“Adversity comes from different sources. You may at times face trials as a consequence of your own pride and disobedience. These trials can be avoided through righteous living. Other trials are simply a natural part of life and may come at times when you are living righteously. For example, you may experience trials in times of sickness or uncertainty or at the deaths of loved ones. Adversity may sometimes come because of others’ poor choices and hurtful words and actions.
“… Your success and happiness, both now and in the eternities, depend largely on your responses to the difficulties of life” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 8–9).
“It is true I am weak enough to weep at the death of my friends and kindred. I may shed tears when I see the grief of others. I have sympathy in my soul for the children of men. I can weep with them when they weep; I can rejoice with them when they rejoice; but I have no cause to mourn, nor to be sad because death comes into the world. … All fear of this death has been removed from the Latter-day Saints. They have no dread of the temporal death, because they know that as death came upon them by the transgression of Adam, so by the righteousness of Jesus Christ shall life come unto them, and though they die they shall live again. Possessing this knowledge, they have joy even in death, for they know that they shall rise again and shall meet again beyond the grave” (Joseph F. Smith, in Conference Report, Oct. 1899, 70).
“As the Savior entered the Garden of Gethsemane, His soul was exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death. In His agony, the only one He could turn to was His Father. He pleaded, ‘If it be possible, let this cup pass from me.’ But He added, ‘Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.’ [Matthew 26:39; see also verse 38.] Though sinless, the Savior was called upon to ‘[suffer] pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind,’ including the sicknesses and infirmities of His people. ‘[He] suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance.’ [Alma 7:11, 13.] Three times He prayed, ‘Father, thy will be done’ [see Matthew 26:39–44]. The cup was not removed. In humble, faithful prayer He was strengthened to go forward and fulfill His divine mission to prepare for our salvation, that we might repent, believe, obey, and obtain the blessings of eternity.
“The answers we receive in prayer may not be what we would desire. But in times of trouble, our prayers become a lifeline of love and tender mercy. In our pleading, we may be strengthened to go forward and fulfill all that we have been ordained to do. To His Saints living in perilous times, the Lord says, ‘Let your hearts be comforted … ; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God’ [Doctrine and Covenants 101:16]” (Carol F. McConkie, “The Soul’s Sincere Desire,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 26).