Thoughts on hope...

I gave a talk in church yesterday. I wasn't assigned a topic so I decided to talk about hope.

I thought I'd share the notes from my talk.

Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all.

EMILY DICKINSON

My recent study of the scriptures has revolved around hope, what it is, how to develop it, and what it means to possess it.

In Preach My Gospel, hope is described as “an abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promises to you…It is believing and expecting that something will occur…[It] is trust in God’s promises, faith that if we act now, the desired blessings will be fulfilled in the future…”

Neal A. Maxwell said that, “real hope is much more than wishful musing. It stiffens, not slackens, the spiritual spine. [It] is serene, not giddy, eager without being naïve, and pleasantly steady without being smug. [It] is the realistic anticipation which takes the form of a determination—not only to survive adversity but, moreover, to ‘endure…well’ to the end.”

This means that hope is what helps ease the pain of disappointment and loss. It puts an eternal perspective on life that makes immediate concerns and worries less overwhelming and easier to deal with. Hope is the knowledge of who we are as Children of God and heirs in His kingdom as well as the knowledge of the Atonement, its infinite reach, and the reality of its application in our lives. It is what helps us evaluate our lives and ask ourselves, “Am I doing what I need to be doing in order to receive the blessings promised by the Lord?”

As we become better at recognizing what hope is and what role it plays in our lives, it is important to realize why we need it and how we should obtain it.

Hebrews 6:19 describes hope as being the “anchor of the soul.” We need this anchor in our lives to steady us during tumultuous times. We need to develop this attribute so that we can endure to the end and return with honor.

Neal A. Maxwell also said that, “Genuine hope is urgently needed in order to be more loving even as the love of many waxes cold; more merciful, even when misunderstood or misrepresented…and more full of heartfelt hope, even when other men’s hearts fail them. We are to ‘plow in hope,’ without looking back or letting yesterday hold tomorrow hostage.”

Hope is necessary in being kind and understanding in our dealings with our fellow men. This means forgiving easily, even yourself. This is what allows us to start every day with a renewed belief that today will be better and that we can be better too by being more loving, thoughtful, and merciful to those around us.

How do we obtain hope? Through the gift of the Holy Ghost and faith in Jesus Christ. Moroni 7:41 tells us that we “shall have hope through the atonement of Christ.”

We can ask for help from the Holy Ghost. Whether it means asking for a changed perspective or seeking help in overcoming temptation, the Holy Ghost will aid us in anything that will keep us on the straight and narrow. Hope can also be gained by applying the atonement, by letting Christ’s healing power flow through all facets of our lives.

I would like to share a story that is very near to my heart of how hope has played a major role in my life during a time of great need.

Almost 4 and half years ago, in November of 2007, my brother-in-law Robert was diagnosed with leukemia.  He battled cancer, and put up a pretty good fight. I watched as he and my sister seemed to be closer than ever and almost constantly shielded by the “perfect brightness of hope” referred to in 2 Nephi 31:20. I personally felt hope keep despair at bay when things got discouraging.

A little over 2 years ago, Robert passed away at the age of 24. His death has been, to date, the most difficult thing I’ve gone through. I honestly don’t know how I would’ve dealt with it if I hadn’t had a hope in Christ and His atonement.

Neal A. Maxwell said that while hope is “otherwise a lively attribute, [it] stands quietly with us at funerals. Our tears are just as wet, but not because of despair. Rather, they are tears of heightened appreciation evoked by poignant separation. Those tears of separation change, ere long, becoming tears of glorious anticipation… Those with true hope still see their personal circumstances shaken at times—like a kaleidoscope. Yet with the ‘eye of faith,’ even in their changed, proximate circumstances, they still see divine design.”

I would like to add my testimony to that of Elder Maxwell’s. I know that hope was with me at Robert’s funeral as well as during the following months. It gave me an eternal perspective and taught me to trust in the Lord’s plans. I know that with that “eye of faith,” I was able to glimpse Heavenly Father’s divine design and be comforted to know that he had everything under control.

Hope gives us the courage to confront our circumstances and the capacity to surmount them.

JEROME GROOPMAN

I know that hope can and will help us through our darkest times. It is through hope that I know I will get to see Robert again, whole and healthy and perfect. I pray and encourage you to begin developing hope by strengthening your testimony of Christ and His atonement. Pray for the Holy Ghost’s aid and you will receive it. Let hope perch in your soul and I know it will sing tunes of comfort without ever stopping.