Several years ago I served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the Panama, Panama City Mission. In the mission each companionship (set of two missionaries) would make weekly goals. One of our goals was to pick an attribute, or virtue, to work on together, such as faith, humility, charity, and hope. During the week we would pray for the Lord's help in strengthening us regarding our chosen virtue.

One week my companion and I chose patience as our attribute goal. To my surprise I completely lacked patience the entire week. I seemed to have no patience towards my companion, others, and myself. I was quite frustrated. A few weeks later my companion and I again selected patience as our attribute goal and once again my patience was stretched very thin.

Obviously my patience was being tested and I realized that that was the whole point. To gain patience my patience had to be tried. To develop Christ-like attributes we need opportunities to practice them. If we pray and ask the Lord's help in developing a particular virtue He will often answer our pray by giving us the chance to practice it.

In The Book of Mormon we read:

"Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.

"Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day..." (Mosiah 23:21-22).

Thus, my companion and I learned not to select patience as our weekly attribute, unless we were serious about it- and steeled ourselves for the trials that would come.
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