For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.
Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand. (D&C 58:2-4.)
In November 1985, my husband contracted a disease that resulted in paralysis from his nose down. We spent two months in hospitals here at home and in Albuquerque, N.M.
I couldn't believe this was really happening to us. He was always such an active man. We own a farm and an orchard and he had spent his days outside working from dawn until dark. We were both active in the Church, fulfilling the callings we had.
Then our whole lifestyle changed. I had to do everything for him. He had to be fed and bathed, and turned over at least every hour. Later we started therapy and we worked together exercising, swimming and building muscle tone several times a day.
At first I wondered why the Lord would permit such an adversity to happen to us when we had tried all our married life to live the gospel and keep His commandments and bring up our children righteously before Him.
I fasted and prayed to have an answer.
One day I was reading Doctrine and Covenants 58:2-4. At last I found peace. My heart healed and I knew that what we were going through would strengthen us if we remained faithful. Great improvement has been made and much has yet to be made. But knowing that Heavenly Father has not forgotten us has given us a greater faith.