Doesn't it sometimes feel like we are fighting a neverending war of opinions? I have surely felt so over the past year and a half. Certainly, when the new pandemic hit and caused businesses to shut down and lives to change, it was a trial, but when I saw the lack of self-control as people mobbed grocery stores, maltreated minorities and police officers, and threw tantrums about the political race, I couldn't help but pity humankind in general. Many people allowed the circumstances to change them into ravaging, uncultured beasts, while others allowed their hearts to soften and did their best to help those who needed help.
Alma 62 in the Book of Mormon, verse 41 addresses what happened among the people when they faced one of their longer wars: "But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility."
Isn't it interesting how some people can harden their hearts during affliction, while some soften their hearts? We're all going through afflictions, sometimes the same afflictions, but we respond differently.
I tried finding the direct source for a parable I once heard, but only found an anonymous contribution, and it also seems like whoever told me the parable changed the coffee beans to cacao beans, but so be it. The parable, to summarize, is about eggs, carrots, and cacao beans that were each boiled. When pulled from the water, the eggs had become hardened, the carrots had become soft, and the water was changed by the cacao beans. Each item underwent the same circumstances: boiling water. Each item reacted differently.
When we face afflictions, do we become hard like the eggs and no longer let others in our hearts? Are we like the carrots and become soft, allowing the circumstances to humble us? Or are we like the chocolate, changing our circumstances and making something good out of our trials?
