Finding Strength in the Lord: Emotional Resilience

By Lillian Arp

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently released a new course as part of its self-reliance training programme. Unlike previous classes, this one does not focus on reaching physical or financial goals. Instead, it addresses our emotional well-being.

In early 2022, the Finding Strength in the Lord: Emotional Resilience course became available to all wards in the New Zealand Papatoetoe Stake, and 17 members of its Massey Park Ward signed up.

Brother and Sister Tagavaitau facilitated the class, which met every Saturday morning for 12 weeks. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, meetings were conducted on Zoom, but attendance remained consistently strong throughout the semester. The course material was engaging, and the class bonded over shared struggles and wins as, together, they learned inspired guidelines for improving emotional resilience.

As part of a service project, the course participants shared their testimonies about their favourite lessons from the course. Here are some of their thoughts:

Sister Theresa Tagavaitau

I’m really grateful for the emotional resilience self-reliance class . . . especially for the lesson on overcoming anger. There are times when I’m quick to anger and that’s something that I’m aware of and want to change.

I want to share this quote which helps put things into perspective for me . . .

“Living in unity with Jesus Christ can help you feel peace instead of anger. The ‘mighty change’ of heart (Alma 5:14) that comes from being unified with Jesus Christ can help you want to forgive others, ‘do good continually’ (Mosiah 5:2), and ‘wait upon the Lord’ (Psalm 37:9). The Holy Ghost will fill you with ‘love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, [and] temperance’ (Galatians 5:22–23).”¹

This class has reminded me that if I truly want to change, I can’t do it on my own. Being unified with Christ will help me on my journey to becoming truly emotionally resilient.

Brother John Tagavaitau

I shared this with my family because it just stood out: We can feel joy even while having a bad day, a bad week, or even a bad year!

“My dear brothers and sisters, the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.

“When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation . . . and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy”².

Brother Ephraim Vaisa

“Be careful how you characterize yourself. Don’t characterize or define yourself by some temporary quality. The only single quality that should characterize us is that we are a son or daughter of God. That fact transcends all other characteristics, including race, occupation, physical characteristics, honors, or even religious affiliation”³.

I like this quote a lot because in mortality we are given labels from our society, titles from our culture, profession, or accomplishments . . . and we are sometimes called harsh things which we tend to believe. In the eternal perspective none of that matters. The only title or label that will stick with us through all eternity is that we are sons and daughters of God.

No one can take that away from us.

Brother Desmond Maugatai

“You are a child of God. He is the Father of your spirit. Spiritually you are of noble birth, the offspring of the King of Heaven. Fix that truth in your mind and hold to it.”⁴

The ugly duckling thought he had no value until he discovered his true identity as a swan. Then he knew that he was infinitely valuable and loved.

This story changed my whole perspective. Even though we think we are weak and lowly, we need to remember that we are a child of God. One thing He has installed in us is our ability to overcome things, like Jesus Christ did. We are not perfect [like He is], but if we look to our one perfect example, we can overcome our own struggles and weaknesses, too.