Where I stand on this topic:
One of my favorite hymns, “When Faith Endures,” [i] expresses succinctly my understanding on this topic. It says: "I will not doubt, I will not fear . . . fear departs when faith endures."
President Boyd K Packer teaches this significant doctrine: “In the battle of life, the adversary takes enormous numbers of prisoners . . . . Every soul confined to a concentration camp of sin and guilt has a key to the gate. The adversary cannot hold them if they know how to use it. The key is labeled Repentance. . . .
President Boyd K Packer teaches this significant doctrine: “In the battle of life, the adversary takes enormous numbers of prisoners . . . . Every soul confined to a concentration camp of sin and guilt has a key to the gate. The adversary cannot hold them if they know how to use it. The key is labeled Repentance. . . .
(D&C 58:42–43; Heb. 10:16–17).” [ii]
Elder M Russell Ballard counsels, “Remove any of your fear with faith. Trust the power of God to guide you.” [iii] President Henry B Eyring reminds us of this [iv] and invites, “This is His Church. [The Church of Jesus Christ]. ... He is God, the Creator, and perfect. We are mortals subject to death and sin. Yet in His love for us and our families, He invites us to be close to Him.” [v]
Although I am human and may face discouraging or traumatic events I can still trust Heavenly Father and rely on the Savior. They love me and will help me. Elder Russell M Nelson explains, “Not all of our prayers will be answered as we might wish. Occasionally the answer will be no. We should not be surprised. Loving mortal parents do not say yes to every request of their children. . . . Even the Son of God endured such an experience, 'saying, Father, if thou be willing, . . . nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done' (Luke 22:42).” [vi]
President Deiter F Uchtdorf teaches, "Even though we may feel lost . . . God promises the hope of his light. He promises to illuminate the way before us and show us the way out of darkness. . . . God's light is real. It is available to all. . . . It can be a healing balm for the loneliness and sickness of our souls. In the furrows of despair it can plant the seeds of a brighter hope. It can enlighten the deepest valleys of sorrow. It can illuminate the path before us and lead us through the darkest night . . . . How do we open our eyes to the hope of God's light? First start where you are. ... We don't have to be perfect to experience the blessings and gifts of our Heavenly Father. We don't have to wait to cross the finish line to receive God's blessings. In fact the heavens begin to part and the blessings of heaven begin to distill upon us with the very first steps we take towards the light." [vii] (My emphasis.)
Elder Ballard teaches, “Satan . . . will not have the power to tempt or disturb us beyond our strength to resist when we are studying the gospel and living its commandments. . . .When we focus on a few basic objectives, we are more likely to be able to manage the many demands that life makes on us. Remember, too much of anything in life can throw us off-balance. At the same time, too little of the important things can do the same thing.” [viii]
Elder Richard G Scott counsels, “We need not worry if we can’t simultaneously do all of the things that the Lord has counseled us to do. . . . He will direct us in what should be emphasized at each phase of our life. We can . . .become like Him one consistent step at a time.” [ix]
Elder Neil L Anderson comforts, “Like the intense fire that transforms iron into steel, . . . we are spiritually refined and strengthened . . . With faith come trials of faith, bringing increased faith . . . (Doctrine and Covenants 122:9).
President George Q. Cannon said:
No matter 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. . . . 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.” [x] [xi]
Elder M Russell Ballard counsels, “Remove any of your fear with faith. Trust the power of God to guide you.” [iii] President Henry B Eyring reminds us of this [iv] and invites, “This is His Church. [The Church of Jesus Christ]. ... He is God, the Creator, and perfect. We are mortals subject to death and sin. Yet in His love for us and our families, He invites us to be close to Him.” [v]
How this affects my future:
Although I am human and may face discouraging or traumatic events I can still trust Heavenly Father and rely on the Savior. They love me and will help me. Elder Russell M Nelson explains, “Not all of our prayers will be answered as we might wish. Occasionally the answer will be no. We should not be surprised. Loving mortal parents do not say yes to every request of their children. . . . Even the Son of God endured such an experience, 'saying, Father, if thou be willing, . . . nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done' (Luke 22:42).” [vi]
Elder Richard G Scott counsels, “We need not worry if we can’t simultaneously do all of the things that the Lord has counseled us to do. . . . He will direct us in what should be emphasized at each phase of our life. We can . . .become like Him one consistent step at a time.” [ix]
Elder Neil L Anderson comforts, “Like the intense fire that transforms iron into steel, . . . we are spiritually refined and strengthened . . . With faith come trials of faith, bringing increased faith . . . (Doctrine and Covenants 122:9).
President George Q. Cannon said:
No matter 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. . . . 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.” [x] [xi]
My plan to apply it in my life:
As I trust in and wait on the Lord several things vitally affect my ability to endure hopelessness and continue to move forward. Consistent scripture study and prayer help me obey the commandments and renew the covenants I make to increase my understanding, grow nearer to the Savior, and become more like him as I serve and share the gospel.
[iii] Elder M. RUSSELL BALLARD of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
As I trust in and wait on the Lord several things vitally affect my ability to endure hopelessness and continue to move forward. Consistent scripture study and prayer help me obey the commandments and renew the covenants I make to increase my understanding, grow nearer to the Savior, and become more like him as I serve and share the gospel.
Elder Uchtdorf encourages,"The perfect place to begin is where you are right now. ... The very moment you begin to seek your heavenly Father, in that moment the hope of his light will begin to awaken, enliven, and ennoble your soul. ... As surely as the night always gives way to dawn, the light will come. . . . [The gospel of Jesus Christ] teaches us . . . the things we must know, do, and be to walk in his light . . . . To all who feel they walk in darkness I invite you to rely on this certain promise spoken by the Savior of mankind, 'I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shalt not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of everlasting life (John 8:12).'” [xii]
Elder Jeffrey R Holland reassures, “In times of special need, [God] sends angels, . . . His help [is] always very near. . . . Usually such beings are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near. . . . In the course of life all of us spend time in “dark and dreary” places . . . but I testify that angels are still sent to help us . . . Not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, . . . indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind.”
He adds, “Take heart, be filled with faith, and remember the Lord has said He ‘would fight [our] battles, [our] children’s battles, and [the battles of our] children’s children (D&C 98:37).’ . . . The latter days are not a time to fear and tremble. They are a time to be believing and remember our covenants. [sic]
Elder Holland affirms, “God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face. '[N]or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man [or woman or child] upon the face thereof to be saved (Moroni 7:36).” On occasions, global or personal, we may feel we are distanced from God, shut out from heaven, lost, alone in dark and dreary places. Often enough that distress can be of our own making, but even then the Father of us all is watching and assisting. And always there are those angels who come and go all around us, seen and unseen, known and unknown, mortal and immortal.” [xiii]
Elder Jeffrey R Holland reassures, “In times of special need, [God] sends angels, . . . His help [is] always very near. . . . Usually such beings are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near. . . . In the course of life all of us spend time in “dark and dreary” places . . . but I testify that angels are still sent to help us . . . Not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, . . . indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind.”
He adds, “Take heart, be filled with faith, and remember the Lord has said He ‘would fight [our] battles, [our] children’s battles, and [the battles of our] children’s children (D&C 98:37).’ . . . The latter days are not a time to fear and tremble. They are a time to be believing and remember our covenants. [sic]
Elder Holland affirms, “God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face. '[N]or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man [or woman or child] upon the face thereof to be saved (Moroni 7:36).” On occasions, global or personal, we may feel we are distanced from God, shut out from heaven, lost, alone in dark and dreary places. Often enough that distress can be of our own making, but even then the Father of us all is watching and assisting. And always there are those angels who come and go all around us, seen and unseen, known and unknown, mortal and immortal.” [xiii]
NOTES:
[ii] President BOYD K. PACKER of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
“Our Moral Environment,” 162nd Annual General Conference, April 1992
"That the Lost May Be Found" 182nd Annual General Conference,1 April 2012, or May Ensign, pages 97-99
[iv] President HENRY B EYRING, First Counselor in the First Presidency,
[iv] President HENRY B EYRING, First Counselor in the First Presidency,
“Where Is The Pavilion?” 182rd Semi-annual General Conference, 7 October 2012
[v] Elder HENRY B EYRING, First Counselor in the First Presidency,
[v] Elder HENRY B EYRING, First Counselor in the First Presidency,
“Come Unto Me” 183rd Annual General Conference, 6 April 2013
[vi] Elder RUSSELL M NELSON of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
[vi] Elder RUSSELL M NELSON of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
“Sweet Power of Prayer,” 173rd Annual General Conference, April 2003
[vii] Elder DEITER F UCHTDORF, Second Counselor in the First Presidency,
[vii] Elder DEITER F UCHTDORF, Second Counselor in the First Presidency,
"The Hope of God’s Light," 182th Annual General Conference, April 7, 2013
[viii] Elder M. RUSSELL BALLARD of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
[viii] Elder M. RUSSELL BALLARD of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
“Keeping Life’s Demands In Balance,” 157th Annual General Conference, April 1987
[ix] Elder RICHARD G. SCOTT of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
[ix] Elder RICHARD G. SCOTT of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
“For Peace at Home” 183rd Annual General Conference,6 April 2013
[x] “Remarks,” Deseret Evening News, Mar. 7, 1891, 4; see also Jeffrey R. Holland, “Come unto Me,” Ensign, Apr. 1998, 16–23.
[xi] Elder NEIL L. ANDERSON, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
[x] “Remarks,” Deseret Evening News, Mar. 7, 1891, 4; see also Jeffrey R. Holland, “Come unto Me,” Ensign, Apr. 1998, 16–23.
[xi] Elder NEIL L. ANDERSON, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
"Trial
of Your Faith" 182nd Semi-annual General Conference, October 2012
[xii] Elder DEITER F UCHTDORF, Second Counselor in the First Presidency,
"Your Wonderful Journey Home," 30 March 2013, Ensign, May 2013, 125-129
[xiii] Elder JEFFREY R HOLLAND of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
[xiii] Elder JEFFREY R HOLLAND of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
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