Optimism

'Fear thou not' from the Church News, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012

In these times, many people are pessimistic toward the future.

With earthquakes and volcanoes, weather in extremes, war looming with rogue and threatening nations, murderous venting by local individuals, national and individual debt reaching historic extremes, the sex industry profits increasing at the expense of the vulnerable and abused — and so much talk of all these things — no wonder some people are pessimistic!

However, as valid as these issues may be, we do not need to lose hope. The adversary would seduce us into pessimism for, with that attitude, he has greater control.

Things are not as bad as they seem. For one thing, general awareness of the future is high; for the first time in history, much of the world can intercommunicate. It is ironic that such a moment comes at a vortex, but even so we know that a good part of what we see is simply the result of a world view coming to our screens in a way it never has before. History is filled with terrible times but, in the past, those tragedies were isolated, provincial events. Now everyone sees everything.

This is not to say that, in such a setting as ours, ignorance is bliss. Rather, let us be intelligent about these, our times. The appropriate attitude for the future is one of informed optimism, for the future is filled with promise as well as portent. We know that righteousness will eventually triumph and, in the meantime, God will support and protect His people in wonderful ways.

It is human nature to want to be informed of the future. "For I know that ye have searched much, many of you, to know of things to come," observed Nephi (2 Nephi 9:4).

In our search to be informed of the future, let us first listen to the obvious: the inspired words of those the Lord has called to help guide us back to our heavenly home, His prophets and apostles. So much has been said by prophets of these our times, yet a single theme unifies all such teachings: We must have faith in and follow an unchanging God; the course of the Lord is "one eternal round" (Doctrine and Covenants 3:2), that is to raise up righteous people. Let us be that people.

Hope comes from knowing that He does not raise up a righteous people from a distance. He does it as a loving Father who is as close as a prayer away. The righteous people fervently believe He will hear and answer prayers for their best good. As He does, the bond between Father and children grows stronger.

Our faith in an unchanging Heavenly Father who answers our prayers is our link of closeness to Him. That faith — that link of closeness — must be relied upon, nourished, exercised and burnished with righteousness. It is at once an expression of our love for Him, and His expression of love to us. We plead for that closeness. That faith is our bridge of peace from mortality's troubled times to the hope of eternal life.

Repentance, obedience, meekness, dependence upon the Lord, guidance by the Spirit — each of these is nothing more or less than what has been asked of the followers of Christ throughout the generations.

What of impending calamities? Surely we should prepare in every intelligent way but with optimism, not fear or pessimism. But in all our preparing, first let us be prepared spiritually, and follow the counsel of prophets from the Old Testament to the present.

One of our best examples of optimism comes from President Thomas S. Monson.

Indeed, President Monson told us in the most recent conference:

"In this world where nearly everything seems to be changing, His constancy is something on which we can rely, an anchor to which we can hold fast and be safe, lest we be swept away into uncharted waters. ...

"Some of you may feel restricted by the code of conduct to which we in the Church adhere. My brothers and sisters, I declare to you, however, that there is nothing which can bring more joy into our lives or more peace to our souls than the Spirit which can come to us as we follow the Savior and keep the commandments. That Spirit cannot be present at the kinds of activities in which so much of the world participates. ..."

"We must be vigilant in a world which has moved so far from that which is spiritual. It is essential that we reject anything that does not conform to our standards, refusing in the process to surrender that which we desire most: eternal life in the kingdom of God. The storms will still beat at our doors from time to time, for they are an inescapable part of our existence in mortality. We, however, will be far better equipped to deal with them, to learn from them, and to overcome them if we have the gospel at our core and the love of the Savior in our hearts," continued President Monson.

"As the winds of change swirl around us and the moral fiber of society continues to disintegrate before our very eyes, may we remember the Lord's precious promise to those who trust in Him: 'Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness' (Isaiah 41:10).

"What a promise!" ("Stand in Holy Places," Ensign, pp. 82-86, November 2011).

© 2012 Deseret News Publishing Company