Why weakness

“I give unto men weakness that they may be humble.” (Ether 12:27.)

We sometimes are “softened”, even “humbled,” by catastrophic circumstances: floods, fires, earthquakes, tornados, famines. By suffering, we are led to recognize what truly matters. During times of common crises we tend to come together, overlooking differences, recognizing commonalities, even our  common “brotherhood.” Overcoming great adversity tends to have its powerful effect on us: we may even repent, becoming sanctified and cleansed.

As fate would have it, natural disasters are rare. But God has provided for us a ready substitute.

Because of our weaknesses, we tend to create “storms” and “hailstones” of our own. We fight and quarrel and disagree. We jar and contend and strive. We criticize and complain and compare and debate. We accuse and incriminate and condemn. We do all manner of evil.

But as we solemnly and humbly face these trials — as the storms and seas and fires and floods and churning earth seek to unsettle us — as we approach each challenge with dignity, calmly, patiently, meekly, quietly, resolutely, willing to submit rather than to offend, willing to defer rather than to challenge, willing to go along to get along, rather than to rock the boat, never to sin, but also never to entice to sin — as we do all this in every circumstance — as we face each “contest” and "trial" with charity and patience — then we become sanctified.

God gives us our weaknesses — like storms — to stir us up and to unsettle us to repentance, to give us multiple opportunities, interacting with others, to practice what the Master did perfectly: to suffer, to sacrifice, to subsume self to the will of God in the service of others at all times, patiently. Our weaknesses — and, more importantly, the weaknesses we find in others — give us opportunity, almost daily, to be Christlke: to forgive, to repair, to show compassion, to love.

"Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof." (3 Nephi 13:34.)

Without our weaknesses, there would be no “drama.” There would be no tears, no sorrows, no trials, no needs.

And no joy.