As Rocks In A River

I once had a lesson in seminary about trials. Our teacher talked of Joseph Smith and how, even though he endured many hard times and was persecuted nearly his entire life, he continued to put his trust in God and do His will. In D&C 127, he states "And as for the perils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me.. to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth.." He knew that with God's help, he would always overcome, and for this reason almost welcomed trials, knowing they shaped and refined him.

Every person goes through trials. Some are large, seemingly earth-shattering. Some are small. But it is through these trials that we learn about ourselves and grow into better people. As my seminary teacher explained, we are like rocks in a river.
Have you ever felt a river rock? The time it has spent being thrown to and fro in the water and tumbling across other rocks has filed away all the rough edges, leaving it smooth to the touch. Sometimes, it seems as though we just keep getting thrown around, from one trial to the next. I think that many people, once they pass through a hardship, would look back on the discouraging time as one of learning, and though it was hard, are grateful for the lessons that came. Though it is hard to remember, we are all like rocks in a river. Every little bump that we hit along the way is only smoothing out our rough edges, and ultimately shaping us for the better. And one day, we will look back and be grateful for the bumpy ride.