This document discusses how adversity is part of God's plan to help us grow and progress eternally. It provides several quotes illustrating how facing challenges can strengthen our character. While difficulties are inevitable, suffering is optional. The document offers tips for overcoming adversity, such as building internal and external resources, learning from others' examples, and maintaining hope. Parents are encouraged to help their children through adversity with encouragement, empathy, responsibility, service, and goal-setting.

1. Howard W. Hunter Manual - Lesson 3 - Feb 14, 2016
Adversity
Part of God’s Plan for Our Eternal Progress

2. “When the difficulties of mortality humble us and refine us
and teach us and bless us, they can be powerful instruments
in the hands of God to make us better people.”

4. “The greatest glory in living
lies not in never falling, but in
rising every time we fall.”
Nelson Mandela

5. Adversity is part of God’s plan for our eternal progress
Why? And how does knowing this help us?
Section 1

6. “Character cannot be
developed in ease and quiet.
Only through experience of
trial and suffering can the
soul be strengthened,
ambition inspired, and
success achieved.”
Helen Keller

7. Our mortal tribulations are for our growth and experience
Section 2

9. “For it must needs be that there is an opposition in all things. If not so,
my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to
pass, neither wickedness—neither happiness nor misery, neither good
nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one.
Wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead,
having no life, neither death, nor corruption, nor incorruption,
happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.”
1 Nephi 2:11

10. And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit,
or into the hands of murderers, and the
sentence of death passed upon thee; if
thou be cast into the deep; if the
billowing surge conspire against thee; if
fierce winds become thine enemy; if the
heavens gather blackness, and all the
elements combine to hedge up the way;
and above all, if the very jaws of hell
shall gape open the mouth wide after
thee, know thou, my son, that all these
things shall give thee experience, and
shall be for thy good.
D&C 11:7

11. We have every reason to be optimistic and confident
even in times of difficulty
Section 3
Why?

12. “When resistance and
opposition are greatest, our
faith, commitment, and growth
have the greatest opportunity
for advancement.”
Howard W. Hunter

13. When we come to the Savior, He will ease
our burdens and lighten our loads
Section 4

14. Finances
Addiction
Anger
Depression
Death
Health

15. Job 23:10

17. “Just as we develop our physical
muscles through overcoming
opposition – such as lifting
weights – we develop our
character muscles by
overcoming challenges and
adversity”
Stephen Covey

18. 5Tips for Overcoming Adversity

19. 5Tips for Overcoming Adversity
Be aware of, and accept that adversity is
inevitable in life
Before adversity hits, work on cultivating emotional strength, courage
and discipline. When you make yourself aware that certain difficulties
are inevitable, you can prepare yourself mentally for confronting
adversity head-on.

20. 5Tips for Overcoming Adversity
Build your internal resources
Adversity is part of life. To avoid or resist it will only make it persist.
Everywhere you look in the world there is unmistakable struggle.
There are floods, tsunamis, wars, and calamities of all types. Even
within your own circle of family and friends there is death, loss and
tragedy. Although pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. So what do
you do?

21. 5Tips for Overcoming Adversity
Build your external resources
Build a support system of family and friends. When the going gets
tough, we all need encouragement and support. We need someone to
talk to; someone to help ease the burden. You would be surprised to
discover how often a friend has had a similar experience and can help
guide you through the difficult time. Even just knowing a friend is
there when you need them can be most comforting.

22. 5Tips for Overcoming Adversity
That which does not kill you doesn't always
make you stronger
Resilience like any muscle is built up gradually and exponentially with
repeated exposure to obstacles. If you lack practice in confronting
obstacles (as when you choose to avoid them), one traumatic event can
take you down. To underscore this point, developmental research has
shown that traumatized children are more, rather than less, likely to be
traumatized again. Likewise, those who grow up in tough
neighborhoods become weaker, not stronger, and are more likely to
struggle in life.

23. 5Tips for Overcoming Adversity
Take inspiration and learn from others who
have dealt successfully with adversity

24. 5Tips for Overcoming Adversity
Take inspiration and learn from others who
have dealt successfully with adversity
Helen Keller lost her sight and hearing due to a
mysterious fever when she was only 18 months
old. She overcame her deafness and blindness to
become a strong, educated woman who spoke
about, and promoted, women's rights.

25. 5Tips for Overcoming Adversity
Take inspiration and learn from others who
have dealt successfully with adversity
Winston Churchill overcame a stuttering
problem and poor performance in school to
become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
and one of the most influential political leaders
of the twentieth century. He was also known for
his powerful and rousing speeches.

26. 5Tips for Overcoming Adversity
Take inspiration and learn from others who
have dealt successfully with adversity
The Olympian, Wilma Rudolph, was born
prematurely, the 20th of 22 children. She
overcame double pneumonia, scarlet fever and
polio to become winner of three Gold medals in
track at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games.

27. 5Tips for Overcoming Adversity
Take inspiration and learn from others who
have dealt successfully with adversity
J.K. Rowling was born to a poor family; left a
bad marriage with a young baby to live on
government assistance; wrote her first Harry
Potter book and was turned down by most
publishers until Bloomsbury Publishing picked
it up. Need I say more?

28. 6Ways to HelpYour ChildWork
Through Adversity
✤ Encouragement
✤ Empathy
✤ Responsibility in our emotions, actions and reactions
✤ Provide opportunities for your children to help others
✤ Accept change as a part of life and maintain hope
✤ Set goals
http://familiesofcharacter.com/6-ways-to-help-your-child-work-through-adversity/

30. Sources
✤ http://familiesofcharacter.com/6-ways-to-help-your-child-
work-through-adversity/
✤ http://www.essentiallifeskills.net/overcoming-adversity.html
✤ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w4MmK-5KSI
✤ https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1980/04/god-will-
have-a-tried-people?lang=eng
✤ http://www.jewelsofhappiness.com/thoughts-on-hope-and-
overcoming-adversity-by-nelson-mandela/