When at first you don't succeed...

Since their move to the Bay Area in 1958, the San Francisco Giants struggled to find any post-season success.  There seemed to be some sort of curse that kept them from winning the world series.  Their first attempt to become world champions came in the 1962 World Series facing the mighty New York Yankees.  In the final game of that series, the Giants were down 1-0 with two runners in scoring position.  The great Willie McCovey came up to bat, and nailed a line drive that popped right into the 2nd baseman's glove.  Many Giant's fans wondered, as did Charlie Brown:

But that failure didn't keep the Giants from dropping everything and walking away miserable for eternity!  THEY KEPT AT IT!  Through miserable season to disappointing season, they finally made it back to the World Series in 1989.  Let's just say that this World Series was more famous for the earthquake that interrupted it than the fact that the Giants were humiliated by the Oakland A's.

Then came 2002!  13 years later they make it back to face the Anaheim Angels.  In the 7th inning and ahead 5-0 in what would be the Giants fourth win in the seven-game series, the Angels started steaming back into the game, won it 6-5, and eventually stole the World Series from the Giants the following game.

So what would happen in 2010?  When I left to become a missionary in 2009, the Giants were a team with great pitching but no offense.  They had not been to the playoffs since 2003 and were a team that was almost embarrassing to be a fan of.  Such was the case, and though I don't quite know what happened in 2010 because of my missionary service, I do know one thing:

"The torture was worth it."  After 52 years the San Francisco Giants can now claim victory in the most historic game in all of sports.

While the prophet Joseph Smith was imprisoned in Liberty Jail in the winter of 1839, the Lord taught him that "all these [hardships] shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."  The trials that I faced my entire life as a Giants fan allowed me to better appreciate their accomplishment.  The same is true with any experiences we may face.  Everything worth having in this life (and the next) is worth working towards.  When working to accomplish something of great import, when at first we don't succeed, try, try again!

I know that God loves us.  When we experience opposition and hardships, DON'T GIVE UP!!!  When we follow Christ, we follow the path towards success.  It won't be easy, but it is worth it.