The Doctrine and Covenants is filled with beautiful counsel for finding faith amidst our challenges.
In a recent Come, Follow Me video, Elder Gary E. Stevenson shared a passage from this book of scripture that has become meaningful to him in his ministry:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you;
“And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.” (Doctrine and Covenants 78: 17–18)
Here are a few insights we can learn from this scripture, especially as we face difficult trials.
Trust in Unseen Blessings
When our burdens feel too heavy to carry, we can trust in the Lord’s blessings and plan for us.
“Sometimes, things seem so difficult and challenging that you just don’t know whether you can bear it or not,” Elder Stevenson explained. “The Lord knows that we face these things, and He gives us some wonderful counsel [in this scripture].”
In verse 17, the Lord gently reminds us to have faith in His plans and perspective. “I think the Lord is teaching us here that there are many things that maybe we don’t even see yet,” Elder Stevenson said. “Part of those are great blessings that He has in store for us.”
As we trust in the Lord’s wisdom and timing, we can ultimately “be of good cheer” and find hope for relief.
Let Him Lead You Along
Elder Stevenson also suggested that we can find comfort and greater faith by embracing our role as “little children” in the grand scheme of eternity.
This scriptural counsel reminds me of an experience I had while hiking with my sister years ago. At the time, she was young and hadn’t gained the perspective that the temporary difficulty of our hike would be worth the beautiful view at the top.
While walking up a daunting hill, she became tired and felt unsure whether she could continue. When she questioned whether to keep going, I encouraged her to walk in front of me. Then, I supported her back with both of my hands to give her additional momentum to ultimately reach the top.
That hike became a favorite memory for both of us, and we have often reflected on how memorable it was to conquer the hill together.
Similarly, the Lord can help us with our own “mountains to climb,” especially when we feel like little children struggling to keep going. When our metaphorical hike feels like too much to bear, we can lean on the Lord and allow Him to “lead us along.”
Liken the Scriptures to Your Situation
Although the Doctrine and Covenants was first printed in 1835, Elder Stevenson believes these sections are just as relevant to us as Latter-day Saints today in 2025.
“All of us have experienced challenges and afflictions as part of mortality,” the Apostle explained. “I think this [passage] speaks directly to each and every one of us and is indicative of some of the beautiful doctrine and counsel and guidance that come to us through the Doctrine and Covenants. The words that are ours, these divine revelations that come through the Doctrine and Covenants, are the word of God.”
Watch Elder Stevenson’s full message in the player below.
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