary in Utah when his supervisor walked in the class. The students were divided up in groups studying the scriptures together. The supervisor approached the teacher and said, “I came to observe you teach. But I can see that you’re doing an activity today. I’ll come another time when you’re teaching.”

Do you see the irony in this statement?

Please don’t think because you are talking, you are teaching. Elder Bednar has said, “Teaching is not talking and telling. Rather, teaching is observing, listening and discerning so we then know what to say (S&I Broadcast August 2011).” I would argue the last part, so we then know how to “act.” Which may mean, “say nothing.”

What would I find when I visit your class? A teacher talking? Observing? Listening? Discerning?  What would students be doing? Working? Listening to sacred music while pondering the scriptures?

Bellow is a worksheet/lesson that helps students connect Section 98 to their inherent generational issues. You could give it to them and observe their actions. Listen to their thoughts and discern how to act. Feel free to use it how you feel appropriate (or not at all 😉).

SECTION 98 | ALL IN, NO MATTER WHAT THE RISK

In section 98 of the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord says:

“Therefore, [I] giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord.”

Surely, he doesn’t mean “all” things!?

God doesn’t use the word all very lightly. Sometimes we think because God is perfect, and “cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance (Alma 45:16)” that he is also naïve (lacking experience/out of touch) and innocent. The reality is this, despite all the hardship and pain that we are exposed to, men and women are the naïve partner in this relationship.

There are some terrible, detestable (revolting) acts committed against human beings. It feels rude and insensitive for God to say all the worst acts against men, women and children will work together for their good. But that is precisely what God is promising—with an “immutable (unchangeable) covenant.” It’s what gives his name glory (see D&C 98:3).

Recent Studies show that the current generation (anyone born after 1995) is one of the safest generations we have ever known. They are more likely to wear a seatbelt, they’re the safest drivers and they are least likely to get in fights at school. But their aversion to risk has its side-effects.

Owen (20) writes, “Safety has to do with avoiding danger. There is physical danger and emotional danger. Traumatic experiences can affect your mind and cause emotional suffering which can feel just as negative as physical suffering.” Ivy (20) sees emotional safety as even more important than physical safety. “Safe means caring for your physical and emotional needs,” she wrote. “You could cause serious emotional harm to yourself, which can be even more detrimental [than] physical harm.”

In the last decade we have seen the evolution of safe spaces on high school and college campuses, “suggesting that ever feeling uncomfortable, for any reason, even your own failings, is something to be avoided at all costs (iGen, pg 157).”

The Problem:

Is the current generations avoidance of emotional affliction a good or bad thing? Is there safety or danger in trying to live a life without conflict?

Use Section 98 and the following quote from Elder Bednar to answer the questions above. The questions below will help you identify the doctrines and principles in the scriptures.

What is God trying to accomplish by allowing afflictions and persecutions? D&C 98:12-15

When do our afflictions work for our good? D&C 98:1-3, 11-14, 16, 21-22

When do our afflictions work against us? D&C 98:15, 19-20, 22-24

What is the Lord’s teaching when someone’s opinions and beliefs attack our own?  D&C 98:22-28, 33-38

What would life be like without afflictions, adversity, and persecutions?

[T]ests in the school of mortality are a vital element of our eternal progression. Interestingly, however, the word test is not found even one time in the scriptural text of the standard works in English. Rather, words such as prove, examine, and try are used to describe various patterns of demonstrating appropriately our spiritual knowledge about, understanding of, and devotion to our Heavenly Father’s eternal plan of happiness and our capacity to seek for the blessings of the Savior’s Atonement.

He who authored the plan of salvation described the very purpose of our mortal probation using the words prove, examine, and try in ancient and modern scripture. “And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them (Abr 3:25).”

The year 2020 has been marked, in part, by a global pandemic that has proved, examined, and tried us in many ways. I pray that we as individuals and families are learning the valuable lessons that only challenging experiences can teach us. I also hope that all of us will more fully acknowledge the “greatness of God” and the truth that “he shall consecrate [our] afflictions for [our] gain.”

Elder David A. Bednar, Oct 2020 GC

Can we understand Jesus Christ without afflictions?

Elder Bednar shares the following story:

I once attended a funeral for a young missionary who was killed in an accident. The missionary’s father spoke in the service and described the heartache of an unexpected mortal separation from a beloved child. He forthrightly declared that he personally did not understand the reasons or timing for such an event. But I always will remember this good man also declaring that he knew God knew the reasons and timing for the passing of his child—and that was good enough for him. He told the congregation that he and his family, though sorrowful, would be fine; their testimonies remained firm and steadfast. He concluded his remarks with this declaration: “I want you to know that as far as the gospel of Jesus Christ is concerned, our family is all in. We are all in.”

Though the loss of a dear loved one was heart-wrenching and difficult, the members of this valiant family spiritually were prepared to prove that they could learn lessons of eternal importance through the things that they suffered.

Faithfulness is not foolishness or fanaticism. Rather, it is trusting and placing our confidence in Jesus Christ as our Savior, on His name, and in His promises. As we “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men,” we are blessed with an eternal perspective and vision that stretches far beyond our limited mortal capacity. We will be enabled to “gather together, and stand in holy places” and “be not moved, until the day of the Lord come.”

By nature of making a covenant to follow Jesus Christ and his Prophet you are on track to experience affliction. The early Saints were commanded to go to Missouri. Thousands of impoverished men, women and children followed the commandment of God and flooded Jackson County with the intent of building Zion. Free black church members were part of the immigration to Zion. Missourians, Missouri being a slaveholding state, were threatened by the rising population and the shift in racial dynamics. They just wanted to be obedient to the Lord’s revelation and now the locals were threatening their lives if they didn’t leave. The residents of Jackson County formed a mob and raged against the saints. Incited violence and destroyed their property. It was the middle of July. Joseph Smith wouldn’t hear about the incidences for three more weeks (Jackson County was 900 miles from Kirtland). But the Lord knew. In that time between the violence and Joseph receiving word, the Lord had revealed his feelings on the matter, now sections 97 and 98.

Can we avoid affliction? While we strive to not be an enemy to our neighbors, how should we react when others are an enemy to our faith?

The Savior has said, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Matt 5: 10-12, 44-45