There is a constant battle between the things of the flesh and the things of God—the desire for peace and the attractions of the flesh. It is also a well-known fact that in times of prosperity man is often tempted to forget God, but in days of trial and sorrow he prays unto the Lord that his countenance may smile upon him and that the Lord will remember him in the days of his affliction. This pertains to peoples as well as individuals.

The world needs today a return to the outmoded standards of character. We need to return to a faith in God and a determination to serve him. – Joseph Anderson, “Strength of the Spirit,” Ensign (CR) May 1974