Several years ago I starting cutting my own hair. It works well—usually. But one afternoon when the razor first touched my hair, I felt something uncomfortable, and heard a loud buzzing noise. It only took a half second for me to realize that something was wrong—I had forgotten to put on the attachment, and had created a bald spot in my head!
When my wife saw it, she was horrified. “You can’t go out like that,” she said. So she got a permanent marker and colored in the bald spot. But that just made it look worse!
Then she said, “After the haircut we’ll have some extra hair. Why don’t we just take some of the extra hair and superglue it to your head.”
And you know what, it worked!
Fortunately there was a quick solution to my bald patch—this wasn’t really a “trial.”
But as we go through life there there are many problems we face that are not so easily we resolved. Some times life is just plain hard. That is why I love President Susan W. Tanner’s motto, “I can do hard things!”
I noticed that the scriptures are full of people who did hard things. We can learn from them. For example:
Nephi building a ship. When the Lord asked him to build a ship, Nephi didn’t ask “why?” or look for excuses; rather he said, “Where shall I go to find the tools” (17:8-9). Even when Nephi’s brother’s complained against them he still had faith that with the Lord’s power he could do anything. (17:18-51).
Alma the Elder and his people. When they were in bondage they poured out their souls to God (Mosiah 24:12), submitted with cheerfulness and patience (24:15). We can do that too!
Alma and Amulek in prison. One of the things they did in the midst of this “hard thing” was “they answered nothing” (Alma 14:19). They also prayed for strength. That is a powerful scriptural pattern. Don’t pray for your problems to go away, pray for the strength to overcome them.
Paul, the Apostle. Consider the trials he went through: “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness” (2 Corinthians 11:24-27).
Still he said, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11). We too can learn to be content, even in the midst of hard things.
You can do hard things. In fact, this is the subject of a new talk on CD I gave called, “I can do hard things!” (Deseret Book just published it). I noticed you can download it here for around half the price of getting the actual CD. You can also view the slides that accompany the talk here and sample a small portion of the talk here.
I’d like to give away a couple free copies of the CD – if you’re a youth, or know a youth who could use it, make a comment on this site, or on our Facebook page. You can share a scriptural example of someone who did a hard thing, tell us how you accomplish hard things, or simply say, “I want the CD.” A winner will be selected in about a week.
You CAN do hard things!
I want the cd.
i want the CD
My son (17) is going through so many trials right now and making wrong choice after wrong choice…It would be nice to have him realize that we all have trials in our lives.
I want a free copy of this cd
Im in my last year of high school. The past few years have been some of my so far “Hardest” years. Ive been having so many trials some making me stronger others bring me down making me lose hope. I know I have a father in heaven who loves and cares about me. But as hard as I try to listen to him its almost like I hear better through other people. Ive listen to so many talks by John Hillton I think he really knows how to speak to the youth. In away that makes us want to be better people I really dont know where my life is headed. Im not ready to grow up yet I know as soon as Im out of high school its all up to me and were I take my life. I really could use this CD! I know for a fact the Trial Im in right now is a life changer one. And maybe this CD could help me out give me the hope I need.
Am currently doing hard things. Would like some encouragement.
I love the youth talks. I think the adults should have their own too.
I teach Sunday School and have two youth of my own to share it with. Hope I get the chance to do that.
As the mother of 5 wonderful sons and 3 beautiful daughters, I feel like I am starting over in parenting with each child! One of the greatest challenges is personalizing eternal principles for each one of these great young people. Just as our trials are personalized, the method for teaching needs to be personalized. One particular child of ours is determined to learn the hard way. But it’s “his way,” and we are praying for the right things to say to him and the right way to reach him. I am very interested in this talk–thanks for reaching out to the Youth of the Church, John.
I want the CD! Sounds terrific!
I have a 14 year old daughter who is in the middle of trying to decide for herself what are the right things to do and what is it exactly she can accomplish in life. I think she would benefit greatly from this CD. We have been through difficult things lately as a family….job loss, relocation to a new apartment. She could really use the direction that I beleive your talks give. Thank you!
I would love to give this to a neighbor of mine. She is 13 and is the only member in her family who attends church. She is a sweetheart but right now is trying to decide if she should take seminary next year and it’s not looking like she will. I wish I could just give her a glimpse of what it would be like for her so she could understand. She just need a little support. If this is something that could help her with those decisions it would be great.
I’d like the CD,as I’m going through health related trials right now,and have not reached the state of contentment Paul has.Thank you.
I want the cd as I’m going through health related trials and am not content as Paul was.”Help”
One of my favorite examples in the Scriptures, is when Nephi was bound by Lamen and Lemuel. He asked Heavenly Father to break the bands from which he was bound and although he had perfect faith, the Lord only loossened the bands. Nephi had to do the rest. I know that just praying cannot ensure blessings, or personal revelation. If I want more personal revelation, I have to have the courage to act on the impressions I recieve. I have done hard things, but I know that without the strength of the Lord, and the Love of my Savior behind me at all times, I would have failed. More often than not I still make mistakes. Although I have turned my back on my Savior time and time again, he will never forsake me. I have seen others fall, to which I have prayed in tears that they will not continue on that path, but I have forgotten what faith is. Mormon said, “My prayers were without faith.”(Mormon 3:12) And I have been pondering and questioning within myself, “what is faith?” and “how can I utilize it to be the person Heavenly Father needs me to be and to be a light unto others so that they may not follow the path I have walked.” Honestly I don’t know the answers to theses questions, but I know that I can do hard things when, and only when, I turn my face toward the light of the Savior.
I could use a boost from the cd with my own trials as I’m not where Paul was in enduring it.
My dad died when i was 2! My mom has to suffer the worst, plus her mom died ealier! Thats is the worst trial i ever had!
I want the cd! woohoo
I’d love to win a free talk!
I think everyone these days need to start looking at the bright side of things – no matter what your situation, only YOU can make the best of it!
I’d love to win a free talk!
I think everyone these days need to start looking at the bright side of things – no matter what your situation, only YOU can make the best of it!
One of my favorite conference talks from last conference was from President Uchtdorf:
“Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!
Impatience, on the other hand, is a symptom of selfishness. It is a trait of the self-absorbed. It arises from the all-too-prevalent condition called “center of the universe” syndrome, which leads people to believe that the world revolves around them and that all others are just supporting cast in the grand theater of mortality in which only they have the starring role.” ~ President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
prayer, hardwork, and determination, is the answer. you keep trying and dont give up. and if you fall down it is a reminder to ask for help from the lord above then you pick your self up and your brush your self off and you try again until you succeed at what ever it is that you are trying until you accomplish the task at hand. that is how you handle hard things in your life. Good better best never let it rest until your good is your better and your better is your very best yet, before you lay your self to rest. amen.
I’m a senior in high school. This would be neat to have for times to come!
I’ve been divorced in the LDS Church. That was very hard. However, now I am remarried to a man who adores me and who adores my children and grandchildre and they him. When we do hard things, we find that almost always, it pays off far better than we could imagine.
thank you!!! I needed this today
the best way i can overcome trials is to pray first and ask God what lesson do i have to learn from this, later i checked myself and see where i might have strayed off, then correct my ways and do all my best so that i dont wander again.
This has been our family motto for years!!! We have had to face a few large trials and a lot of small ones, but it’s made easier with the gospel and a great family to help!
I have 3 teenagers and would LOVE a copy! Thanks for the encouraging words.
i have learn to over come trials by praying first to my Heavenly Father for giving me another oppurtunity to learn cos without trials we cannot learn, and i will have to see what lessons i have to learn from those trials nad make me a better person.
This is the coolest blog. I will need to read this more often. Thanks for sharing this story with me.
I want the CD! The kids would LOVE to have something NEW to listen to in the car!
I could use this CD for my children. I am a single parent of four children ages 18, 13, 12 and 11. We have been through so many trials in our life. I would like this CD to help my children see that we can get through anything with God in our life.
Thank you!
I want the CD. I think it would be useful for my two youth (and the others to follow) and also for myself.
“Growing Up Years” are so difficult in today’s world. Glad you made a CD and are offering 2 free copies…it is greatly needed. My guess is most anyone listening to it will benefit. Thanks
I would love a copy of the cd. I would love to share it with people in my life that do not make the best choices. Thank you so much.
I love that story about the hair, it is funny. But this is a super good talk. I love to read uplifting things, and be inspired to overcome hard things. I would love this CD, because I think it would help me when times get tough.
We all have trials. They make us stronger. What a wonderful idea to give away the CD!
Thanks for sharing your funny hair story. I’d like to share ours too!
At the beginning of this year, my 11 year old had become infested with headlice. Her hair was waist length and so thick it was nearly impossible to treat her. After some tough deliberating, it was decided that the best thing to do was to cut her beautiful hair to best tackle the infestation. The problem was that I couldn’t get a professional to touch her head, so it fell to me to cut
It went from waisth length to varying lengths, the longest hitting just above her shoulder and the shortest tickling her chin.
Worse! We had to leave her hair that way for more than a month until we’d gotten rid of all evidence of the problem. Finally – just before her 12th birthday, we had it professionally cut and styled. She loves her new style and feels more grown up. She also loves that it’s so much easier than ever before to take care of it. At first she was very reluctant to cut so much off, but after all the pulling on it to remove the lice, she agreed to head to the “chopping block”.
The question isn’t whether we can withstand trials- everyone has them and most people survive their difficulties. What matters is HOW we deal with them.
My daughter recognized that although it was kind of funky to walk around with a butchered hair cut, it wasn’t worth getting upset about in the eternal scheme of things. Her attitude was gratitude that she was finally rid of the lice and she still had SOME hair left. Her favorite remark was, “It’s ok. It could be worse. At least I’m not bald!”
When trials come, and they will, we should always remember that Jesus Christ has gone through far more than we can imagine, and are we greater than he. The pain and sorrow will be there, just know that we are not alone, through the atonement Christ knows how to lift us up.
It would be great to win the CD!
i want this cd please
Love this reminder!! Thanks a BUNCH.
i want this cd to help me eith my own trials.
I am an adult and am facing many trials. A great reminder to look to the scriptures for encouragement. We have 4 children going through various growing pains. Two of them do not want to have anything to do with gospel teachings right now. It is so hard to watch them make mistakes and suffer the consequences.
I want the CD. But more than that, I want a life.
I like this talk. interesting use of cut hair to overcome.
Self confidence and a helathy self esteem isn’t something you can give your children or spouse by telling them they have it, it’s something they develop within them selves by doing HARD THINGS by them selves. I had to learn to stop doing the hard things for them and always tring to protect them. It wasn’t doing them or me any good. Don’t be afraid to let them do hard things in their lives. I did.
Loved the haircut story! It strenghtened me just to read all the comments from people struggling but we all are still moving forward! Give this cd to the ones in need . . I will be buying it
I think every youth would benefit from this talk. If I win it, it might be difficult to decide which young person I know would benefit the most from this.
Thanks!
My daughter has been going threw some trials of her own. sometimes kids dont want to hear there parent all the time. Someone elses voice is needed here. Please help!!!
In lieu of repeating the above messages…..DITTO!!
Unfortunately, I am no longer a youth, but I am a Bishop of the Young Singel Adults in our Stake. One of the phrases we use is the tar pit of eternal progression, where for one reason or another, a person is stuck. Can’t get away from hanging out, not sure how to get a better job, should I go on a Mission. We need to turn to our faith and prayer to move forward and like Nephi; ‘go and do’. Thanks for the opportunity to move forward and the ideas.