{"id":2184,"date":"2016-08-03T14:26:40","date_gmt":"2016-08-03T14:26:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.singleandstillbreathing.com\/?p=2184"},"modified":"2016-12-11T07:18:58","modified_gmt":"2016-12-11T07:18:58","slug":"overcoming-trials-21-ways-to-navigate-through-troubled-waters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.singleandstillbreathing.com\/?p=2184","title":{"rendered":"OVERCOMING TRIALS: 21 Ways to Navigate through Troubled Waters"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is Article #1 in Single and Still Breathing: Subject SPIRITUAL: Overcoming Trials<\/span>
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\nOvercoming Trials: 21 Way to Navigate through Troubled Waters<\/span>
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“In our own storms in life the Savior is our solace and our sanctuary. If we seek peace, we must come unto Him,” said the Apostle, Elder Joseph B. Worthlin in his talk “Finding a Safe Harbor<\/a><\/span><\/strong>.” “Be assured that there is a safe harbor,” he said. “You can find peace amidst the storms that threaten you. Your Heavenly Father\u2014who knows when even a sparrow falls\u2014knows of your heartache and suffering. He loves you and wants the best for you. Never doubt this.”
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\nAs we navigate our way through troubled waters, our confidence can “wax strong in the presence of God\u201d (D&C 121:45<\/a>). We can find comfort as Jesus said, “My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid\u201d (John 14:27<\/a>). Jesus Christ can heal us and strengthen us and prepare us to face life’s difficult trials and challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Here are 21 Trial Tactics to Navigate through Troubled Waters:<\/span>
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We call it pushing the envelope – so if you want you can copy and print the 21 Tactics card above and the Push the Envelope card below and place on an envelope. Then place cards in the envelope. You could even copy and paste the following messages on the envelope so you have 21 cards to: PUSH THE ENVELOPE: Go the Extra Mile to Overcome a Trial (e.g. the 21 tactics that follow).
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It takes 21 days to build a new habit with 9 days leway (in case you don’t quote meet your goal) in a 30 day month. Each month you can challenge yourself to overcome trials with a new habit. Benjamin Franklin was a master at achieving new habits. He wrote each new habit on a card<\/span> and carried it with him working on it daily, writing his thoughts about the new habit as he achieved this goal or character trait. Benjamin Franklin said, \u201c<\/strong><\/em>If I only had a little humility<\/strong><\/em>, I would be perfect.\u201d 
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Trial Tactic #1 \u2013 BE PRAYERFUL<\/span>
\n<\/strong>\u201cIf any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and <\/span><\/span>upbraideth not; and it shall be given him\u201d (James 1:5).<\/span>
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SCRIPTURES ON PRAYER: <\/strong><\/span>Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers (D&C 112:10). And also the Lord will remember the prayers<\/span> of the righteous, which have been put up unto him for them (Mormon 5:21). If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer<\/span> of praise and thanksgiving (D&C 136:28). Hear my prayer<\/span>, O Lord, and let my cry come unto thee (Psalms 102:1). And that this house may be a house of prayer<\/span>, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of glory and of God (D&C 109:16). Hear my prayer<\/span>, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth (Psalms 54:2). Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer<\/span>: preserve my life from fear of the enemy (Psalms 64:1). <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Trial Tactic #2 \u2013 GAIN KNOWLEDGE<\/strong><\/span>
\nRobert Anthony said, “Some people drink from the fountain of knowledge, others just gargle.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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There is a certain kind of power that comes from knowledge<\/strong>; it springs you into a new world of thought. Those who do not study cannot possibly experience the type of creativity and inginuity that the true-student experiences. This knowledge gives one power to invent something new, to plan, to unleash one’s creativity. When you think of Jesus Christ creating our world and parts of the universe He did this with knowledge–giving Him the power to do so. (He created the world in six days–really Abraham likened a day in the Lord’s time to be 1,000 years<\/a>.<\/span>)<\/span><\/p>\n


\nWhy should we learn? <\/b>A Brigham Young University honor student told her friend one day when she was asked, “Why do you study so hard? Don’t you want to spend more time hanging out with friends?” She said, “My future husband and I will be a God\/Goddess someday and will be able to create a world. I want to know as much as I possibly can before I get there.” WOW! This woman has a goal! What are we doing to gain more knowledge?<\/span><\/p>\n


\nSo, where do you begin to learn? <\/b>My grandmother Stella had a Balanced Study Program; she was always reading. You could talk to her about anything and she had knowledge on that subject. Her GS Program consisted of seven books\/magazines\/newspapers she had lined up. She would study for an hour or more each day on one subject and then shift to the next subject on the next day. She read about history, science, religion, the gospel, time management and goal setting, famous people, you name it. She would often say, “What shall we talk about?” She was a great conversationalist.<\/span><\/p>\n

What will you add to your fountain of knowledge?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n


\nTrial Tactic #3 \u2013 BE HONEST IN HEART & DEEDS<\/span><\/strong>
\n\u201cThis above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man\u201d – Shakespere (Hamlet, <\/i>act 1, sc. 3, lines 78\u201380).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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If you were to take a test, the most important test of your entire life, how much weight would it have? Honesty\/Integrity is a day-to-day test. <\/strong>It is said that “Character is what you are in the dark.” When no one else is looking, what would you do? Always ask this question when there is a choice as to how you will conduct yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nTrial Tactic #4 \u2013 HAVE FAITH<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/span>\u201cIf ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me\u201d (Moroni 7:33<\/a>).<\/span>
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I have discovered that a person can do anything with faith and you can develop that faith by reading the words of the prophets. In Jacob 4:6 we read,”Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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Read this article: Feast of Prophets<\/span><\/a> giving you an instant look at prophet’s words: Receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love (Jacob 3:2<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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WE CAN ACHIEVE ANY RIGHTEOUS ENDEAVOR WITH FAITH. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

More on Faith in Jacob 4:<\/span><\/strong>
\nHAVE FAITH TO MOVE MOUNTAINS<\/strong>    <\/span>
\nGOD SHOWS US OUR WEAKNESSES    
\nDESPISE NOT THE REVELATIONS OF GOD    
\n<\/strong><\/span><\/span>SEEK NOT TO COUNSEL THE LORD, BUT TAKE COUNSEL FROM HIS HAND <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Prophet Alma talks about faith in Alma 32. He teaches the poor whose afflictions had humbled them\u2014Faith is a hope in that which is not seen which is true\u2014Alma testifies that angels minister to men, women, and children\u2014Alma compares the word unto a seed\u2014It must be planted and nourished\u2014Then it grows into a tree from which the fruit of eternal life is picked.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, where is your faith? What will you do to strengthen it? <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Trial Tactic #5 \u2013 BE GRATEFUL<\/strong><\/span>
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\u201cLet us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.\u201d \u2015 Marcel Proust<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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Read about GRATITUDE DURING ADVERSITY<\/a>:<\/strong> The Book of Mormon prophet Moroni reminds us of the importance of gratitude and encourages us to \u201cremember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts\u201d (Moroni 10:3<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

In the For the Strength of Youth <\/em>(booklet, 2011), 18 we learn Key Ideas about Gratitude<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Lord wants you to have a spirit of gratitude in all you do and say. \u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn your prayers, pour out your heart to your Father in Heaven in thanks for the blessings you have received. \u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026 Express your gratitude to others for the many ways they bless your life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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A positive change can come into our lives once we start each day with gratitude.<\/strong> Like putting on a smile when you don’t really feel like smiling; positive thoughts begin to appear and a natural smile takes the place of a fake one. Then come more reasons to smile.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Trial Tactic #6 \u2013 KEEP COMMANDMENTS<\/strong><\/span>
\nYou are in a chosen generation<\/strong> (1 Peter 2:9). Gordon B. Hinckley said, “<\/span><\/span>This I believe, is the greatest age in the history of the world. And you young people of this generation are a part of it. You are the beneficiaries of it. Its fruits are here to bless your lives if you will grasp them and live worthy of them<\/strong>.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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There is safety and peace in keeping the commandments of God. He will send blessings to those who honor those sacred covenants made at baptism. In the Children’ Songbook <\/em>song on p. 143 Keep the Commandments<\/em> we can ponder these words: “Keep the commandments; keep the commandments! In this there is safety; in this there is peace. He will send blessings . . .”<\/span><\/p>\n


\nTrial Tactic #7 \u2013 SEEK GOOD VALUES<\/span><\/span>
\nElder Russell M. Nelson said, “Developing eternal values will help us become all our Heavenly Father wants us to be.” <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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He said, in his talk: Focus on Values<\/span><\/a>, “I would like to talk about some of the values you ought to be focused on in your daily lives. You young women will recognize them. And you young men, they are not exclusively for the young women. These values are just as worthy of your attention as they are for the young women.” VALUES:<\/span> <\/strong>Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice and<\/span> Accountability, Good Works, Integrity, and<\/span> Virtue.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The 13th Article of Faith tells us to seek after certain things: “We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men . . . If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”<\/span><\/p>\n

What do you do when others have different values than your own? I really like this article:  Different Values? Love\u2019s the Answer<\/a><\/span><\/span> where it gives you 5 things to consider when dealing with a friend or associate who does not value what you value or have the same standards. We do not judge, but love others.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nTrial Tactic #8 \u2013 BE HEALTHY & FIT<\/span><\/span>
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David O. McKay said, \u201cThe healthy man, who takes care of his physical being, has strength and vitality; his temple is a fit place for his spirit to reside. \u2026 It is necessary, therefore, to care for our physical bodies, and observe the laws of physical health and happiness.\u201d<\/span>
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In order to overcome any trial we need to be healthy, however, just getting healthy can be a trial. If we follow the Word of Wisdom found in Doctrine and Covenants section 89, God’s laws of health is a good start. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some good reads on Being Healthy & Fit:<\/span>
\n \u2022 <\/span>Keeping Physically Fit <\/span>By <\/a>Clarence F. Robison<\/a> She said, “In ancient times the apostle Paul referred to the human body as \u201cthe temple of God,\u201d and he indicated its importance when he said: \u201cIf any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.\u201d (1 Cor. 3:17<\/a>.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Be Strong, Be Healthy, Be Smart<\/span> By Elder Adri\u00e1n Ochoa Of the Seventy<\/a> He said, “Want to feel better and more confident physically and emotionally? Regular exercise will help. . . . Don\u2019t be like the lazy bird that traded its feathers for worms (go here to read story). We need to keep our feathers (strength physically) to fly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 <\/span>10 Weeks of Total Fitness <\/span>By Mackenzie Brown<\/a> She said, “These young women learned that there\u2019s more to fitness than just exercise.” Their 10 Week Challenge: Read their scriptures every day. Exercise for 20 minutes three days a week. Complete a service activity once a week. Go eight hours straight without using their electronic devices once a week.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nTrial Tactic #9 \u2013 STUDY THE SCRIPTURES<\/span>
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Idea List: Scripture Study Suggestions<\/a>: <\/span>“Studying the scriptures will bring you closer to Heavenly Father and help you become more like Him. <\/span><\/p>\n


\nPresident Ezra Taft Benson said the Book of Mormon<\/a> brings great strength to the lives of those who diligently study it. ‘You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path.'” (Ensign<\/em>,<\/span> Nov. 1986, 7)<\/span><\/p>\n

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How much power<\/span> do you need to fight trials in life. Apparently by reading this book you can acquire it.<\/span><\/p>\n

HOW TO STUDY:<\/span> This article offers 10 Scripture Study Suggestions<\/a>. Here are the first three, QUOTE: (1) “Make studying your scriptures a priority. You might not think you have the time, but if you make time to read, the other things you need to do will fall into place.” (2) “Read every day for a set amount of time, preferably when you\u2019re alert.” (3) “Pray before you read for understanding and guidance and to invite the Holy Ghost<\/a> to be with you.” (Continue to read article for more dtails on the following #4-10)<\/a> . . .<\/span> <\/span>Summary: (4) Ponder and pray. (5) Keep a journal. (6) Share, teach, bear testimony. (7) Read without distraction. (8) Search topics of interest (9) Apply principles taught. (10) Go back and reread.<\/span><\/p>\n

COOL SCRIPTURES ON WHY STUDY THE SCRIPTURES:<\/span>
\n \u2022 “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” (Matthew 22:29)<\/span>
\n \u2022 The Prophet Joseph Smith said: \u201cI told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.\u201d – Book of Mormon Introduction<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\nTrial Tactic #10 \u2013 UPDATE IMAGE<\/span>
\nImage is a reflection of you both inwardly and outwardly. “Have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?” (Alma 5:14)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The temples are a great example of image. Only the very best is put in the temples; it is the house of the Lord. So should we look our very best when we enter the temples (inside and out). You are a representative of your temple body God created for you. I think it only fitting that we take care of it and always look our best. There are times when you won’t, but hopefully there are more times that you will look your best. Your image is a reflection of you. <\/span><\/p>\n


\nMore on Image:<\/strong> <\/em>See our forthcoming articles in the PHYSICAL: Image<\/a> section of our website. Also see more articles in the SPIRITUAL: Plan of Happiness<\/a> section of SingleandStillBreathing.com.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nTrial Tactic #11 \u2013 BE A FRIEND TO FRIENDLESS<\/span>
\nGeorge Albert Smith said, \u201cI would be a friend to the friendless and find joy in ministering to the needs of the poor. \u2026 I would not seek to force people to live up to my ideals but rather love them into doing the thing that is right. \u2026 I would not knowingly wound the feeling of any, not even one who may have wronged me, but would seek to do him good and make him my friend.\u201d<\/span>
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President Thomas S. Monson said in his talk \u201cWhat Have I Done for Someone Today?<\/a>\u201d: “I believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish\u2014and in effect save their lives.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are already going somewhere often, take a friend along. My mother found a 90 year old lady walking the track with a cane. She was worried she might fall as she was pencil thin and wobbly. She called her doctor to get her a walker and then took her walking. Every week for the next five years she took her along to walk, run errands, visit the doctor, update her wardrobe and more for the next five years until she passed away.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nTrial Tactic #12 \u2013 PLUS MY PERSONALITY AND CONFIDENCE<\/strong><\/span>
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\u201cIf men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them\u201d (Ether 12:27<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\nElder Glenn L. Pace Of the Seventy said in his talk Confidence and Self-Worth<\/span><\/a>: “Many Latter-day Saints know the Church is true but have unhealthy feelings about their own inadequacies, real or imagined. The scriptures inform us that we all have weaknesses and that there is a place for them in our spiritual progress (see the scripture above).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\nTrue confidence comes with the companionship of the Holy Ghost; it comes from having a personal relationship with the Savior; feeling His love. Once you figure this out you will not need the acceptance of others. Through prayer and being pure helps you realize you are a daughter of God and you know who you are.  <\/span><\/p>\n

VIDEO: True Confidence – Standards: Sexual Purity and Modesty – <\/span>Two young women share their secret for confidence and self-worth: the companionship of the Holy Ghost. How does the companionship of the Holy Ghost help you to have confidence?<\/span><\/p>\n