This year I decided that our family needs a "theme". . . Something to focus on throughout the year, and something to inspire. Our theme is: Hope. The past couple of years, I must admit, have not been very "hopeful". We have been happy and things are "fine" but hope was not something I thought much about . . . I would tend to dwell on my fears and worries for the future.
As I was studying the scriptures I read: “Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.” (Moro. 7:41–42.) It made me think . . . Do I have faith? Well, do I? And if I have faith, then I MUST have hope. I MUST HAVE HOPE! It is actually one of the requirements to return to live with God -- along with faith and charity. "Hope" can seem a far-fetched concept -- or it can be very, very, real and forefront in your life. Hope to me involves positive thinking, having a positive outlook on the future, and having joy in today. Hope is also directly connected with Faith. You cannot have one without the other. So if you consider yourself a person of faith, then you must be a person of hope!
Hope goes beyond just physical circumstances, and becomes a very spiritual thing. Hope can change everything. I love the quote: "People are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be."(Abraham Lincoln). It is hope that fuels happiness. Happiness is a frame of mind, and not a physical circumstance. I want to be happy, so I am making a great effort to have hope! You know, I did not really know it was missing? I was just going about my life, always worried, always concerned . . . who knew I was missing such an important element of my faith? I am so grateful we can change, and always improve!
The scriptures say that there must be “an opposition in all things.” So it is with faith, hope, and charity. Doubt, despair, and failure to care for our fellowmen lead us into temptation, which can cause us to forfeit choice and precious blessings.
The adversary uses despair to bind hearts and minds in suffocating darkness. Despair drains from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves behind the empty remnants of what life was meant to be. Despair kills ambition, advances sickness, pollutes the soul, and deadens the heart. Despair can seem like a staircase that leads only and forever downward.
Hope, on the other hand, is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. It pierces the darkness with a brilliant dawn. It encourages and inspires us to place our trust in the loving care of an eternal Heavenly Father, who has prepared a way for those who seek for eternal truth in a world of relativism, confusion, and of fear.
-Elder Uchtdorf
2010: The year of HOPE!
Amen sister!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are learning such invaluable eternal truths. I loved Elder Uctdorf's talk on hope. We really should be the happiest people on earth. Hope is something I've always seemed to hold on to. Knowing that Heavenly Father loves us, why wouldn't He want what is best for us? Then, if our desires our righteous, our hearts should be full of hope for a bright future. In fact, our modern day prophet, President Monson has said: "The future is as bright as your faith." That is one of my most favorite quotes. Follow the prophet, he KNOWS the way! Did you notice that so many of the last conference talks were about hope? Is there a pattern here? Of course! These men KNOW the Savior. They KNOW what He needs us to hear and live by. What a blessing we have been given to be taught by the Savior's disciples.
Jesus Christ is HOPE.
Hope on Mari!
hugs,
Kary
From Mom:
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful to know we have wise children.