The word "tribulation" stems from the root to turn, to rub, twist, drill or pierce. The American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots tells us that this root can also "refer to the rubbing of cereal grain to remove the husks and thence to the process of threshing either by the trampling of oxen or by flailing with flails."
The Oxford English Dictionary defines tribulation as coming from the idea of a threshing sledge. Tribulation is a condition of great affliction, oppression, misery, persecution, distress, vexation or a disturbance of one's life.
In the 16th century, Thomas More defined tribulation as "every such thing as troubleth and grieveth a man either in body or mind" (OED).
The image of the rubbing of cereal grain to remove the husks or the process of threshing calls to mind John the Baptist's description of Jesus, who when he comes will have his "fan in his hand, and will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner" (Luke 3:17). A fan is a winnowing fork used in the threshing process.
King Benjamin uses the same concept in teaching us how to overcome the natural man. To do this we must, among other things, be "willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon (us)" (Mosiah 3:19). The great poet John Milton tells us that we are "tried in sharp tribulation, and refined by faith and faithful works" (OED).
We are taught that we should "glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience" (Romans 5:3), and that "in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life" (D&C 101:38).
Jesus taught, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
In the 2004 October general conference, President James E. Faust taught us that "we were sent into mortality to be tested and tried. As the Lord explained to Abraham, 'We will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them.'
"Our past and present sufferings cannot, as Paul said, 'be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us' in the eternities. 'For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory.' So tribulation is useful in the sense that it is helpful to get into the celestial kingdom."
Joseph A. Cannon is editor of the Deseret News.
E-mail: cannon@desnews.com