“What
do we hear in the gospel which we have received?” the Prophet Joseph asked. And
then he answered it: “[We hear] a voice of gladness! ... glad tidings of good
things... Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad.” –Doctrine and
Covenants 128:19, 22
In
the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own
selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,
incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady,
highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of
godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort
are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins,
led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge
of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also
resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. . .
.But continue thou in the things which thou has learned and hast been assured
of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. . . .That the man of God may be
perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. [1]
We
move into perilous, troublesome times, and there is unrest everywhere. “It
would be easy to become discouraged and cynical about the future—or even
fearful of what might come—if we allowed ourselves to dwell only on that which
is wrong in the world and in our lives. Today, however, I’d like us to turn our
thoughts and our attitudes away from the troubles around us and to focus
instead on our blessings as members of the Church. The Apostle Paul declared,
‘God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a
sound mind.’ None of us makes it through this life without problems and
challenges—and sometimes tragedies and misfortunes. After all, in large part we
are here to learn and grow from such events in our lives. We know that there
are times when we will suffer, when we will grieve, and when we will be saddened.
However, we are told, ‘Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they
might have joy’…How might we have joy in our lives, despite all that we may
face? Again from the scriptures: ‘Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear,
for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you.’ I testify to you that our
promised blessings are beyond measure. Though the storm clouds may gather,
though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our
love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and
bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments. There
will be nothing in this world that can defeat us. My beloved brothers and
sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.”[ii]
Somebody
has to stand, face the storm, declare the truth, and let the winds blow, and be
serene and composed and steady in the doing of it. Fear and faith are
antagonistic to one another, and it is our obligation to promote faith, not
fear; so stand steady. Is it any wonder than that the Lord, amidst the
inevitable vision of our day, would so often speak the message to be of good
cheer? In fact, the phrase be of good
cheer, fear not appears in at least 17 verses of holy writ. 866 total verses of
the scriptures relay the importance of cheer, joy, happiness or derivative of
this idea. Here are the totals: Joy/ Joyfully - 321 Verses; Be of good cheer -
17 Verses; Cheerfully - 3 Verses; Happy- 33 Verses; Happiness- 28 Verses; Pleasure-
81 Verses; Glad- 128 Verses; Merry- 34 Verses; Pleased- 91 Verses; Gladness- 60
Verses; Delight- 68 Verses; Bliss, Felicity- 2 Verses; for a grand total of 866
Verses.
The
Lord Himself instructed that we exist with the objective of seeking and
obtaining eternal joy. “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they
might have joy.”[iii]
God is a Being of joy; pure and divine. He desires that we too experience
divine, pure and lasting joy—here in mortality and in the eternal realms of
exaltation. So great was this desire for our eternal happiness that he
presented the eternal Plan of Happiness. A vital element of this Plan of
Happiness is our mortal experience in a fallen world while utilizing the
enabling gift of the Atonement. This world provides opposition and opportunity
to become agents of choice. It is through our ability to become agents of
choice; acting for ourselves in righteousness, not being acted upon, that we
find joy. It is through the vision and perspective of this plan that we develop
an ability to look up to God and step up to godliness.
“We
must look up and step up. And as we do, I know we will cheer up, for God wants
us to be happy.”[iv]
Several years ago my oldest son Hyrum taught me a valuable lesson about our relationship
with the Father. We are Heavenly Father’s children. He wants to be a part of
our lives, to bless us, and to help us. He will heal our wounds, dry our tears,
and help us along our path to return to His presence. As we look to Him, He
will lead us. Hyrum, from birth, has always had an incredible amount of energy.
He loves trying new things (adventures…as he calls them) that are physically
challenging. When he wakes up he is 0 to 90 in 3 seconds—climbing on, jumping
over and running around anything he can find. When Hyrum was just 2 years old
he went through a phase were he watched the Disney animated Tarzan over and
over again. Naturally, everything in our home became a tree to climb and a vine
to swing from. We had in our front room two very large floor-to-ceiling
curtains. These curtains became his “vines” of choice.
He
would get his 2 year old body running full speed…grab hold of those curtains
and then swing high off the ground. This would scare my wife half to death and
I knew, that if he continued, eventually he was going to hurt himself.
Regardless of our many pleas and teaching moments he ignored our out reach of
love and a desire to protect.
One
afternoon, in the middle of my last seminary class of the day, I received a
message that I needed to return home as soon as possible because my son Hyrum
had seriously injured himself while swinging on one of those curtains. He had
let go at just the wrong moment and his forehead collided with the corner of a
windowsill a couple of feet away. This cut open his forehead and he was in need
of a trip to the ER. I hurried home.
The
entire way home I kept playing over in my mind the many times I had told him
that he would get hurt if he didn’t listen to me. I kept thinking about how I
could use this as a teaching moment—a “I told you so”—moment. I was frustrated
and a little annoyed at his ignoring my pleas of protection and I determined to
use this as an opportunity to “set him right”.
I
walked in the front door and there he was sitting on the floor. One hand
holding a blood stained towel, and the other outstretched to me. “Daddy” was
his cry as tears rolled down his cheeks. Instantly all annoyance and
frustration disappeared as I lifted him into my arms. He nestled in and tears
rolled off his cheeks and onto my shirt. We left for the ER.
The
doctor informed me that he would have to clean, sterilize and then use a glue
paste to seal the wound. In order for him to be able to perform this I would
have to hold my son down on the table. He instructed me to place my forearms on
Hyrum’s chest and then to hold his flailing arms with my hands. This put me in
a position looking directly into my son’s eyes. Tears flowed down his face and
his cries were that of confusion and pain. His eyes seemed to show the pangs of
betrayal as I pinned him down. In his little mind here I was holding him down,
letting some stranger hurt his head, and he had no idea why all this was
happening. Amidst the cries of pain he looked directly into my eyes and cried “Daddy,
why?”. This struck a heartstring and pulled at every instinct to protect him.
But this needed to be done. I could not stop the doctor because I knew that
this was the only way my son could be healed.
It
was in that moment that a still voice of understanding came into my mind. “Now
you know. Now you know how I, so often, feel about you and about all of my
children.” So often we ignore a loving Father’s pleas of protection—pleas of
vision and perspective. He knows us and he knows what is key to our eternal
happiness, progression and protection. We are Heavenly Father’s children. He
wants to be a part of our lives, to bless us, and to help us. He will heal our
wounds, dry our tears, and help us along our path to return to His presence.
Too often we ignore his guidance and “swing” on the spiritual curtains of life,
“cut-open” our spiritual foreheads and need a trip to the spiritual ER. How
easy it would be for Him to always say, “See, I told you this would happen; I
knew you would end up getting hurt; why don’t you just listen?” He stands ready
to lift us up and to heal us. It is not always an easy process of healing. The
trials and tribulations of our mortal sojourn often cause us to cry out “Father,
why? Why must I go through this? Am I not your child? Do you not love me? Why
am I facing so much hardship?” We may feel pinned down to the table of
mortality under the weight of our adversity. But He knows that this mortal
experience, full of opposition and sorrow, is key to our eternal happiness.
We
must pass through sorrow so that we might know joy—pure and divine. This world
provides opposition and opportunity to become agents of choice. It is through
our ability to become agents of choice; acting for ourselves in righteousness,
not being acted upon, that we find joy. It is through the vision and
perspective of this plan that we develop an ability to look up to God and step
up to godliness. “Oh, it is wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father loves
us—even with all our flaws! His love is such that even should we give up on
ourselves, He never will. We [might] see ourselves in terms of yesterday and
today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever.”[v]
“Experience has taught me that if we exercise our faith and look to God for
help, we will not be overwhelmed with the burdens of life. We will not feel
incapable of doing what we are called to do or need to do. We will be
strengthened, and our lives will be filled with peace and joy. We will come to
realize that most of what we worry about is not of eternal significance—and if
it is, the Lord will help us. But we must have the faith to look up and the
courage to follow His direction.”[vi]
“Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both
in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in
heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things
which the Lord can comprehend.”[vii]
“Seek the Lord… and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in
him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets
have said, For we are also his offspring.”[viii]
This
is the time when the God of heaven has moved in fulfillment of His ancient
promise that He would usher in the fulness of the gospel in the Dispensation of
the Fulness of Times. . . . “You’re not just here by chance. You are here under
the design of God. Let us not be afraid. Jesus is our leader, our strength, and
our king. This is an age of pessimism. Ours is a mission of faith. To my
brethren and sisters everywhere, I call upon you to reaffirm your faith, to
move this work forward across the world. You can make it stronger by the manner
in which you live. Let the gospel be your sword and your shield. Each of us is
a part of the greatest cause on earth. ‘What do we hear in the gospel which we
have received?’ the Prophet Joseph asked. And then he answered it: ‘[We hear] a
voice of gladness! … glad tidings of good things… Let your hearts rejoice,’ he
said, ‘and be exceedingly glad.’”[ix]
Our
day is a day wherein men's hearts are failing them. Hopelessness, grief,
depression and despair are rampant. Our message to the world is one of hope,
peace and joy. It is one of our Father’s love and our Savior’s Sacrifice. It is
only in and through the gospel, and Atonement, of Jesus Christ that we can find
peace and assurance in our mortal sojourn.
Perspective is Power
“Where
there is no vision, the people perish”—Proverbs 29:18
Eternal
perspective has a short shelf life. It must continually be nourished by study
and by faith. Our mortal experience has a way of diminishing our eternal
perspective and the vision to see ourselves in terms of forever. The
quick-sands of day to day routine have the potential to cloud our eternal
vision and bog us down in the mundane. We must strive to become optimistic beings
of potential and avoid going through the motions.
It
becomes vital for a disciple of Christ to diligently seek eternal perspective.
After obtaining such perspective it becomes an imperative duty to help others
see through clearer eyes. The enemy of truth and perspective would that we lose
sight of who we are and who we are becoming. One of the great teachings of the
Man of Galilee, the Lord Jesus Christ, was that you and I carry within us
immense possibilities. In urging us to be perfect as our Father in Heaven is
perfect, Jesus was not taunting us or teasing us. He was telling us a powerful
truth about our possibilities and about our potential. It is a truth almost too
stunning to contemplate. Jesus, who could not lie, sought to beckon us to move
further along the pathway to perfection…Each of us has more opportunities to do
good and to be good than we ever use. These opportunities lie all around us.[x]
A
person of perspective inspires all to rise above the limits they have set for
themselves and to seek true unlimited divine potential. They realize that God
can make more out of His children than they alone. His is a way full of
promise, potential and perspective. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin so perfectly
stated “We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father
sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father
won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of transformation. It takes us as men
and women of the earth and refines us into men and women for the eternities”.[xi]
“Our
birth is but a sleep and a forgetting: But trailing clouds of glory do we come
from God, who is our home.”[xii]
It is in the gaining of perspective that the vision of our pre-mortal self
becomes clear. And it is in this perspective that we re-enlist in proving our
divine potential. “Everything in our
life happens as though we entered upon it with a load of obligations contracted
in a previous existence … obligations whose sanction is not of this present
life, [which] seem to belong to a different world, founded on kindness,
scruples, sacrifice, a world entirely different from this one, a world whence
we emerge to be born on this earth, before returning thither.”[xiii]
In the Apocryphon of James, Jesus reportedly told an afflicted Peter and James,
“If you consider how long the world existed before you, and how long it will
exist after you, you will find that your life is one single day and your sufferings
one single hour”[xiv]
Elder
Orson Hyde said, “We have forgotten! … But our forgetfulness cannot alter the
facts.”[xv]
Yet, on occasions, there are inklings. President Joseph F. Smith observed how
“we often catch a spark from the awakened memories of the immortal soul, which
lights up our whole being as with the glory of our former home.”[xvi]
The Fall and Mortality
“Adam
fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” —2 Nephi 2:25
Without
moral righteousness, there is no happiness; without significant moral freedom,
there is no moral righteousness; without an opposition (opposing possibilities
to choose between), there is no significant moral freedom. Thus, happiness and
opposition are essentially related.
President
Brigham Young reflectively observed: “Sometimes I think it quite strange that
the children of men are so constituted as to need to be taught one lesson all
the time, and again it is not so marvelous to me, when I reflect upon . . . the
designed effect . . . of this state of probation. Men are organized to be
independent in their sphere, . . . yet they have, as soldiers term it, to run
the gauntlet all the time. They are organized to be just as independent as any
being in eternity, but that independency . . . must be proved and tried while
in this state of existence, must be operated upon by the good and the evil”.[xvii]
Adam
and Eve were the first of God’s children to come to the earth. God created Adam
and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were created in
God’s image, with bodies of flesh and bones. While Adam and Eve were in the garden,
they were still in God’s presence and could have lived forever. They lived in
innocence, and God provided for their needs.
In
the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve their agency. He commanded them not
to eat the forbidden fruit, or the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and
evil. Obeying this commandment meant that they could remain in the garden, but
they could not progress by experiencing opposition in mortality. They could not
know joy because they could not experience sorrow and pain. Satan tempted Adam
and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, and they chose to do so. This was part of
God’s plan. Because of this choice, they were cast from the garden and out of
God’s physical presence. This event is called the Fall. Separation from God’s
presence is spiritual death. Adam and Eve became mortal—subject to physical
death, or separation of the body and spirit. They could now experience disease
and all types of suffering. They had moral agency or the ability to choose
between good and evil. This made it possible for them to learn and progress. It
also made it possible for them to make wrong choices and to sin. In addition,
they could now have children, so the rest of God’s spirit children could come
to earth, obtain physical bodies, and be tested. Only in this way could God’s
children progress and become like Him.[xviii]
Life
on earth is an opportunity and a blessing. Our purpose in this life is to have
joy and prepare to return to God’s presence. In mortality we live in a
condition where we are subject to both physical and spiritual death. God has a
perfect, glorified, immortal body of flesh and bones. To become like God and
return to His presence, we too must have a perfect, immortal body of flesh and
bones. However, because of the Fall of Adam and Eve, every person on earth has
an imperfect, mortal body and will eventually die. If not for the Savior Jesus
Christ, death would end all hope for a future existence with Heavenly Father.
Along
with physical death, sin is a major obstacle that keeps us from becoming like
our Father in Heaven and returning to His presence. In our mortal condition we
often yield to temptation, break God’s commandments, and sin. During our life
on earth each of us makes mistakes. Although it sometimes appears otherwise,
sin always leads to unhappiness. Sin causes feelings of guilt and shame.
Because of our sins, we are unable to return to live with Heavenly Father
unless we are first forgiven and cleansed. While we are in mortality, we have
experiences that bring us happiness. We also have experiences that bring us
pain and sorrow, some of which is caused by the sinful acts of others.[xix]
All sorrow and suffering can be a great teacher if we as students are humble enough
in our adversity to learn. Annie Swetchine said, “Those who have suffered much
are like those who know many languages; they have learned to understand and be
understood by all”[xx]
“I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught, all
the world would be wise, since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added
mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness, and the willingness to
remain vulnerable”[xxi]
These
experiences provide us opportunities to learn and to grow, to distinguish good
from evil, and to make choices. God influences us to do good; Satan tempts us
to commit sin. As with physical death, we cannot overcome the effects of sin by
ourselves. We are helpless without the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Edith
Hamilton observed: “When love meets no return the result is suffering, and the
greater the love the greater the suffering. There can be no greater suffering
than to love purely and perfectly one who is bent upon evil and self‑destruction.
That was what God endured at the hands of men”[xxii]
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
and His Atonement
“The
more we know of Jesus’ atonement, the more we will humbly and gladly glorify
Him, His atonement, and His character. We will never tire of paying tribute to
His goodness and loving kindness. How long will we so speak of our gratitude
for His atonement? The scriptures advise “forever and ever”! (D&C
133:52).”—Neal A. Maxwell[xxiii]
Our
purpose, in Seminaries and Institutes, is to help youth and young adults understand
and rely on the teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ, qualify for the
blessings of the temple, and prepare themselves, their families, and others for
eternal life with their Father in Heaven. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is
central to the plan of salvation. It is the fundamental truth upon which gospel
doctrines and principles are established and should be at the heart of all
gospel teaching and learning. Elder Boyd K. Packer testified that the Atonement
“is the very root of Christian doctrine. You may know much about the gospel as
it branches out from there, but if you only know the branches and those
branches do not touch that root, if they have been cut free from that truth,
there will be no life nor substance nor redemption in them”[xxiv]
“The
fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and
Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the
third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our
religion are only appendages to it.”[xxv]
“Now, the atonement of Christ is the most basic and fundamental doctrine of the
gospel, and it is the least understood of all our revealed truths. Many of us
have a superficial knowledge and rely upon the Lord and his goodness to see us
through the trials and perils of life. But if we are to have faith like Enoch
and Elijah we must believe what they believed, know what they knew, and live as
they lived…We must cast aside the philosophies of men and the wisdom of the
wise and hearken to that Spirit which is given to us to guide us into all
truth. We must search the scriptures, accepting them as the mind and will and
voice of the Lord and the very power of God unto salvation.”[xxvi]
You
and I must look to and come unto Christ, who is “the fountain of living waters”[xxvii],
by reading studying, searching and feasting upon the words of Christ as
contained in the holy scriptures. By so doing, we can receive spiritual
direction, protection and peace during our mortal journey. The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints has a sacred stewardship to preserve the written
revelations in purity and in safety this precious reservoir of living water. “…As
water is necessary to sustain physical life, so the Savior and His doctrines,
principles, and ordinances are essential for eternal life. You and I need His
living water daily and in ample supply to sustain our ongoing spiritual growth
and development.”[xxviii]
“There
is no greater expression of love than the heroic Atonement performed by the Son
of God. There in the quiet isolation of the Garden of Gethsemane, He knelt
among the gnarled olive trees, and in some incredible way that none of us can
fully comprehend, the Savior took upon Himself the sins of the world. Even
though His life was pure and free of sin, He paid the ultimate penalty for
sin—yours, mine, and everyone who has ever lived. His mental, emotional, and
spiritual anguish were so great they caused Him to bleed from every pore (see Luke 22:44; D&C 19:18).”[xxix]
He
gave it as a ransom for us all. As the Son of God, He had the power to alter
the situation. Yet the scriptures clearly state that He yielded Himself to scourging,
humiliation, suffering, and finally crucifixion because of His great love
towards the children of men (see 1 Ne. 19:9–10). The Atonement of Jesus Christ was an indispensable
part of our Heavenly Father’s plan for His Son’s earthly mission and for our
salvation. How grateful we should be that our Heavenly Father did not intercede
but rather withheld His fatherly instinct to rescue His Beloved Son. Because of
His eternal love for you and for me, He allowed Jesus to complete His
foreordained mission to become our Redeemer. The gift of resurrection and immortality is
given freely through the loving grace of Jesus Christ to all people of all
ages, regardless of their good or evil acts. And to those who choose to love
the Lord and who show their love and faith in Him by keeping His commandments
and qualifying for the full blessings of the Atonement, He offers the
additional promise of exaltation and eternal life, which is the blessing of
living in the presence of God and His Beloved Son forever.[xxx]
I
believe that if we could truly understand the Atonement of the Lord Jesus
Christ, we would realize how precious is one son or daughter of God. I
believe our Heavenly Father’s everlasting purpose for His children is generally
achieved by the small and simple things we do for one another. At the heart of
the English word atonement is the word one. If all mankind understood
this, there would never be anyone with whom we would not be concerned,
regardless of age, race, gender, religion, or social or economic standing. We
would strive to emulate the Savior and would never be unkind, indifferent,
disrespectful, or insensitive to others. If we truly understood the Atonement
and the eternal value of each soul, we would seek out the wayward boy and girl
and every other wayward child of God. We would help them to know of the love
Christ has for them. We would do all that we can to help prepare them to
receive the saving ordinances of the gospel.
Jesus
Christ is the light and the life of the world. As we fix our gaze on His
teachings, we will be guided to the harbor of spiritual safety. The third
article of faith states, “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all
mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
President Joseph F. Smith taught: “Men cannot forgive their own sins; they
cannot cleanse themselves from the consequences of their sins. Men can stop
sinning and can do right in the future, and so far [as] their acts are
acceptable before the Lord [become] worthy of consideration. But who shall
repair the wrongs they have done to themselves and to others, which it seems
impossible for them to repair themselves? By the atonement of Jesus Christ the
sins of the repentant shall be washed away; though they be crimson they shall
be made white as wool (see Isaiah 1:18). This is the promise given to
you.”[xxxi]
If
we truly comprehend the magnitude of, and the importance for studying, the
atonement we will realize the importance of consistent analysis of our
understanding and reliance on this the most important act of the plan. “The
Atonement of Jesus Christ outweighs, surpasses, and transcends every other
mortal event, every new discovery, and every acquisition of knowledge, for
without the Atonement all else in life is meaningless.”[xxxii].
We
will come to realize that most of what we worry about is not of eternal
significance—and if it is, the Lord will help us. As we remember Him and trust
in His power, we receive strength through His Atonement. It is the means
whereby we can be relieved of our anxieties, our burdens, and our suffering. It
is the means whereby we can be forgiven and healed from the pain of our sins. Alma
and his people, under the bondage inflicted upon them by Amulon, teach that the
Atonement is the means whereby we can receive the faith and strength to endure
all things. “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.”[xxxiii]
Alma
would teach these truths, about the Atonement, to his son Alma (the younger)
who in turn would experience the power whereby we can be relieved of our
anxieties, our burdens, and our suffering; the means whereby we can be forgiven
and healed from the pain of our sins. He would later teach his son about the
enabling and saving power of the Atonement. “And now, O my son Helaman, behold,
thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my
words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in
God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their
afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.”[xxxiv]
“And
it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed
up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to
have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one
Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world. Now, as my mind
caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of
God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by
the everlasting chains of death. And now, behold, when I thought
this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the
memory of my sins no more. And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did
behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! Yea, I
say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as
were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand,
there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.”[xxxv]
If
we exercise our faith and look to God for help, we will not be overwhelmed with
the burdens of life. We will not feel incapable of doing what we are called to
do or need to do. We will be strengthened, and our lives will be filled with
peace and joy. It is only in and through the gospel of Jesus Christ that we can
find peace and assurance. Our message to the world is a message of hope, peace
and joy.
Finding Hope, Peace and Joy in
the Savior and His Gospel
“There
are a few among us who believe in God but do not want to let Him be God; they
would limit Him in terms of character and attributes. Reassuringly, in two
adjoining verses, the Lord said tersely, “I am able to do mine own work”! (2
Nephi 27:20–21). Brothers and sisters, that is about as nice a way as God could say to us that He can handle it!" --Neal A. Maxwell[xxxvi]
“With
uncompromised confidence in God, I ask you to summon full confidence in
yourselves and build full confidence in your students by teaching with
conviction and optimism that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the most certain,
the most secure, the most reliable, and the most rewarding truth on earth and
in heaven, in time and in eternity. I ask you to teach that nothing—not
anything, not anyone, not any influence—will keep this Church from fulfilling
its mission and realizing its destiny set from before the foundation of the
world. Ours is that fail-safe, inexorable, indestructible dispensation of the fulness
of the gospel. Our youth have no need to be afraid or tentative about
themselves or about their future. What they do need to do is believe and to
rise up to make the most of the remarkable day in which we live.”[xxxvii]
No
wonder the Prophet Joseph taught that every prophet, priest, and king in every age
“looked forward with joyful anticipation to the day in which we live; and fired
with heavenly and joyful anticipations they have sung and written and
prophesied of this our day; ... we are the favored people that God has made
choice of to bring about the Latter-day glory.”[xxxviii]
“We
know for certain that if and when everything else in the latter days is down or
dying; if governments, economies, industries, and institutions crumble; if
societies and cultures become a quagmire of chaos and insecurity, nevertheless,
through it all the gospel of Jesus Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter- day Saints that bears that gospel to the world will stand triumphant.
It will stand undefiled in God’s hand until the very Son of God Himself comes
to rule and reign as Lord of lords and King of kings. Nothing is more certain
in this world. Nothing is more sure. Nothing could be more of an antidote to
anxiety. As the Prophet Joseph declared, and as a generation of missionaries
quote with fervor: The truth of God will sweep every country and sound in every
ear. No unhallowed hand can stop it from progressing. (History of the Church,
4:540) …worry and fear and pessimism and fretting can destroy anyone’s good
cheer—yours and that of the people around you. So put a smile on your face, and
cherish every day of your life!”[xxxix]
“Let us not be afraid. Jesus is our leader,
our strength, and our king. This is an age of pessimism. Ours is a mission of
faith. To my brethren and sisters everywhere, I call upon you to reaffirm your
faith, to move this work forward across the world. You can make it stronger by
the manner in which you live. Let the gospel be your sword and your shield.
Each of us is a part of the greatest cause on earth.”[xl]
“God is at the helm. Never doubt it. When we are confronted with opposition, He
will open the way when there appears to be no way…Let not any voices of
discontent disturb you. Let not the critics worry you. As Alma declared long
ago: ‘Trust no one to be your teacher nor your minister, except he be a man of
God, walking in his ways and keeping his commandments’ (Mosiah 23:14). The
truth is in this Church. ... As the Psalmist declared: ‘Behold, he that keepeth
Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep’ (Ps. 121:4). He who is our Savior
slumbers not nor sleeps as He watches over this His kingdom.”[xli]
There
may not be a clearer message of peace and hope than these holy words spoken by
the Savior Himself, “[Behold,] ye are little children, and ye have not ... yet
understood how great blessings the Father hath ... prepared for you.”[xlii]
“Fear not, ... for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of
them that my Father hath given me.”[xliii]
“Ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead
you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the
riches of eternity are yours.”[xliv]
“Wherefore, I am in your midst, ... I am the good shepherd, and the stone of
Israel. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall. And the day cometh
that you shall hear my voice and see me, and know that I am.”[xlv]
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In
the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I
have overcome the world.”[xlvi]
“Therefore, cheer
up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for
yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of
eternal life.”[xlvii]
“Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with
you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ,
that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am
to come.”[xlviii]
“And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer,
for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof
are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.”[xlix]
Do All Things Cheerfully that Lie
in Your Power
“Every
man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly,
or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” –2 Corinthians 9:7
One
of the most trying times in the history of the Church, both in terms of its
impact on the Church generally and in the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith
personally, occurred during the winter of 1838–39. The Prophet, who bore the
brunt of the persecution in that period, had been imprisoned in the ironically
named Liberty Jail. Until his martyrdom five and a half years later, there was
no more burdensome time in Joseph’s life than this cruel, illegal, and
unjustified incarceration. Liberty Jail, one of the more forbidding structures
in that region, was considered escape proof, and it probably was. Surrounded by
stone walls four feet thick, the floor-to-ceiling height in the dungeon was
barely six feet. Inasmuch as some of the men, including the Prophet Joseph,
were over six feet tall, this meant that when standing they were constantly in
a stooped position. When they lay down, it was mostly upon the rough, bare
stones of the prison floor covered here and there by a bit of loose, dirty
straw or an occasional dirty straw mat.[l]
The
food given to the prisoners was coarse and sometimes contaminated, so filthy
that one of them said they “could not eat it until [they] were driven to it by
hunger.”[li]
On as many as four occasions poison was administered to them in their food,
making them so violently ill that for days they alternated between vomiting and
a kind of delirium, not really caring whether they lived or died. In the
Prophet Joseph’s letters, he spoke of the jail being a “hell, surrounded with
demons … where we are compelled to hear nothing but blasphemous oaths, and
witness a scene of blasphemy, and drunkenness and hypocrisy, and debaucheries
of every description.”[lii]
“We have … not blankets sufficient to keep us warm; and when we have a fire, we
are obliged to have almost a constant smoke,” he said.[liii]
“Our souls have been bowed down”[liv]
and “my nerve trembles from long confinement,” Joseph wrote.[lv]
“Pen, or tongue, or angels,” could not adequately describe “the malice of hell”
that he suffered there.[lvi]
All of this occurred during what, by some accounts, was considered the coldest
winter on record in the state of Missouri.
The
truths Joseph received while in Liberty Jail reveal that God was not only
teaching Joseph Smith in that prison circumstance, but He was also teaching all
of us, for generations yet to come. How empty our lives as Latter-day Saints
would be if we did not have sections 121, 122, and 123 of the Doctrine and
Covenants! They are contained in a mere six pages of text, but those six pages
touch our hearts with their beauty and their power. And they remind us that God
often “moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform.”[lvii]
He certainly turned adversity into blessing in giving us those sacred writings
and reflections—so pure, noble, and Christian in both tone and content,
yet produced in such an impure, ignoble, and unchristian setting.[lviii]
The
Prophet Joseph's final written words from the Liberty Jail experience declare;
“Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie
in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see
the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.”[lix]
What incredible words from a man in the depths of “the malice of hell”! In the
worst of circumstances we can and have to be fully dedicated to cheerfully give
all we have to the cause of God. And, after all we can do we must stand sure
and steadfast in our faith that God will do His part. He can, and will, work
miracles in the lives of those who cheerfully go about their duties trusting
Him. This type of faith is contagious and we must pass this on to those we
teach. I call this type of energetic approach to cheerfully spreading the
message of the gospel the good disease. To the youth in our classes I would eco
the words of Solomon in the Book of Ecclesiastes “Rejoice… in thy youth; and
let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of
thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these
things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy
heart, and put away evil from thy flesh.”[lx]
President
Boyd K. Packer’s words have become my own words; “You are participants—more
than witnesses—in the trying and important events in the history of the world
and the history of the Church in our day. Thank God that you are born in this
era. Be grateful that you are alive and have the happy opportunity, the
priceless opportunity, of teaching in this momentous, adventuresome time. I do
not doubt that we are sailing into troubled waters. There are storms to ride
out; there are reefs and shoals to negotiate ere we reach port; but we have
been through them before and have found safe passage.”[lxi]
Consider
this verse of scripture: “The heavens shall be darkened, and a veil of darkness
shall cover the earth; and the heavens shall shake, and also the earth; and
great tribulations shall be among the children of men, but my people will I
preserve”.[lxii]
“Steady
as she goes. Our craft has weathered the storm before. It is seaworthy. What a
glorious time to be alive; what a marvelous age in which to live! Thank the
Lord for the privilege of living in an adventuresome day of challenge. And now
to you who teach, there is a celestial radar—revelation from God guiding us and
guiding you. There is an inspired captain—a prophet of God. I bear witness to
you that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is just what you teach
it to be—the only true and living Church upon the face of the whole earth. I
bear witness that Jesus is the Christ, and that the Church was formulated for
strength in difficult times. Steady as she goes. Now I leave for your
contemplation these words about another storm at another time: ‘And there arose
a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now
full.. . . And they awake him, and say unto him [as many say in our day],
Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and
said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was
a great calm’ (Mark 4:37–39; emphasis added).”[lxiii]
We
move into perilous, troublesome times, and there is unrest everywhere. “It
would be easy to become discouraged and cynical about the future—or even
fearful of what might come—if we allowed ourselves to dwell only on that which
is wrong in the world and in our lives. None of us makes it through this life
without problems and challenges—and sometimes tragedies and misfortunes. After
all, in large part we are here to learn and grow from such events in our lives.
Somebody
has to stand, face the storm, declare the truth, and let the winds blow, and be
serene and composed and steady in the doing of it. Is it any wonder than that
the Lord, amidst the inevitable vision of our day, would so often speak the
message to be of good cheer? We must look
up and step up. And as we do, we will cheer up. We must pass through sorrow so
that we might know joy—pure and divine. This world provides opposition and
opportunity to become agents of choice. It is through our ability to become
agents of choice; acting for ourselves in righteousness, not being acted upon,
that we find joy. It is through the vision and perspective of this plan that we
develop an ability to look up to God and step up to godliness.
It
becomes vital for a disciple of Christ to diligently seek eternal perspective.
After obtaining such perspective it becomes an imperative duty to help others see
through clearer eyes. The enemy of truth and perspective would that we lose
sight of who we are and who we are becoming. If we exercise our faith and look
to God for help, we will not be overwhelmed with the burdens of life. We will
not feel incapable of doing what we are called to do or need to do. We will be
strengthened, and our lives will be filled with peace and joy. It is only in
and through the gospel of Jesus Christ that we can find peace and assurance.
Our message to the world is a message of hope, peace and joy. “Therefore, cheer
up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for
yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of
eternal life.”[lxiv]
[i] 2 Timothy 3:1–8, 14, 17
[ii] Thomas S. Monson, Be of Good Cheer, April
2009
[iv] 2011–O:33, Carl B. Cook, It Is Better to
Look Up
[v] Elder Joseph B.
Worthlin, “The Great Commandment,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2007, 29
[vi] It is better to look
up, Elder Carl b. Cook
[ix] Gordon B. Hinckley, “Stay
the Course—Keep the Faith,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 72.
[x] Spencer W. Kimball, August Ensign Jesus the Perfect Leader.
Salt Lake City: The Church
of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979.
[xi] Joseph B. Wirthin, Ensign: Conference Edition April 1988 “Without
Guile”. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
1988.
[xii] William Wordsworth, “Ode:
Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood,” lines 58,
64–65.
[xiii] Marcel Proust, in
Gabriel Marcel, Homo Viator, New York: Harper and Row, 1963, p. 8
[xiv] “The Apocryphon of
James,” in The Nag Hammadi Library in English, ed. James M. Robinson, San
Francisco: Harper and Row, 1978, p. 31
[xv] Journal of Discourses, 7:315
[xvi] Gospel Doctrine, 5th
ed., Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1939, p. 14
[xvii]
Journal of
Discourses, 3:316
[xviii] Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service, (2004), 47-59
[xix] Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service, (2004), 47-59
[xx] in Neal A. Maxwell, We Will
Prove Them Herewith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1982], p. 123.
[xxi] in Brigham Young University
Law Review, vol. 1991, no. 1
[xxii]
Spokesman
for God [New York: W. W. Norton, 1936], p. 112
[xxiii] “O How Great the Plan
of Our God!” (2 Nephi 9:13), Address to CES Religious Educators, 3 February
1995, Temple Square Assembly Hall
[xxiv] Elder Boyd K. Packer, “The Mediator,” Ensign, May
1977, 56.
[xxv] Joseph Smith, May 8, 1838,
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p121
[xxvi]
Elder Bruce R. McConkie, May Ensign, 1985
[xxvii]
1
Nephi 11:25; compare Ether 8:26, 12:28
[xxviii] David A. Bednar, A Reservoir of Living Water. (Salt Lake
City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Intellectual Reserve,
2007.)
[xxix] M. Russell Ballard, The Atonement and the Value of One Soul. (Salt
Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Intellectual
Reserve, 2004.)
[xxx] M. Russell Ballard, The Atonement and the Value of One Soul. (Salt
Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Intellectual
Reserve, 2004.)
[xxxi] Boyd K. Packer, The Reason for Our Hope. (Salt Lake
City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Intellectual Reserve,
2014.)
[xxxii] Tad R. Callister, The Infinite
Atonement
[xxxvi] “O How Great the Plan
of Our God!” (2 Nephi 9:13), Address to CES Religious Educators, 3 February
1995, Temple Square Assembly Hall
[xxxvii] Be Not Afraid, Only Believe Elder Jeffrey R. Holland — Of
the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Address to CES Religious Educators • February
6, 2015 • Salt Lake Tabernacle
[xxxviii] Teachings of the
Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 186
[xxxix]
Be
Not Afraid, Only Believe Elder Jeffrey R. Holland — Of the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles Address to CES Religious Educators • February 6, 2015 • Salt Lake
Tabernacle
[xl] Gordon B. Hinkley,
“Stay the Course—Keep the Faith,” Ensign,
November 1995, 72
[xli] Gordon B. Hinckley,
“God Is at the Helm, Ensign, May 1994, 59–60
[xlii]
Doctrine and Covenants 78:17
[xliv]
Doctrine and Covenants 78:18
[xlv] Doctrine and Covenants 50:44-45
[xlix]
Doctrine and
Covenants 78:18
[l] Except from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. “Lessons
from Liberty Jail”, From a CES Fireside given on September 7, 2008, at Brigham
Young University.
[li] Alexander McRae, in
B. H. Roberts, in A Comprehensive History of the Church, 1:521
[lii] Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 3:290.
[liii] Letter to Isaac
Galland, Mar. 22, 1839, in Personal Writings of Joseph
Smith, comp. Dean C. Jessee (2002), 456.
[liv] Letter to the Church in
Caldwell County, Dec. 16, 1838; “Communications,” Times and Seasons, Apr. 1840, 85
[lv] Letter to Emma Smith,
Mar. 21, 1839, in Personal Writings, 449.
[lvi] Letter to Emma Smith,
Apr. 4, 1839, in Personal Writings, 463, 464;
spelling and capitalization standardized
[lvii]
“God Moves in a
Mysterious Way,” Hymns, no. 285
[lviii] Except from Elder
Jeffrey R. Holland. “Lessons from Liberty Jail”, From a CES Fireside given on
September 7, 2008, at Brigham Young University.
[lx] Ecclesiastes 11: 9-10
[lxi] Boyd K Packer. “To Those
Who Teach in Troubled Times”, Address to religious educators, Summer 1970.
[lxiii]
Boyd K Packer. “To Those Who Teach
in Troubled Times”, Address to religious educators, Summer 1970.
