If it’s the latter, I’d say it’s like m&m’s analogy of building muscle. Or even better, Joseph Smith’s rough stone rolling analogy.

Oh, and I took the advice of the old adage “Wise people learn from experience. Super wise people learn from other’s experiences” in regards to Rusty’s MANY mishaps! And yes, I’m amazingly wise…or at least a wise-cracker>:p

Also, what is “bad”? I wonder if our mortal definitions of bad don’t match up with God’s, at least in terms of trials. Sickness is “bad” in my mind, and yet that is part of God’s design. Death is often seen as “bad” in our minds, and yet it is absolutely necessary. I think there are so many dimensions to what we experience that we truly can’t understand beyond the dark glass. “All things have been done in the wisdom of Him that knoweth all things.” “I know God loveth his children; nevertheless I do not know the meaning of all things.”

When I try to explain my chronic illness to my children, I use the analogy of weights. In order to build muscles, sometimes some pain, opposition, resistance is necessary.

I also think there is no way we could appreciate the Atonement or even turn to Christ for the healing power of the Atonement without challenges in our life. I even think that way when dealing with the larger “why is life so unfair” questions. We can’t possibly base our view of God solely on what happens in this life. Clearly, if we did, God would be a wholly unjust being. But we know He is not. So there must be more than meets the eye — on a global level as well as a personal level.

One last thought — whether we bring trials on ourselves or God inflicts them on us (both are valid forces in our lives) isn’t the answer the same for both? Christ can make all things better — if not now, in the eternities. Either way, we are wholly reliant on Him to make things right.

12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.
13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.
14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.

Not that this scripture really clarifies anything, but I’ve always kind of carried that in my mind—anything good comes from God. Anything bad comes from the devil.

And God is capable of turning bad things into good things—our weaknesses into strengths, etc. Any adversity is a chance for us to exercise our faith, which can be a good thing. And sometimes great blessings follow.

You are the answer to the trials you recieve. The trials themselves are a question. How you rise to meet them is the answer.