Families,
communities, and nations are strengthened when we handle mental and emotional
challenges in an appropriate manner.
How
we respond when faced with these challenges can greatly affect ourselves and
others.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke wisely
about how to respond in the best way to mental and emotional challenges. “How do you best respond when mental or
emotional challenges confront you or those you love? Above all, never lose faith in your Father in
Heaven, who loves you more than you can comprehend…. Never, ever doubt that, and never harden your
heart. Faithful pursue the time-tested
devotional practices that bring the Spirit of the Lord into your life. Seek the counsel of those who hold keys for
your spiritual well-being. Ask for and
cherish priesthood blessings. Take the
sacrament every week, and hold fast to the perfecting promises of the Atonement
of Jesus Christ. Believe in
miracles. I have seen so many of them
come when every other indication would say that hope was lost. Hope is never
lost. If those miracles do not come
soon or fully or seemingly at all, remember the Savior’s own anguished
example: if the bitter cup does not
pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead….
“Whatever your struggle, my
brothers and sisters – mental or emotional or physical or otherwise – do not
vote against the preciousness of life by ending it! Trust in God.
Hold on in His love. Know that
one day the dawn will break brightly and all shadows of mortality will
flee. Though we may feel we are `like a
broken vessel,’ as the Psalmist says, we must remember, that vessel is in the
hands of the divine potter. Broken minds
can be healed just the way broken bones and broken hearts are healed. While God is at work making those repairs,
the rest of us can help by being merciful, nonjudgmental, and kind.
“I testify of the holy
Resurrection, that unspeakable cornerstone gift in the Atonement of the Lord
Jesus Christ! With the Apostle Paul, I
testify that that which was sown in corruption will one day be raised in
incorruption and that which was sown in weakness will ultimately be raised in
power. I bear witness of that day when
loved ones whom we knew to have disabilities in mortality will stand before us
glorified and grand, breathtakingly perfect in body and mind. What a thrilling moment that will be! I do not know whether we will be happier for
ourselves that we have witnessed such a miracle or happier for them that they
are fully perfect and finally `free at last.’
Until that hour when Christ’s consummate gift is evident to us all, may
we live by faith, hold fast to hope, and show `compassion one of another,’ ….
Elder Holland’s counsel can help
all of us, those with serious mental and emotional challenges as well as those
of us simply struggling with life.
Whether or not we personally suffer from mental or emotional challenges,
most of us know someone who is struggling.
We strengthen ourselves and others by exercising faith in Jesus Christ
and His ability to heal every problem, hope in a brighter tomorrow, and charity
for all. As we deal appropriately with
mental and emotional challenges, we can strengthen our families, communities,
and nations.
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