Today’s Reading: Moroni 9
25 My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.
26 And may the grace of God the Father, whose throne is high in the heavens, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who sitteth on the right hand of his power, until all things shall become subject unto him, be, and abide with you forever. Amen.
Mormon is writing to his son, Moroni, about the wicked state of the Nephites. It is the kind of news that would definitely “weigh me down;” it’s news much like what we hear today. Everywhere I turn–whether it is the world’s current events, our national politics, or personal family members and friends I know are facing tragedy or trauma–there seems to be reason for to feel discouraged at the state of the world we live in.
I don’t know how this year’s happenings have affected you, but this year took a toll on me and on my faith. Just before General Conference in October, the question weighing upon me for Conference was, “How can I look forward to the future if there is so much doom and gloom to be found everywhere around me? Isn’t life just basically going to be a lot of suffering?”
Then President Nelson spoke, echoing Mormon’s message to Moroni. He said:
The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives…When the focus of our lives is on…Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy. (emphasis added)
Have you felt weighed down by the state of our fallen world? If so, there is still cause to hope!
The prophets teach us that there is a way to face the rigorous challenge of living in the latter days: to focus on Christ and His gospel. Focus on God’s perfect plan–the Plan of Happiness. Trust that despite the calamity and corruption, we can “hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God” (Ether 12: 4).
I testify that this prescription for hope actually works! It is a daily battle that requires constant effort, but the extra effort has made a big difference. In the days and weeks that have passed since Conference, I have seen a change in my life as I have sought to center my mind and heart on Christ, to live in gratitude more sincerely, and to pray for joy regularly. I struggle some days more than others to find joy, and I am absolutely not immune to discouragement and distress. But I can truly say that day by day, little by little, I am experiencing more joy that comes only from the Savior.
I love my hubby, my girls, and my furball. I live with my family in the San Francisco Bay Area, and now stay at home with my babe, Esther, and teach ESL to adults part-time. Before that, I studied Political Science & Spanish at BYU, worked in SaaS and for Teach for America. I have a lot of loves, including reading, traveling, chocolate, yoga, and the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice. I love Proverbs 3: 5-6.
Thank you so much for this reminder. I really needed these scriptures and your devotional today.