The Form of the Fourth

...Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Daniel 3:24-25

This weekend I was privileged to hear from an Apostle of the Lord. Elder Holland came and spoke to us at a conference for single adults in the New England area. It was amazing and I love him and his wife (who also spoke). I felt like the Nephites in 3 Nephi when Jesus says he will leave them and be back the next day. "And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them."

It's so sad that the weekend is over!

One of the things that Elder Holland told us relates to the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego found in Daniel. They weren't spared the flames of the furnace, but that is where they met the Savior. We can build our character best with adversity. Some degree of our refinement is left for the flames of the furnace, and that is where we come to really know the Savior. Elder Holland told us that God loves broken things. We shouldn't resist our trials too much when they come because it's our chance to walk with God.

Before this life "We signed off on thorns and thistles and noxious weeds. We said, 'Bring it on!'" We wanted our free agency and we wanted adversity because we knew our great test is to build our character and we can't do that without trouble and tribulation.

Elder Holland told us to, "Gear up, hang on, and strap yourself in."