10 years ago, as my wife Kathy and I were living in Sao Paulo, Brazil, President David Marriott was presiding over the Brazil Sao Paulo Interlagos mission. He and his wife, Neill, and their sons Will, Wesley, and Trace lived near us. They had left their home, their business, and many in their family to respond to a call from the Prophet to serve a mission. President Marriott had called me one afternoon. Their precious, righteous, 21-year-old daughter Georgia, a senior in violin performance at Indiana University had been hit by a truck while riding her bicycle home after a church meeting. On first report, Georgia was doing well. Hours later, her condition dramatically worsened. Family and friends began fasting and praying for a miracle for Georgia. Her mother flew through the night from Brazil. Arriving in Indiana the next day, she was met by her older children, who tearfully explained that they had been with Georgia as she passed away. I watched the Marriott family at the time of this experience, and in the months and years that followed. They wept. They prayed. They spoke of Georgia. They felt immense pain and sadness. But their faith did not falter. In this morning's session, we heard of similar faith in the beautiful lives of the Bowen and Wilberger families. The gift of faith is a priceless spiritual endowment. This is life eternal, Jesus prayed, that they might know to Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hath sent. Our faith is centered in God, our Father, and in His son Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. It is bolstered by our knowledge that the fullness of the Gospel has been restored to the earth, that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that prophets and apostles today hold the keys of the priesthood. We treasure our faith, work to strengthen our faith, pray for increased faith, and do all within our power to protect and defend our faith. The Apostle Peter identified something he called a trial of your faith. He had experience it. Remember Jesus's words? Simon, Satan hath desire to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not. Peter later encouraged others. Think it not strange, he said, concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you. These fiery trials are designed to make you stronger. But they have the potential to diminish or even destroy your trust in the Son of God, and to weaken your resolve to keep your promises to Him. These trials are often camouflaged, making them difficult to identify. They take root in our weakness, in our vulnerabilities, our sensitivities, or in those things that matter the very most to us. A real but manageable test for one can be a fiery trial for another. How do you remain steadfast and immovable during a trial of faith? You immerse yourself in the very things that helped you build your core of faith. You exercise faith in Christ. You pray. You ponder the scriptures. You repent. You keep the commandments. And you serve others. When faced with a trial a faith, whatever you do, you don't step away from the Church. Distancing yourself from the Kingdom of God during a trial of faith is like leaving the safety of a secure storm cellar just as the tornado comes into view. The Apostle Paul said, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. It is within the sanctuary of the Church that we protect our faith, meeting together with others who believe. We pray and find answers to our prayers. We worship through music, share testimony of the Savior, serve one another, and feel the spirit of the Lord. We partake of the Sacrament, receive the blessings of the priesthood, and attend the temple. The Lord declared, in the ordinances, the power of godliness is manifest. When you are faced with a test of faith, stay within the safety and security of the household of God. There is always a place for you here. No trial is so large we can't overcome it together.

President Thomas S. Monson said, "the moral compass of society has been evolving at a rapid rate. Behaviors once considered inappropriate and immoral are now viewed by many as acceptable." There are many single adults in the Church well beyond their early adult years. While finding their present life different than they had anticipated, they keep the law of chastity. It can be a trial of their faith. I express my deep respect and admiration for these disciples of Christ. God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation be employed only between men and women, lawfully wedded as husband and wife. In the New Testament, the Savior lifted the moral standard for his followers, when he declared, whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery already and his heart. He taught us not to condemn others. But he was unafraid to speak directly. Go, he said, and sin no more. Our family has a friend-- you probably know someone like her, or perhaps you are like her-- always faithful, serves nobly in the Church, admired professionally, adored by her family. And while she anticipated marriage and children, she is single.

I made the decision, she said, to put my trust in Jesus Christ. I have faith that no blessing will be withheld as I remained faithful to my covenants, including the law of chastity.

Another friend served an outstanding mission, followed by rigorous academic training. He hoped to have a family. His trial of faith, feelings of same sex attraction. He wrote me recently. I am promised in my patriarchal blessing that I will have my own family someday. Whether in this life or the next, I don't know. But I don't want to do anything that will jeopardize the blessings God has promised. Living the law of chastity is a challenge. But did we not come to earth to confront challenges, and to show God our love and respect by keeping His commandments? I am blessed with good health, the Gospel, a loving family, and loyal friends. I am grateful for my many blessings.

The world protests, how can you ask so much? The Lord responds, as the heavens are higher than the Earth, so are my ways higher than your ways. These two followers of Christ, and tens of thousands like them, have felt the Savior's promise. My peace I give unto you. Not as a world giveth, give I unto you. Here is another trial. There have always been a few who want to discredit the Church, and to destroy faith. Today they use the internet. Some of the information about the Church, no matter how convincing, is just not true. In 1985, I remember a colleague walking into my business office in Florida. He had a Time Magazine article entitled "Challenging Mormonisms Roots." It spoke of a recently discovered letter, supposedly written by Martin Harris, that conflicted with Joseph Smith's account of finding the Book of Mormon plates. My colleague asked if this new information would destroy the Mormon Church. The article quoted a man who said he was leaving the Church over the document. Later, others reportedly left the Church. I'm sure it was a trial of their faith. A few months later, experts discovered-- and the forger or confessed-- that the letter was a complete fraud. I remember really hoping that those who had left the Church because of this deception would find their way back. A few question their faith when they find a statement made by a Church leader decades ago that seems incongruent with our doctrine. There's an important principle the governs the doctrine of the Church. The doctrine is taught by all 15 members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. It is not hidden in an obscure paragraph of one talk. True principles are taught frequently and by many. Our doctrine is not difficult to find. The leaders of the Church are honest, but imperfect men. Remember the words of Moroni? "Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father. But rather, give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that you may learn to be more wise than we have been." Joseph Smith said, I never told you I was perfect. But there is no error in the revelations.

The miracle of God's hand in the history and destiny of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is only understood through the lens of spiritual inquiry. President Ezra Taft Benson said, every person, eventually, is backed up to the wall of faith, and there must make his stand. Don't be surprised when it happens to you.

By definition, trials will be trying. There may be anguish, confusion, sleepless nights, and pillows wet with tears. But our trials need not be spiritually fatal. They need not take us from our covenants, or from the household of God. Remember, it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that you must build your foundation. That when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it will have no power over you to drag you down, because of the rock upon which ye are built, a foundation whereon if men build, they cannot fall. Like the intense fire that transforms iron into steel, as we remain faithful during the fiery trial of our faith, we are spiritually refined and strengthened. Elder D. Todd Christofferson explained what he learned from a personal trial. Though I suffered then, as I look back now, I am grateful that there was not a quick solution to my problem. I came to know my Savior and my Heavenly Father in a way and to a degree that might not have happened otherwise. I learned to trust in the Lord with all my heart. Peter described these experiences as much more precious than gold. Moroni added that a witness follows the trial of your faith. I began with the story of the Marriott family. Last week, Kathy and I joined them at Georgia's grave. 10 years have passed. Family and friends spoke of the love and memories they have of Georgia. There were white helium balloons to celebrate her life. Amid tears, Georgia's mother tenderly spoke of the increased faith and understanding she has received. And Georgia's father quietly told me of the promised witness that has come to him. With faith come trials of faith, bringing increased faith. The Lord's comforting assurance to the Prophet Joseph Smith is the very same promise He makes to you in your trial of faith. Hold on. Fear not, for God shall be with you forever and ever. Of this is I bear my sacred witness, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.