Adversity

 “I am like a huge, rough stone rolling down from a high mountain; and the only polishing I get is when some corner gets rubbed off by coming in contact with something else, … knocking off a corner here and a corner there. Thus I will become a smooth and polished shaft in the quiver of the Almighty” 


--Joseph Smith Quoted Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 304

"Nothing is so much calculated to lead people to forsake sin as to take them by the hand, and watch over them with tenderness. When persons manifest the least kindness and love to me, O what power it has over my mind."

Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith p 240

"Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof till long after the events transpire."

Joseph Smith Teachings p256