Hope

Do you know what it’s like to not have hope? Bishop Monson, Pre. Monson’s nephew came and spoke at my FHE tonight and he, just like Pre. Monson, can tell stories, I mean he can tell them a lot and well. I won’t reiterate the story he told but I’ll say that the spiritual highlight of it was when he talked about hope. I started to cry. I cried because my mind turned to those people I love, those people I would do anything for. He referenced the scripture where it talks about visiting those in prison, and he said there are people in prison all around us and there are those who are starting to head there all around us as well. Do you know what it is like in this place? I don’t mean a physical prison cell, but a place where your spirit starts to ache and suffocate because of situations we might get ourselves into in this world, where you start to feel like you’re losing something so important but can’t figure out how to stop from losing it. This place is horrible and if you’ve ever known what it feels like you would do anything for anyone who might be there to help them get out, to help them see a reason to continue on, even if all it takes is simply being with them and not ever letting them be alone, holding them and letting them know that they are loved. There is nothing more important than those around us. How could we ever not lend a helping hand to someone we might sense is in trouble? How could we ever shun someone? How could we ever deny someone our love? When you are continually thinking about the wellbeing of others you can know when someone is not alright. It shows in their countenance, it is felt from their thoughts, but it is only apparent to those who are sensitive and truly concerned. Have you ever looked at someone and seen that they are hurting inside? It simply is heartbreaking to see. An innocent soul cannot fathom the pain that can be felt in this life. It can be horrendous. So, please, visit those in prison and learn how to know when those around you might be there. Learning is only as hard as we make it, simply have a sincere heart. If that is something you are not sure how to have just remember a time when you cried because you lost something you loved and then apply that lens of thought over your eyes when you look at others. It becomes incredibly obvious to see the hearts of others when you do this. Our hearts are what give us our countenance and our countenance is what communicates our deepest troubles to those who can see. This is a real thing, it is more real than our physical bodies and it is the world in which we live, we simply don’t always see it the way it truly is. There is so much more to our world than what we see with our eyes. There is so much more it is astounding. Have you ever looked away from what you were doing in any given instance and seen the truth that surrounds you all the time? It is simply incredible. Just be more aware and your eyes will start to see. Be more willing and less afraid and your eyes will be opened. I’ll end with Second Kings chapter six verses 15, 16, 17, to illustrate what I mean. The servant was afraid but then his eyes were opened and he could see the real world that surrounds us all the time.
15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
This scripture is so beautiful to me. Elisha prayed and his servant’s eyes were opened and he saw the chariots of fire that were with them, he saw the army of God. It is a beautiful scripture and it causes me to want to see like Elisha as often as I can. I know there are angels all around us guiding our ways and directing us in true paths. It is simply up to us to have faith enough to believe it. Do you really believe there are unseen angels among us? Isn’t it incredible? Doesn’t it make you want to do good? Doesn’t it make you want to visit those in prison and reach out your hand to those who are hurting? I say the church is true and it will always be true. We are blessed, I say we are so incredibly blessed.