As we look at what the scriptures tell us about the Savior's life, we see a
personage of many facets. One side of his behavior is the side that is most
often represented in verse, in music, and in paintingsthe gentle side of
Christ. He could shed tears, he could bless little children, he could be kind
to someone who had been rejected by every other person. He rejected the worldly
notions of dominion, power, and bosshood. On the other hand, no one who has
ever lived has shown more strength, more courage, more perseverance, more
willingness to stand up for truth or rebuke wrong, even at tremendous cost,
than has the Savior. He spoke up for unpopular causes. He was willing to speak
the truth, even when it cost him his life. If his inner inspiration told him
something was right, he did it. That confirmation was all he needed. He didn't
need an okay from any of his friends. He had the strength to stand alone. He
had absolute confidence in himself and in his Father--confidence to lead out in
what was right.
It is this side of the Savior's characterthe side that
grows, helps others to grow, leads, speaks out, and seeks first and foremost
the approval of his Fatherthat too many... ignore. Many... assume, without
really thinking about it, that this part of the Savior's example really has
nothing to do with them.
(Karen Lynn Davidson, Woman to Woman: Selected
Talks from the BYU Women's Conferences)
We must fix our eyes on the Savior to overcome the waves of unbelief. It is
my firm belief that if as individual people, as families, communities, and
nations, we could, like Peter, fix our eyes on Jesus, we too might walk
triumphantly over "the swelling waves of disbelief" and remain "unterrified
amid the rising winds of doubt" (see Matthew 14:22-33). But if we turn away our
eyes from him in whom we must believe, as it is so easy to do and the world is
so much tempted to do, if we look to the power and fury of those terrible and
destructive elements around us rather than to him who can help and save us,
then we shall inevitably sink in a sea of conflict and sorrow and despair.
At such times when we feel the floods are threatening to drown us and the
deep is going to swallow up the tossed vessel of our faith, I pray we may
always hear amid the storm and the darkness that sweet utterance of the Savior
of the world: "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid" (Matthew 14:27).
(Howard W. Hunter, Teachings of Howard W. Hunter)
A basic principle of Latter-day Saint doctrine is that in order to go
forward, we have to know that God is just. Joseph Smith's Lectures on
Faith give a basic list of attributes God must have (which we know he does
have) in order for us to have faith in him, principles that give us the courage
to believe that it will be well with us if we obey his commandments. One of
those Godly attributes is justice. We would not have the faith to live
righteously or to love better or to repent more readily if we did not think
that justice would count for us, if we thought that God would change his mind
midstream and tell us there was another set of rules in force. Because we know
that God is just and would cease to be God if he were unjust, we have the faith
to go forward knowing we will not be the victims of whimsy or caprice or a bad
day or a bad joke.
(Jeffrey R. Holland, However Long and Hard the
Road)
I hope that we will keep ever burning in our hearts the spirit of this great
work which we represent. If we do so, we'll have no anxiety. We'll have no
fear. We'll not worry about the future because the Lord has given us the
assurance that if we live righteously, if we keep his commandments, if we
humble ourselves before him, all will be well. I turn to two passages of
scripture today which I'd like to read: "Be strong and of good courage; be not
afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee
whithersoever thou goest." (Joshua 1:9.) This was the Lord's admonition to his
son, Joshua, encouraging him to trust in God. Joshua answered that admonition
in counsel to his people in these words: "Choose you this day whom ye will
serve; . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Ibid.,
24:15.)
Embodied in these two passages of scripture are the two principal
essentials for security and peace. First, trust in God and secondly, a
determination to keep the commandments, to serve the Lord, to do that which is
right. Latter-day Saints who live according to these two admonitionstrust
in God and keep the commandmentshave nothing to fear.
(Ezra Taft
Benson, So Shall Ye Reap)
No group of youth in the whole history of the world ever had the advantages
that you have... There come into your homes from day to day more of culture and
uplift than ever came to us who lived three quarters of a century ago. But
there also come into your homes, and by the same route, more of filth, more of
moronic alleged entertainment, more influences to break down your morals than
we dreamed of, and you must take in this life of yours with all of its
opportunities, the burden along with the blessing, and you will be perfectly
safe in this duality which is yours if all the time you will remember to pray
to the Lord and to live righteously.
(J. Reuben Clark, Jr., Improvement
Era, 1946)
Live righteously. You can't teach the youth if you don't live the principles
you teach. If you are not genuine, they can see through your facade. They
recognize and want the real thing. You can fool some of your leaders, but you
cannot fool the young people.
(Thomas S. Monson, Pathways to
Perfection)
In righteousness there is great simplicity. In every case that confronts us
in life there is either a right way or a wrong way to proceed. If we choose the
right way, we are sustained in our actions by the principles of righteousness,
in the which there is power from the heavens. If we choose the wrong way and
act on that choice, there is no such heavenly promise or power...
(William
R. Bradford, Ensign, Nov. 1999)
Courage is one of the characteristics of effective shepherds. The need for
courage in shepherds is constant. None can succeed without it. Shepherds are
required to make decisions daily, often in the face of uncertainty and even of
opposition. To make them wisely and righteously requires courage. Sometimes it
will be the courage to say no that is needed; at other times, the courage to
say yes. To listen to the whisperings of the Spirit and then to follow them in
faith, even if the reasons for the Spirit-directed call to action are not yet
clear, requires courage of a high order. Many times in the service of every
shepherd, human wisdom simply does not suffice, and the courage of the day
melts away in the dark night of uncertainty. Then, all one can do is turn to
God and lean on Him, drawing from His divine strength.
(Alexander B.
Morrison, Feed My Sheep)