Don't Be Gloomy

"Don't be gloomy. Do not dwell on unkind things. Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. Even if you are not happy, put a smile on your face. 'Accentuate the positive.' Look a little deeper for the good. Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, with great and strong purpose in your heart. Love life.

GORDON B HINCKLEY

You will not be led astray

"I say to Israel, the Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as president of the Church lead you astray. It is not in the program. It is not in the mind of God.

President Wilford Woodruff, The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, pp 212-13

The Misunderstood Sister

"Hope is anything but wishful. It is expectation based on experience.I see Hope more clearly now. She is serene. Her eyes have the deep, knowing look of someone well acquainted with sorrow, the luminosity of recently being wet with tears. Hope has the confidence of one who clearly sees a bright future even when the next hours seem fog shrouded. Hope is steady and strong, a friend I am glad to have beside me during my own trials."



"Hope: the Misunderstood Sister"

Gratitude & Hope

"A correlation exists between hope and gratitude. To illustrate, let me share a personal experience. For Thanksgiving a few years ago, Sister Nelson and I hosted a memorable family gathering. All of our locally available daughters, sons, and grandchildren were there, among others. We counted 63 people at the feast. As part of our after-dinner program, Sister Nelson distributed to each individual a sheet of paper headed “This year, I am thankful for _____.” The remainder of the page was blank. She asked each person to complete the thought, either in writing or by drawing a picture. The papers were then collected, redistributed, and read aloud. We were asked to guess who composed each reply, which, incidentally, was not very difficult.

Meanwhile, I observed a pattern. Generally, the children were thankful for food, clothing, shelter, and family. Their pictures were precious, though not likely to be shown in an art gallery. Our youth broadened their expressions to include gratitude for their country, freedom, and church. The adults noted most of those items, but in addition mentioned the temple, their love of the Lord, and appreciation for his Atonement. Their hopes were combined with gratitude. Counting blessings is better than recounting problems."

Russell M. Nelsen, Feb. 1997, General Conference "A More Excellent Hope

Hope is Part of Our Religion

"Hope is part of our religion and is mentioned in one of the Articles of Faith: “We follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things.”



^{Russell M. Nelsen, Feb. 1997, General Conference "A More Excellent Hope"} 

The Same Shall Overcome

"We can always have hope. Always! The Lord’s promise to us is certain: “He that endureth in faith and doeth my will, the same shall overcome.”


Russell M. Nelsen, Feb. 1997, General Conference "A More Excellent Hope"

There is Always Hope

"Wherever you find yourselves on this journey through life, whatever trials you may face, there is always a point of safe return; there is always hope. You are the captain of your life, and God has prepared a plan to bring you safely back to Him, to your divine destination."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Apr. 2007, General Conference "Point of Safe Return"

Protection

"Protection against the influence of the devil comes through the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the good news that Jesus Christ has made a perfect Atonement for mankind. It is the message of love, hope, and mercy that there is a reconciliation of man with God."


Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Apr. 2007, General Conference "Point of Safe Return"

Satan Tries to Take Our Hope

"Satan tries to counterfeit the work of God, and by doing this he may deceive many. To make us lose hope, feel miserable like himself, and believe that we are beyond forgiveness, Satan might even misuse words from the scriptures that emphasize the justice of God, in order to imply that there is no mercy."


Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Apr. 2007, General Conference "Point of Safe Return"

Hope & The Scriptures

"Hope feasts on the words of Christ, “through patience and comfort of the scriptures,” “written for our learning” (Rom. 15:4), and bolstered by “having all these witnesses” (Jacob 4:6; see also 2 Ne. 31:20). Faith constitutes “the assurance of things hoped for” and the proof of “things not seen” (JST, Heb. 11:1; see also Ether 12:6). Therefore, whatever our humble furrow, we are to “plow in hope” (1 Cor. 9:10), finally developing “a perfect brightness of hope” (2 Ne. 31:20; see also Alma 29:4)"


Niel A. Maxwell, Apr. 2001, General Conference "Plow in Hope"

Atonement Brings Hope

"By utilizing the Atonement, we access the gifts of the Holy Ghost, which “filleth with hope and perfect love” 


Niel A. Maxwell, Apr. 2001, General Conference "Plow in Hope"

Abiding Trust

Hope is not knowledge, but rather the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us. It is confidence that if we live according to God’s laws and the words of His prophets now, we will receive desired blessings in the future.  It is believing and expecting that our prayers will be answered. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Apr. 2009, General Conference "The Infinite Power of Hope"

Importance of Hope

"Hope is one leg of a three-legged stool, together with faith and charity. These three stabilize our lives regardless of the rough or uneven surfaces we might encounter at the time. The scriptures are clear and certain about the importance of hope. The Apostle Paul taught that the scriptures were written to the end that we “might have hope.”


Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Apr. 2009, General Conference "The Infinite Power of Hope"