The poultice was made, and the wound, which took fully a quarter of a yard of linen to cover, . . . was properly dressed. . . . I was reminded that in my husband's trunk there was a bottle of balsam. This I poured into the wound, greatly soothing Alma's pain. The treatment was unusual for that day and time, and unheard of now, but when we reach an extremity, like Sister Smith, we have to exercise our simple faith and listen to the Spirit as she did. Exercising our faith will make it stronger.
Strong faith is earned by keeping the commandments.
There are for this people some absolutes upon which our faith must rest. They are basic, eternal truths. Gordon B. Hinckley holds, as all of the preceding Presidents of the Church did, all of the keys and authority restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith. This is the work of God. We will be given strength to overcome all adversity.