This past year has been a monumental shift on so many levels throughout the world. Not one person has emerged unscathed, and we are still in the midst of the turmoil. The struggles for our health and livelihood are being played out in the arenas of government, social media, and even within our own family circles. Opinions and disputes have divided many, and the noise is so extreme that for some, it has drowned out the still, small voice. Compared to just a few years ago, so much has changed and seems out of character. In fact, society has striven at an accelerated pace to change the character of goodness to a point that it has become unrecognizable. What was once sound moral fiber is unraveling, and it is happening right before our eyes.
We were told of this time, long ago, and here it is before us; the impromptu seasonal weather changes, drought, social and moral decline, deviation from our Father in Heaven, worldwide catastrophic events, and a pandemic. In its true prophetic warning from passages written ages ago, what was once good is now called bad, and what was called bad is now labeled as good.
Matthew 24:8 tells us that these things are just labor pains, a time of warning for those who are listening, so they are prepared for the coming times. So should we live in fear of all of these signs? Goodness, no. Fear is not a characteristic of the Lord. We only fear when we do not know Him or His ways. It is wise to be observant and prepared, but more importantly to live life every day to its fullest. There are those who spend their whole lives focused on end times to such an excess that they forget to live, putting a strain on familial and social relationships. Their minds are so wrapped around the concept of the world ending soon, that they are failing to do the very work they came here for.
During his leadership, Wilford Woodruff, fourth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, was approached by several brethren who wanted his input on the timing of the second coming of the Savior. His answer was one of the wisest I have heard yet.
“I would live as if it were to be tomorrow, but I am still planting cherry trees.”(1) Here President Woodruff expresses the importance of living our daily lives in a functional, interactive, loving, and stable manner, building our spiritual environment in preparation for meeting the Savior, yet actively engaging in our temporal surroundings.
One vital process I believe we should all be involved in, concerning spiritual and temporal happiness in hard times, is the healing of our families from issues of the past and present. It is necessary to be a healthy and united family in order to not only withstand the times that are coming but to be worthy to stand in the presence of our Father in Heaven and his Son Jesus Christ. It is the responsibility of the generations alive today to work their way back, taking an extensive glimpse into their family’s journey to see where the paths have been fragmented. These altered paths have become overtaken by briars and thistles, causing many to deviate and go astray, becoming embittered toward siblings, cousins, parents, and children; a travesty that has built many thick, generational walls. These walls have cut asunder the relationships of many would-be friends and family members.
If there has been any time that the need was great to bring our families together it is now. Without that bond, there will be many who will scatter in chaos as times grow even darker. The change comes through forgiving and loving ourselves and one another. As we do so, we can let go of the issues we have been holding on to for generations. We cannot cling to those issues and the Savior at the same time, so it is vital to let the issues go and embrace Christ. As we do so we will be filled with the light of his pure love and our wounds will heal. If we will just take that step, He will hold us up and show us how to get through all of our trials, pain, and sorrow. We will become whole, and the reward will be a fullness of joy. Elder D. Todd Christopherson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said of the Savior:
“We can turn to Him as we seek unity and peace within because He understands. He understands the struggle, and He also understands how to win the struggle.” (2)
I have always felt Christ in my life, even as a child. I encountered many difficulties while growing up, and it was not uncommon for me to talk to him in search of comfort. When I felt that there was no other friend to be had, I knew that He was there and would never leave me alone. Having the comfort of that bond has saved me in many ways from going down paths that would have endangered my spirit, and at times when I did fall by the wayside, His hand was always extended to help pull me up, I had only to reach for it.
The values I have gained through the knowledge of His love has made it possible for me to process the darkness that has surrounded members of both my father and mother’s family, allowing me to sift through the bitterness to find truth. It has been a long journey, filled with unexpected surprises, pain, fear, and hesitations but I have always walked forward because I knew I was supposed to. I knew that in all things I would be guided by the Holy Ghost if I had faith and would never be led astray. Even though at times there was no indication as to where I was going or what lay ahead, I have never been disappointed and always felt at peace.
This journey is ongoing. I am still learning and discovering as we should all be. Knowledge never decreases unless we allow it to. It is so interesting for me to look back upon the pages of what has brought me here, to examine my life. It puts into perspective the awareness that our Father in Heaven plans things out carefully, and that we are free to choose whether or not to go in directions in which we are prompted. How we choose defines our lives at that moment and determines whether or not we will increase or decrease in spiritual growth.
As I look back, I have seen the sorrow of electing to go my own way because of fear, the wisdom of choosing what is right, and the fulfillment of following the promptings of the still, small voice. In this strange and ever-changing season, it is so important to keep the Savior in our hearts at all times; to gather our families, to be aware of our surroundings yet mindful of staying focused on what we are here to do, and always rely on the Holy Ghost in all things–no matter how scary the world makes things seem. Remember that the Savior is your friend at all times, and He is always there with arms outstretched.
I learned from my mother at a very young age, that the Holy Ghost trumps everything. No matter what questions arise concerning contrasts in history, imperfect human behavior, the skewed perceptions of others, and how dark the world seems around us–this Gospel is true because the Holy Ghost has born witness to it, and He is the one who will never lie to us; indeed, the Holy Ghost trumps everything.
- Evans, Richard L., “The Power and Privilege of Repentance.”
Conference Report, April 1950,
pp. 102-106
2. Christofferson, D. Todd, “That They May Be One in Us.”
General Conference. October 2002
<https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2002/10/that-they-