Life's Hurdles

During high school I ran track, and I loved it! I competed in the hurdles, the race that has obstacles every so often throughout the entire race. It was great, it was challenging, and very rewarding at the end. The first time we run the race it isn't a fluid thing, it just looks bad. However, after much practice we get better form and running the race can go from being a start and stop kind of run to a graceful and consistent sprint. In fact, it got to the point that hardly any speed was lost as we went over each hurdle. This race is very similar to our life here on earth!
Oftentimes our earthly trials are referred to as hurdles, and just like in the race I ran, we can't avoid them. It is not an option to just go around them. When we face our trials we should work to be "graceful" just like those well-trained hurdlers are. When we face a trial (or a hurdle) we should not get shaken up, we should not stutter, but we must trust our practice and meet them head on confidently; we should continue going smoothly. We ought to continue working to improve our form that will come as we put our trust in our coach, Jesus Christ. When a hurdle comes, if we allow fear and doubt to shake us, just like in the race, it ends up just being a waste of energy and you just have to begin running again.
King Benjamin taught us that we should be diligent in life, so that we might win the prize. We must  be diligent and continue to stride over life's hurdles. As we do so, we have the promise from the Lord that, "After much tribulation come the blessings."(D&C 58:4)