The Cry of The Trumpet

Spiritual growth always involves resistance—not because we’re failing, but because we’re developing strength. President Oaks reminds us that, “ Just as our physical muscles cannot be developed or maintained without straining against the law of gravity, so mortal growth requires us to strain against Satan’s temptations and other mortal opposition .” Opposition isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s the very condition that builds spiritual muscle. Elder de Jager adds a vivid metaphor: our spiritual life is like a balloon rising upward.   - “Just as the balloon can rise higher by throwing ballast overboard, so must a person be willing to rid himself of unnecessary ballast that limits his rise in spirituality.” He names the common “ballast” that weighs us down:   - Impatience — “Get rid of our sandbag of impatience… ‘continue in patience until ye are perfected.’”   - Criticism — “Cease to find fault one with another.”   - Unfriendliness — “Ye are my friends....