Go Forward with Faith

            Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of His gospel. When we exercise our faith in Jesus Christ, we are actively living his gospel. The strength of our faith in Him will determine how we live His other principles.

            Then-Elder Russell M. Nelson spoke on the topic of “Face the Future with Faith” in the April 2011 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Here are a few quotes that I found when I recently studied his talk.

It is true. We live to die, and we die to live again. From an eternal perspective, the only death that is truly premature is the death of one who is not prepared to meet God.

… All that the future holds in store for each sacred child of God will be shaped by his or her parents, family, friends, and teachers. Thus, our faith now becomes part of our posterity’s faith later.

Each individual will make his or her way in a constantly changing world – a world of competing ideologies. The forces of evil will ever be in opposition to the forces of good. Satan constantly strives to influence us to follow his ways and make us miserable, even as he is. And the normal risks of life, such as illness, injury, accident, will ever be present.

We live in a time of turmoil. Earth quakes and tsunamis wreak devastation, governments collapse, economic stresses are severe, the family is under attack, and divorce rates are rising. We have great cause for concern. But we do not need to let our fears displease our faith. We can combat those fears by strengthening our faith.

Start with your children. You parents bear the primary responsibility to strengthen their faith. Let them feel your faith, even when sore trials come upon you. Let your faith be focused on our loving Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Teach that faith with deep conviction. Teach each precious boy or girl that he or she is a child of God, created in His image, with a sacred purpose and potential. Each is born with challenges to overcome and faith to be developed.

            Elder Nelson speaks of numerous areas where parents must help their children to develop faith. They include: faith in God’s plan of salvation for His children, faith in keeping all of God’s commandments in order to receive many blessings as well as physical and spiritual protection, the importance of prayer in developing faith, and how being a committed tithe payer strengthens faith. He then adds this reason for the need to strengthen our faith.

Why do we need such resilient faith? Because difficult days are ahead. Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. Each of us will be tested. The Apostle Paul warned that in the latter days, those who diligently follow the Lord “shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). That very persecution can either crush you into silent weakness or motivate you to be more exemplary and courageous in your daily lives.

How you deal with life’s trials is part of the development of your faith. Strength comes when you remember that you have a divine nature, an inheritance of infinite worth. The Lord has reminded you, your children, and your grandchildren that you are lawful heirs, that you have been reserved in heaven for your specific time and place to be born, to grow and become His standard bearers and covenant people. As you walk in the Lord’s path of righteousness, you will be blessed to continue in His goodness and be a light and a savior unto his people.

            Elder Nelson explains that difficult days are coming that will test our faith. He closed his remarks by quoting some remarks by President Thomas S. Monson given in a talk titled “Be of Good Cheer” at the April 2009 General Conference. I have learned that when one prophet quotes another prophet, the information is very important. Therefore, I consider the following statement to be of utmost value to me and to 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.

            Two prophets of God tell us that our safety lies in developing our faith in Jesus Christ. Even though there will be tough times ahead for all of us, God will bless us. We must not allow fear to overcome because we can step confidently forward in the knowledge that God is with us.

"Be of Good Cheer"

            Shortly before the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, He told His apostles and disciples what would happen and what the circumstances would be. John 16:32-33 explains.

   Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

   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.

            On this Easter Sunday may we remember that Jesus Christ has “overcome the world” and made it possible that we all might do likewise. We can “be of good cheer” because Christ overcame death and hell. He overcame sickness and pain. He overcame sin. Even though we will pass through tribulation, we may have peace in our hearts because of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice.

            What does it mean to “be of good cheer?” Two priesthood leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints explain what this phrase means. Elder Adhemar Damiani of the Quorum of the Seventy teaches the following.

   As part of our mortal probation, we pass through affliction, pain, and disappointment. Only in Jesus Christ can we find peace. He can help us to be of good cheer and to overcome all the challenges of this life.

   What does it mean to be of good? It means having hope, not getting discouraged, not losing faith, and living life joyfully. `Men are, that they might have joy’ (2 Nephi 2:25). It means facing life with confidence.

   The gospel of Jesus Christ gives us the strength and the eternal perspective to face what is coming with good cheer (“Be of Good Cheer and Faithful in Adversity,” Ensign, May 2005, 94). 

            Elder Damiani tells us that we are of good cheer when we have hope that things will work out for us. It means to not get discouraged while going through difficulties. It means that we should remember that Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and have joy.

            Elder Joe J. Christensen, then of the Presidency of the Quorum of the Seventy, reminds us that we are commanded to “be of good cheer.”

Your level of spirituality is also directly related to how well you fill the Lord’s commandments to `Be of good cheer’ and `Life up our heart and rejoice’ (Doctrine and Covenants 31:3). How many times in the scriptures did the Lord command us to be of good cheer? He didn’t say, `Be of good cheer if everything is going well, if you have enough money to pay all your bills, if [you are feeling well],’ or whatever. No. For us to be of good cheer is a commandment and not merely a suggestion” (“Ten Ideas to Increase Your Spirituality,” Ensign, March 1999, 59). 

            Why would the Lord give us a commandment to “be of good cheer” and to “rejoice” when He knew that we would be passing through difficult times? He surely knew that mortal life would be hard for us! I believe that the answer comes through the teachings of President Gordon B. Hinckley. I am often amazed at the optimism shown by all the prophets and apostles who lead the Church, but I am particularly impressed with the positivity shown by President Hinckley. He had a positive attitude about everything, even when he was facing difficulty. He often declared, “I am an optimist!” Here are some examples of his counsel to be cheerful.

   My please is that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight.

   Be believing. Be happy. Don’t get discouraged. Things will work out.

   If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us.

   I have seen a good deal of this earth. … I have been in areas where war rages and hate smolders in the hearts of people. I have seen the appalling poverty that hovers over many lands. … I have watched with alarm the crumbling morals of our society. And yet I am an optimist. I have a simple and solemn faith that right will triumph and that truth will prevail.

   We have every reason to be optimistic. … Look at Nauvoo. Look at what they built here in seven years and then left. But what did they do? Did they lie down and die? No! They went to work! They moved halfway across this continent and turned the soil of a desert and made it blossom as the rose. On that foundation this church has grown into a great worldwide organization affecting for good the lives of people in more than 140 nations. You can’t, you don’t, build out of pessimism or cynicism. You look with optimism, work with faith, and things happen. (“Gordon B. Hinckley: A Prophet of Optimism and Vision,” Liahona, Jan. 2017).

            There is the answer for why the Lord commands us to “be of good cheer” and “rejoice.” We must have faith in Jesus Christ and move forward in our lives with our trust in God and hope for a better life. We must be positive in order to do good works. Otherwise, the weight of the problems of the world would hold us back and keep us from preparing for eternal life with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. “Be of good cheer” because Christ has overcome the world!