Letter of November 4, 2008

Dear Family,

I guess I have somewhat to say about enduring trials. The last week I have been very sick. For four or five days, I was running a fever that reached over 100 degrees F. at times. I have also been severely congested and have had a very sore throat, sore enough that I could hardly drink water. I have received a blessing but I still haven’t overcome it. I have had a bad cough the last few days and am still congested. I went to the doctor twice and all both of them said was I should keep drinking water and take a decongestant. They don’t know what it is, but it isn’t strep. Anyway, as you can imagine, it has been a trial. I have not missed any days and the Lord has been kind enough that at certain times I can be free from discomfort so I can completely focus. There have been times where I have felt that the Lord has let me alone to struggle, to show integrity and do the work even when by the standards of the MTC I could stay in bed and sleep. What I am really trying to say is there may come times when you feel you are drowning, and the Lord won’t save you right then. You may swim in the darkness with seemingly no end in sight. The very gates of hell might gape open to try and receive you, and you may not feel the hand of the Lord even then. But this I promise you. If you still put your trust in God and do all you can to serve Him even when no blessings come, you will be blessed without measure in the end.

The Lord will not abandon you. The rewards for enduring these most suffocating and difficult trials are blessings an hundred fold of the blessings you had before. Every path and trial and loss you may face in this life if borne well, never doubting always trusting, will bring blessings of joy beyond your comprehension. Bear with patience thine afflictions, and you will be blessed without measure. And remember, the Savior suffered every pain and sorrow for every soul to ever walk on this earth, and every one that will. And also remember the trials of the prophets of God and all His saints. I suggest that you all as a family read these scriptures: Job (if you have time, all of it), Joseph Smith History, 2 Nephi 4, and Mosiah 18 ( I think, it’s Ammon’s excitement about his mission). I have taken heart to these scriptures because of their stories of faith and integrity. I got to watch the new Joseph Smith movie on Sunday, and I realize that I never fully comprehended the scope of the difficulties Joseph faced. Only two men I can think of suffered as much or more than he, Christ obviously and Job.

Well on a little lighter note, it snowed today as you probably already know. I got to talk with Justin for a long time as well. I have much if not most of every day to just study. It’s the School of the Prophets here. So every day is like Sunday. The only real difference is Sunday we actually have Sacrament and different meetings. Things are going great and I hope everything is going well for you.

Love, Elder Skiles