Peter's general epistle to all, warns us that it will not be easy for us to follow the steps of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In 1 Peter 2 he says, "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people .. " He goes on to say that many will "speak against you as evildoers ..." 1 Peter 2:9) "For what glory is it if when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called. because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." (1 Peter 2:20-21)
Christ did not deserve the terrible things he endured for us.Likewise we will be asked to endure many things, but here in is the test, the building of our characters to see if we can overcome the world and return home to Heaven.
I recently read an article in which the individual said she had a bubblegum machine mentality. She described this as you put in a quarter and out pops a bubblegum. She thought that if you said your prayers, read your scriptures, went to church on Sunday, etc, etc, etc, your righteous desires would be granted in short order. (Beyond the Bubblegum Machine by Amy Schauers, April Ensign) How disappointed she was to learn it doesn't work that way.
The way I look at it personally is that if it were that easy we may as well have stayed in Heaven and basked in God's goodness forever. Because without trials we wouldn't learn anything. Basically we have to want to get back to Heaven enough to sacrifice for it. It has to be that important to us. We have to obey because we want to, because we understand why we're here and because we are a chosen generation in these latter days.
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