Finding Hope in the Gospel of Jesus Christ

This is a gospel of hope and joy! Despite the challenges, heartbreaks, fears, pains, disappointments, temptations, and illness we face, we can find hope and joy in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. His Atonement is infinite, and with that comes infinite hope. Elder Maxwell declared, “The joy made possible through the infinite Atonement is infinite joy- joy that extends endlessly and to immeasurable heights.” Think of it, Christ offers us everlasting and true joy! All He asks is for us to accept the glorious gift of His Atonement and “Come, follow me.”

Words from one of my favorite songs come to mind. The song is entitled, “You are for me,” by Kari Jobe. The title alone has a beautiful message. God, our loving Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ are for us! They have a beautiful plan of hope and happiness for each of us. It is a personal, perfect plan. Perhaps we begin to doubt that They are for us when things just don’t seem to be going right. The Lord asks us to, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” I have found that the most discouraging and frustrating times in my life stem from “leaning unto my own understanding.” The key to finding direction in life is 1. Trusting in the Lord and 2. Acknowledging Him.

This morning I met a sweet elderly lady in the temple who exemplified this trust. We spent some time talking in the locker room. Her husband passed away 8 years ago. Despite the loneliness she must feel, she stood tall and with confidence in the Plan of Salvation. She spends two days a week as an ordinance worker in the temple and the rest of her time doing genealogy. I was inspired by this woman because I could see the hope and light of the gospel in her eyes and could hear it in her words. There was no doubt in my mind that she trusted in the Lord and acknowledged His plan, and because of that she was sustained in her daily life. She involves herself in the things that matter most and lives with thanksgiving daily, despite her challenges. I want to live in such a way that when people see me, they see the hope and joy and light of the gospel of Jesus Christ! May this promise of the Lord sustain all of us: “Let your hearts be comforted; for all things shall work together for good to them that walk uprightly” (Doctrine and Covenants 100:15). May we each have eyes to see the silver lining!