Bred to Endure

Lookit! Three posts (technically, though I'm not sure I actually count Browyn's videos.) in two days. Woah! No, this won't be common. Don't worry.
ALSO, I'm not sure if this is in my first set of disclaimers, and even if it is I think I need to put this specifically here. THIS POST WILL CONTAIN QUITE A BIT OF RELIGIOUS STUFF. No, I will not be shoving anything down anyone's throats or telling you what you need to believe. That is not even kind of my place. I will, however, be talking about some of my beliefs, how I know what I do and what it makes me feel. If that is going to make you uncomfortable, stop reading now. I'd really prefer this post doesn't ruin any kind of friendship we may have, especially 'cause in my mind it's going to be a generally positive piece. Thank you.
Now, on to it.
The title of this post comes from the lyrics of a song in the "Lord of the Rings Musical". I know, I know, I talked about that yesterday, but hey. All I really did was mention it. However, as I laid in bed for far too long last night, listening to the songs over and over, unable to turn them off, I started thinking about this one song, mixed with a few things from Conference. So, I thought I'd let y'all know about it. (You know, I like saying 'y'all'. For a few reasons. First of all, it's just something I've said for a long time. It didn't even start with Kaylee, believe it or not. In this particular context, however, it makes me feel like I may actually be writing this for someone else. On the other hand, I can't decide if I actually want anyone reading this… Oh well. xD)
Anyway, I want to put the lyrics in here so you know what I'm talking about. The song is called "Now and for Always" (<- that's a link to a YouTube video of the song if anyone wants to listen to it. I definitely recommend doing so!) and it goes a little something like this:

[SAM]
Sing me a story of heroes of the Shire
Muddling through, brave and true
Stubborn as bindweed and tough as old briar
Never too showy or grand
Year after year they persevere
Now and for always
Harfoots who planted, and Stoorfolk who ploughed
Bred to endure, slow but sure
Fallohide blood in your veins makes you proud
Sturdy and steady they stand
True to their aim to stay the same
Now and for always

[FRODO & SAM]
Sit by the firelight's glow
Tell us an old tale we know
Tell of adventures strange and rare
Never to change, ever to share
Stories we tell will cast their spell
Now and for always

[SAM]
Sing me a story of Frodo and the ring
Fearless and bold
[FRODO]
Tired and cold
[SAM]
Sword at his side
An Elf-blade called Sting
Crossing a miserable land
Wouldn't retreat, just followed his feet
Now and for always

[FRODO & SAM]
Sit by the firelight's glow
Tell us an old tale we know
Tell of adventures strange and rare
Never to change, ever to share
Stories we tell will cast their spell
Now and for always

[FRODO]
Sing me a tale of the bravest of them all
Comrade and guide, at my side
Stouthearted Sam who wouldn't let me fall
Holding my life in his hand
True to the end, no finer friend
Now and for always

[FRODO & SAM]
Sit by the firelight's glow
Tell us an old tale we know
Tell of adventures strange and rare
Never to change, ever to share
Stories we tell will cast their spell
Now and for always

I love this song. I have since the first time I heard it. In case you didn't get it/don't know the story, this comes at the point where Sam and Frodo are heading towards Mordor by themselves. They stop for the night, sit by the fire, and Sam is trying to cheer Frodo up by talking about their home and the people there. Then, Sam falls asleep and Frodo turns his thoughts to his closest and most trusted friend, who has stayed with him through more than anyone could ever ask. The lyrics come pretty much word for word from "The Two Towers", and in my opinion are some of the most beautiful ever penned. I'm going to tell you a bit about why.
One of the lines that hit me the hardest last night, as I was digesting all I'd heard throughout the day, was "bred to endure" (hence the name of the post.) I absolutely love that line. I started thinking that my family fits into that category pretty well, and then broadened it even further. (This is the point where I'm gonna start mixing religion with lyrics, in case you care. There's still time to close this window!)(PS, chances are this is going to ramble and zig zag and quite possibly be really confusing. I promise to try and bring it all back eventually) The human race has been 'bred to endure'.
We have a literal Father in Heaven, who knows and loves each and every one of us. He wanted to find a way to allow all of us, His children, to learn and grow and become more like Him so we could feel the full happiness and joy He did. He came up with a Plan wherein that could happen. Long story short, that Plan involved us coming down to this world that He created through His Son, Jesus Christ, just for us. Here we are to learn, grow, and experience all kinds of things so we could, hopefully, return to Him in His Kingdom. We were sent here to go through trials and tribulations to help us mature and reach our infinite potential. This whole process was started with the Fall of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, which Elder Richard G. Scott (modern-day Apostle of Christ, like Peter, James, and John in the Bible) said "made possible both feelings of happiness as well as sadness. We can understand peace because we know turmoil." In Eden, Adam and Eve knew no hardship, no pain, no heartache. Because of that, they couldn't understand contentment, relief, or joy. Without the bad, there can be no good. Trials help us grow, help us appreciate the good, help us feel love and gratitude for our Heavenly Father. We were told before we came to this earth, in what the LDS people call the pre-mortal life, all about the Plan. We knew what kinds of things we would have to face, and we accepted the risk. We came to "[muddle] through, brave and true" and to stand "sturdy and steady". Our adventures are rarely actually "strange and rare", but each person's story and situation is unique to them. The Plan is universal, but the way we go through it is specifically tailored for each and every one of us. I know, with every fiber of my being, that our Father in Heaven and Eldest Brother, Jesus Christ, know us all personally and individually. They know what we need better than we do. They give us the trials we need to continue to improve ourselves and lift those around us, so we can all collectively come closer to Them. That should be our ultimate goal, as it is Theirs- "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Scripture found in the Pearl of Great Price, book of Moses chapter one verse 39).
At times, this life can be extremely difficult. There are periods and situations where we may, like Frodo, feel like we can go no further. Our strength has been exhausted, we are "tired and cold", and we can't take another step. We encounter the "rapids of life" (Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) and fear we will be thrown out of the raft and drown. We sometimes question why we are here and what kind of God allows terrible things to happen. Fortunately, that same God is a loving, perfect Father and made sure we would have help.
In the pre-mortal life, when we accepted the Plan, we also joyfully sustained the appointment of a Savior. Heavenly Father knew we would need help to become clean, as well as someone to show us the way. Jesus Christ was chosen and did exactly that. Today, President Thomas S. Monson, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and prophet of the Lord, spoke about Christ leading the way for us. He said, among other things, that "Jesus walked the path of disappointment… the path of temptation… [and] the path of pain." He did not, however, give in to the temptations. He did not falter under the weight of disappointment or wallow in the pain of life. He "wouldn't retreat" as He crossed what some would call a "miserable land". He showed us the way through these tough parts, as He also "walked the path of obedience [and] … prayer". President Monson said we should "stand up bravely for our beliefs" and "let our lights shine so others may see them". As we, like the Lord, stand "sturdy and steady"and stay "true to our aim", we will be led through the darkness. This was spoken another way this weekend by Elder Lynn G. Robbins, a member of the Quorum of the Seventy (another organization, as seen in the Bible, set up in the Christ's Church to assist and teach the members and others around them). He said we need to know, at all times, "which way [we] face". He quoted C.S. Lewis in saying "Courage is the [face] of every virtue at the testing point". We can all have courage through the knowledge that as we run down the rapids of life, the Lord is right there with us, facing the same way and shoring us up against the power of the water. I know these things to be true.
Do you know what else I know? We all have Someone who is "true to the end, no finer friend now and for always", Someone who truly does hold our "life in [H]is hand". Another member of the Seventy, Elder Carlos A. Godoy, said it this way: "The Lord has a plan for us. He knows us. He knows what we need most, usually better than we do. We have to trust Him". Our Savior, Jesus Christ, knows us each perfectly. He knows our personalities, who we are, who we want to be and who we can be. He knows how we feel every minute of every day. He, through His Atonement, has felt all our joy, our suffering, our sorrow and our contentments. He knows what we need even when we don't, and He will give it to us. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency of the Church, spoke about this yesterday. He said "God cares about you. He will listen. And He will answer your prayers. It will be in His time and His way, but He will answer". Oh, how great a hope that gives us! God, our Heavenly Father, and the only Perfect Being to ever walk this earth know what is happening to and with us all the time. They count the hairs on our heads. They laugh when we do, cry when we do, love when we do, despair when we do. They want what is best for us. They will not, however, push us to do something we do not want to do. They will prompt, They will plead, They will open doors and pour out the Spirit show us truth and to lead us to those that can help us along our way, but They will not coerce us or force us down a path we do not wish to pursue. As much as it may pain Them, Heavenly Father and our Savior will let us choose our own way, regardless of whether it leads us back to Them. However, I know if we walk the path Jesus laid for us, if we follow His ways, we will obtain the greatest blessings of all- even everlasting life with our eternal family. I hope this for myself, my family, my friends, and everyone that ever has or ever will walk this earth. Who wouldn't want peace, happiness, joy, and fulfillment to last forever?
That's it. We were "bred to endure". We were put here to be "heroes", though I definitely prefer to be "never too showy or grand". I know we have been shown the way and given the choice to persevere minute by minute, day by day, "year by year". We have been asked to share the truths we've been given, to "tell … an old tale we know"- and we do all know it. We may have forgotten who we are and where we come from- it wouldn't be much of a test if we remembered it all- but deep down, every human being will recognize the truth of their Father's love. As we lift each other and endeavor not to let others fall, we will grow ever closer to the Lord. He is always with us. He always will be. I know these things. I hold them dear in my heart, and through them I hope. I hope for things to come, I hope for myself, I hope for others, I hope for eternity. Now and for always.