Quotes Dealing With Adversity 
"The most extraordinary thing about the oyster is this: Irritations get into his shell. He does not like them. But when he cannot get rid of them, he uses the irritation to do the loveliest thing an oyster ever has a chance to do. If there are irritations in our lives today, there is only one prescription: make a pearl."
Marvin J. Ashton, quoting Harry Emerson Fosdick
"Now, we find many people critical when a righteous person is killed, a young father or mother is taken from a family, or when violent deaths occur. Some become bitter when oft-repeated prayers seem unanswered. Some lose faith and turn sour when solemn administrations by holy men seem to be ignored and no restoration seems to come from repeated prayer circles. But, if all the sick were healed, if all the righteous were protected and the wicked destroyed, the whole program of the Father would be annulled and the basic principle of the Gospel, free agency, would be ended.
"If pain and sorrow and total punishment immediately followed the doing of evil, no soul would repeat a misdeed. If joy and peace and rewards were instantaneously given the doer of good, there could be no evil--all would do good and not because of the rightness of doing good. There would be no test of strength, no development of character, no growth of powers, no free agency, no Satanic controls.
"Should all prayers be immediately answered according to our selfish desires and our limited understanding, then there would be little or no suffering, sorrow, disappointment, or even death; and if these were not, there would also be an absence of joy, success, resurrection, eternal life, and godhood."
Spencer W. Kimball, "Tragedy or Destiny," Improvement Era, March 1996, pp. 180, 210
"No matter how serious the trial, how deep the distress, how great the affliction, (GOD) will never desert us. He never has, and HE NEVER WILL. He cannot do it. It is not His character to do so. He is an unchangable being the same yesterday, the same today, and He will be the same throughout the eternal ages to come. We have found that God. We have made Him our friend, by obeying His gospel; and He will stand by us. We may pass through the fiery furnace; we may pass through deep waters; but we shall not be consumed nor overwhelmed. We shall emerge from all these trials and difficulties the better and purer for them, if we only TRUST in our God and KEEP His commandments."
George Q. Cannon, Freedom of the Saints, Study 5, vols. 2:185
Socrates is quoted as saying:
"If we were all to bring our misfortunes into a common store, so that each person should receive an equal share in the distribution, the majority would be glad to take up their own and depart."
One other aspect of our trials not being only for us but others--I think when we go through different trials, we are better able to help others going through the same thing.
Diane Hopkins of Latter-day Family Resources put it in such a good way:
"Sharing what we've learned with each other builds us all. If we can turn and help one another with the experience we've gained, then the trial really is a blessing. Isn't that what these earth life experiences are all about anyway? If our trials can be a school of experience so that another need not suffer so, if we can help a brother or sister because of what we have learned, then the difficulty seems very worthwhile. Life is one growing experience after another."
"We came to mortal life to encounter resistance. It was part of the plan for our eternal progress. Without temptation, sickness, pain, and sorrow, there could be no goodness, virtue, appreciation for well-being, or joy."
"God Will Have a Tried People," April 1980 Gen. Conf., Howard W. Hunter
"...(All) things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good."
D&C 98:1, 3
"All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."
"It is not on the pinnacle of success and ease where men and women grow most. It is often down in the valley of heartache and disappointment and reverses where men and women grow into strong characters."
President Ezra Taft Benson: Conf. Report, Stockholm Sweden Area Conf., 1974, p. 70
"Every reversal can be turned to our benefit and blessing and can make us stronger, more courageous, more godlike."
President Ezra Taft Benson, Conf. Report, Philippine Islands Area Conf, 1975, p. 11
"And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord."
Ye fearful Saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
"God Moves in a Mysterious Way," Hymn No. 285, verse 2
"When we are pushed, stung, defeated, embarrassed, hurt, rejected, tormented, forgotten--when we are in agony of spirit crying out 'why me?' we are in a position to learn something."
Adversity, Elaine Cannon, p. 47
"I'm grateful that my priesthood power is limited and used as the Lord sees fit to use it. I don't want to heal all the sick--for sickness sometimes is a great blessing. People become angels through sickness.
"Have you ever seen someone who has been helpless for so long that he has divested himself of every envy and jealousy and ugliness in his whole life, and who has perfected his life? I have.
Have you seen mothers who have struggled with, perhaps, unfortunate children for years and years, and have become saints through it?.....No pain suffered by man or woman upon the earth will be without its compensating effects if it be suffered in resignation and if it be met with patience."
Pres. Spencer W. Kimball: Book: Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 167-68
"The trials of life are to make us better-----not bitter."
"Into every life there come the painful, despairing days of adversity and buffeting. There seems to be a full measure of anguish, sorrow, and often heartbreak for everyone, including those who earnestly seek to do right and be faithful. The thorns that prick, that stick in the flesh, that hurt, often change lives which seem robbed of significance and hope."
"In this way the soul can become like soft clay in the hands of the Master in building lives of faith, usefulness, beauty, and strength. For some, the refiner's fire causes a loss of belief and faith in God, but those with eternal perspective understand that such refining is part of the perfection process."
James E. Faust: April 1979 Gen. Conf., "The Refiner's Fire"
"My experience in various church callings and in my profession as a family therapist has convinced me that God actively intervenes in some destructive lineages, assigning a valiant spirit to break the chain of destructiveness in such families.
Although these children suffer innocently as victims of violence, neglect, and exploitation, through the grace of God some find the strength to 'metabolize' the poison within themselves, refusing to pass it on to future generations.
Before them were generations of destructive pain; after them the line flows clear and pure. Their children and children's children will call them blessed."
Carlfred Broderick, August Ensign 1986
"We live in a day when the adversary stresses on every hand the philosophy of instant gratification. We seem to demand instant everything, including instant solutions to our problems.
"We are indoctrinated that somehow we should always be instantly emotionally comfortable. When that is not so, some become anxious--and all to frequently seek relief from counseling, from analysis, and even from medication.
"It was meant to be that life would be a challenge. To suffer some anxiety, some depression, some disappointments, even some failure is normal.
"Teach our members that if they have a good, miserable day once in a while, or several in a row, to stand steady and face them. Things will straighten out.
"There is great purpose in our struggle in life."
The Simpleness of the Way Looking to the Lord for Help and Healing by Daniel K Judd (Bookcraft 1998)
Quote from the writings of Elder Boyd K Packer:
"Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and repeat to yourself the most comforting words of all......This too, shall pass."
Ann Landers
"A good bridge between despair and hope is a good night's sleep."