With all the difficulty, sadness, chaos, selfishness and sorrow in the world, sometimes we feel powerless. We doubt our capacity for good, our potential to change our own circumstances let alone the world around us. Feelings of helplessness and hopefulness cloud our mind and judgement. I know that our individual capacity to do good is endless. God is our Father. He loves us and has blessed each of us with divine qualities like His. We have strength within us that comes from Him and our Savior Jesus Christ that will enable us to transform our hearts and lives and the lives of others. Before we came to earth we lived with Heavenly Father. We are here now because we chose to follow Him then. We can have the courage, power, and strength to choose them again. That choice will impact and bless others in ways now that we can't comprehend.
The Savior taught, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." When we follow Christ, we are holding up the light, His light, so that others can come also. Living true to what we know is a sacred responsibility. President Hinckley encouraged us to be good examples by saying, "Stand strong...You can be a leader. You must be a leader, as a member of this church, in those causes for which the church stands...the adversary of all truth would put into your heart a reluctance to make an effort. Cast that fear aside and be valiant in the cause of truth and righteousness and faith."
With our limited perspective, we might think the simple things we do really don't make an impact. Alma taught his son Helaman in Alma 37, "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass." When we are trying to build the kingdom of God, He will build us and others in ways we could never imagine. It starts small but grows and grows to touch countless souls and lives. The perfect analogy in my mind is the ripples of water in a pond. It starts small and effects many.
There will be times in life where we feel we have nothing left to give. At all times, but perhaps especially in the midst of our weakness we can turn to Christ. He is the perfect example of enduring to the very end, of never giving up, of always selflessly turning outward to lift another. We never walk alone. Knowing that, we can't give up and can't quit enduring else what is there for us? Jesus Christ assures us of His love in some of my favorite verses in Doctrine and Covenants 6:20, 33-37, "...I have spoken unto thee because of thy desires; therefore, treasure up these words in thy heart. Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love...Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward. Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail. Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spoke of our need to do good by saying,
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The Savior taught, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." When we follow Christ, we are holding up the light, His light, so that others can come also. Living true to what we know is a sacred responsibility. President Hinckley encouraged us to be good examples by saying, "Stand strong...You can be a leader. You must be a leader, as a member of this church, in those causes for which the church stands...the adversary of all truth would put into your heart a reluctance to make an effort. Cast that fear aside and be valiant in the cause of truth and righteousness and faith."
With our limited perspective, we might think the simple things we do really don't make an impact. Alma taught his son Helaman in Alma 37, "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass." When we are trying to build the kingdom of God, He will build us and others in ways we could never imagine. It starts small but grows and grows to touch countless souls and lives. The perfect analogy in my mind is the ripples of water in a pond. It starts small and effects many.
There will be times in life where we feel we have nothing left to give. At all times, but perhaps especially in the midst of our weakness we can turn to Christ. He is the perfect example of enduring to the very end, of never giving up, of always selflessly turning outward to lift another. We never walk alone. Knowing that, we can't give up and can't quit enduring else what is there for us? Jesus Christ assures us of His love in some of my favorite verses in Doctrine and Covenants 6:20, 33-37, "...I have spoken unto thee because of thy desires; therefore, treasure up these words in thy heart. Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love...Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward. Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail. Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spoke of our need to do good by saying,
“The FUTURE of this world has long been DECLARED; the final outcome between GOOD and evil is already KNOWN. There is absolutely no question as to who WINS because the VICTORY has already been posted on the SCOREBOARD. The only really strange thing is all of this is that we are still down here on the FIELD trying to decide which TEAM’S JERSEY we want to wear!”
So choose the good again. Choose to follow Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We can take things one day at a time. Being faithful one day at a time will add up to a year of integrity and then even a lifetime of righteous living.
We know what will come in the next life if we are faithful. In doing good we will be able to find ourselves because there will be so much more to find. Doctrine and Covenants 128:22 reads, "Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory."
Inhale faith, exhale fear. Do good.
{CTR always, ETTE}
