Alright everyone and for our new blog article taken from the Conference Message. Let's talk about hope. Not the fluffy, "everything will be okay" kind of hope, but the real deal – the kind that keeps you going when life throws its surprises. It's not just a feeling; it's like a lifeline, a deep, inner strength that helps us navigate the messy, uncertain parts of life. So let's talk about it this article.
Elder Neil L. Andersen puts it perfectly: hope is a gift, a spiritual gift from God. Think of it like this: it's not something you passively receive; it's something you actively cultivate, like a precious plant that needs nurturing to grow strong and vibrant.
When things get tough – and let's be honest, they will get tough that might sometimes takes you out of control – hope is what helps us keep our heads up. It's that quiet voice whispering, "There's more to come. Brighter days are ahead." It's the fuel that keeps us moving forward, even when we're exhausted and discouraged.
And where does this incredible hope come from? Of course, From our Savior, Jesus Christ. Understanding His Atonement and Resurrection isn't just about theology; it's about understanding the incredible promise of Redemption and Eternal Life. That's a pretty powerful foundation for hope. And hopefully you agreed? LoL!
The Book of Mormon sums it up beautifully in Ether 12:4: It talks about how faith and hope are intertwined – they're like two sides of the same coin. Faith gives us the ability to understand and believe it works, while hope gives us the strength to keep going, to keep doing good, to keep striving to be better. It's like having an anchor in a storm; it keeps us grounded and steady.
Think about this question: When you're facing a challenge, what helps you get through it? Is it faith in something bigger than yourself? Is it the hope that things will eventually improve? These two work together to give us the resilience we need.
Moroni 7:42 says it plainly: "If a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.” It's a simple truth, but a powerful one.
Elder Andersen also talks about how we can grow our hope. It's not a one-time thing; it's something we nurture through prayer, studying the scriptures, and serving others. These things aren't just religious practices; they're ways of connecting with something bigger than ourselves, of strengthening our faith, and ultimately, deepening our hope. He suggests building our faith – the foundation of our hope – through prayer, temple covenants, keeping the commandments, studying scriptures and the words of modern prophets, taking the sacrament, serving others, and worshipping with our fellow believers.
So, let's not just talk about hope; let's live it. Let's cultivate it, nurture it, and let it be our guiding light, our anchor in the storms of life. Let's carry that hope with us, and share it with others, because the world needs more hope now more than ever.
Thank you and have a nice day!
Jerry N. Bustillo