During uncertain times and tribulations we may be tempted to choose to postpone certain important events such as missionary service, having children, getting an education and even marriage. I would suggest that all of these things, when done for the right reason, are especially important to continue during times of tribulation. It is so for many reasons, among them being that we do not know then end from the beginning. We think times are hard now, but could it ever get worse? (Do I need to answer that?) Could you imagine what our first parents Adam and Eve might have felt when they were cast out of paradise - what might have happened if they had said, “there’s no way we can have kids now, here in the wilderness all on our own.”

It requires great courage and faith to persevere despite our challenges. And even if things get better in general, we cannot predict what will come in our own personal lives.

I do not intend to sound so pessimistic. I do have hope that great days are in store for us. I also believe that even today, we can experience great things if we can be sufficiently humble, keep the Lord’s commandments and choose to do the hard things for the right reasons. 

For more perspective on this subject, listen to this talk given by Elder Holland in 2004 - “Terror, Triumph, and a Wedding Feast”