Hope…or Despair?

1. Hope…or Despair? www.kevinhinckley.com

2. Marines Two California Highway Patrol Officers were conducting speeding enforcement on I-15, just north of the Marine Corps Air Station at Miramar. One of the officers was using a hand held radar device to check speeding vehicles approaching the crest of a hill. The officers were suddenly surprised when the radar gun began reading 300 miles per hour. The officer attempted to reset the radar gun, but it would not reset and then turned off. Just then a deafening roar over the treetops revealed that the radar had in fact locked on to a USMC F/A-18 Hornet which was engaged in a low flying exercise near the location.   Back at the CHP Headquarters the Patrol Captain fired off a complaint to the USMC Commander. The reply came back in true USMC style: Thank you for your letter.  We can now complete the file on this incident. You may be interested to know that the tactical computer in the Hornet had detected the presence of, and subsequently locked on to your hostile radar equipment and automatically sent a jamming signal back to it, which is why it shut down. Furthermore, an Air-to-Ground missile aboard the fully armed aircraft had also automatically locked on to your equipment location. Fortunately, the Marine Pilot flying the Hornet recognized the situation for what it was, quickly responded to the missile system alert status and was able to override the automated defense system before the missile was launched to destroy the hostile radar position. The pilot also suggests you cover your mouths when cussing at them, since the video systems on these jets are very high tech. Sergeant Johnson, the officer holding the radar gun, should get his dentist to check his left rear molar. It appears the filling is loose. Also, the snap is broken on his holster. Thank you for your concern.     Semper Fi

3. [For internet readers] The following lesson focuses on Moroni’s last counsel to us. In Chapter 10, he talks about Faith, Hope and Charity. The alternative is despair which comes from a general wickedness and deliberately cutting out the source of hope, the Savior. In particular, how will we, as Saints, continue to maintain hope in a world increasingly drowning in wickedness and hopelessness. Mormon preached to such a group, probably the Anti-Nephi-Lehies, who continued to walk the “peacable walk” even as the Nephite nation spun into its final years of self destruction. Finally, President Ucktdorf gives some sound guidance on this issue.

4. Book of Mormon Mystery… Moroni Quotes Mormon And now I, Moroni, write a few of the words of my father Mormon, which he spake concerning faith, hope, and charity; for after this manner did he speak unto the people, as he taught them in the synagogue which they had built for the place of worship. And now I, Mormon, speak unto you, my beloved brethren… Wherefore, I would speak unto you that are of the church, that are the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient hope by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord, Question: Who is Mormon preaching to?

5. Moroni’s Closing Words Wherefore, there must be faith; and if there must be faith there must also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be charity. And except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God; neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if ye have not faith; neither can ye if ye have no hope. And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity. Question, If our faith is weak and we find ourselves despairing, Do we need to repent?

6. Moroni continues… …For if there be one among you that doeth good, he shall work by the power and gifts of God. And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing Question, What would it mean to us if despair were one such ‘evil gift’?

7. Traveling Through Life… Despair Journey Through Life… Hope What determines Which one we listen to?

8. President Uchtdorf The scriptures say that there must be “an opposition in all things.”So it is with faith, hope, and charity. Doubt, despair, and failure to care for our fellowmen lead us into temptation, which can cause us to forfeit choice and precious blessings. The adversary uses despair to bind hearts and minds in suffocating darkness. Despair drains from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves behind the empty remnants of what life was meant to be. Despair kills ambition, advances sickness, pollutes the soul, and deadens the heart. Despair can seem like a staircase that leads only and forever downward. (October Conference, 2008)

9. President Uchtdorf Hope is critical to both faith and charity. When disobedience, disappointment, and procrastination erode faith, hope is there to uphold our faith. When frustration and impatience challenge charity, hope braces our resolve and urges us to care for our fellowmen even without expectation of reward. The brighter our hope, the greater our faith. The stronger our hope, the purer our charity. The things we hope for lead us to faith, while the things we hope in lead us to charity. The three qualities—faith, hope, and charity—working together, grounded on the truth and light of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, lead us to abound in good works

10. Question What do you hope for? On whom do you focus your hope? Do you place more hope in the Savior or in yourself?