The Way of Life is the Way of the Cross Sometimes

“God’s will is not for you to get everything and be happy. You don’t get to have what you want just because you want it. And you don’t get to feel happy just because you want to feel happy. The purpose of life is not to be happy, in my opinion. Some people would say that is a sacrilegious thing to say.

“This life is where we have to test our mettle, and this is where we have to test our faith. And if you don’t get the answers you’re looking for, one of two things are going to happen: you’re going to keep looking for them or you’re going to give up. And the people who find what they’re looking for go through years and years, sometimes decades, of striving to know God better. That’s a very real and very hard conversation that needs to happen in Sunday school.

“I think that pain and suffering is a huge part of building our character. And part of misunderstanding that in the Church is because Mormons are raised on a culture of Disney films, and the idea that everything’s going to be ok and everything’s perfect. None of that makes you stronger. It’ll make you happy and it’ll give you ephemeral pleasure, but it’s never going to mold you into someone with the character of Christ. The way of life is the way of the cross sometimes. We have our crosses to bear, and just because you’re not getting the answers you want doesn’t mean God’s not listening.”