Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Bountiful -> Signs of the times -> Fear vs. Faith
Post Info TOPIC: Fear vs. Faith
arbilad


Head Chef

Status: Offline
Posts: 4439
Date:
Fear vs. Faith
Permalink  

Elder Packer made a very important point that fear cannot exist where there is faith. I read a very interesting talk of his at this link. It expresses my feelings perfectly. Civilization may be in a downward spiral. There may be plenty of terror in the world. But I do not need to fear. There is plenty of good as well. Besides, no matter how bad things get, good will always triumph.
This quote is particularly interesting:

We must not ignore Moroni 's words when he saw our day and said, "Ye [must] awake to a sense of your awful situation" (Ether 8:24).

And this one:

The moral values upon which civilization itself must depend spiral downward at an ever-increasing pace. Nevertheless, I do not fear the future.

That perfectly encapsulates, for me, what I was trying to express in Shiz' and Ray's threads, why I can feel that there are wicked conspiracies facing this nation, but nevertheless be an optimist, live the gospel, be happy, keep a sense of humor, etc. We have to awake to a "sense of our awful situation", but we shouldn't fear. That's it in a nutshell. We shouldn't pretend that the wicked plans of evil men don't exist in the world. But neither should we let it get us down.

I really encourage everyone to read the whole article. Elder Packer has a beautiful way of expressing himself. I particularly like what he said about maintaining a sense of humor.

And, in the end, the most important part of it, for me at least, is that we win (assuming, of course, that we stay on the Lord's side).

That's why I've always liked the gospel. It's a gospel of optimism. The Russian Orthodox church, for instance, follows a different philosophy. Their philosophy is, "Life sucks, then you die, but if you were good in this life you will have your reward in heaven." That always rubbed me the wrong way. There is a lot of fun in this life. For instance, a few days ago I rediscovered how much fun scripting is.

Life can be a lot of fun.

I see that a lot on this board, too. It seems that pretty much everyone on this board is dealing with some personal challenge or tragedy, but mostly people on this board are very upbeat.

__________________
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen!
- Samuel Adams
salesortonscom


Wise and Revered Master

Status: Offline
Posts: 2882
Date:
Permalink  

That's exactly what I feel.  I don't get too worked up over the latest scandal or conspiracy in government because of that perspective.  I thought I was the only one!



__________________

God Made Man, Sam Colt Made Him Equal.

Jason
Cat Herder


Understander of unimportant things

Status: Offline
Posts: 4126
Date:
Permalink  

arbilad wrote:

"Life sucks, then you die, but if you were good in this life you will have your reward in heaven."


I don't know... some days it sure feels like that, though!   But then it usually turns out being one of those things like where you're so sick that you wanna die but then realize you're not sick enough that you're actually gonna die...


I guess my pet peeve is that I don't need others pointing out how the world and civilization and everything is going to heck in a handbasket.  It comes off too often as "you just aren't as well informed as me", which in my mind has no place in the attitudes of those of us who are working (at our own different levels of capacity and capability) to build up Zion and follow the Lord.


I think of several sayings, including...



May those who love us love us.
And those that don't love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if He doesn't turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles,
So we'll know them by their limping.


(old Irish curse )


Then there is saying variously attributed to Martin Luther (and variations of it attributed to Martin Luther King, Jr.): "Even if I knew certainly the world would end tomorrow,
I would plant an apple tree today."


And, I was going to be cliche and include the Serenity Prayer thingee by Reinhold Neibuhr, but it may surprise many of you to find out about the guy who takes credit for that "inspirational" little saying...


But, ultimately, I think the best one (and most appropriate for us) is this:



"Love is like the polar star.  In a changing world, it is a constant.  It is of the very essence of the gospel.  It is the security of the home.  It is the safeguard of community life.  It is a beacon of hope in a world of distress."  President Gordon B. Hinckley



__________________
It seems to me the only thing you've learned is that Caesar is a "salad dressing dude."
isaiah28


Newbie

Status: Offline
Posts: 2
Date:
Permalink  

This is why Isaiah (and the Book of Mormon) talked so much regarding Zion.  They knew the great and terrible calamities to come upon us as a thief in the night, and so they reminded us of the hope that the Lord will preserve Zion and yet redeem Israel.  (as the Book of Mormon indicates, Zion and Israel are two separate groups ... like the parable of the ten virgins: Zion are those prepared for the Lord's coming - Israel are those unprepared and must suffer 42 months of bondage and persecution, to be refined and purified for Christ's Second Coming)

__________________
The only thing new under the sun is the history you don't know. -- Harry S Truman
salesortonscom


Wise and Revered Master

Status: Offline
Posts: 2882
Date:
Permalink  

Uh, I think the virgins without oil are anyone that is unprepared for His coming, not just Israel.  Even some members of the church will find themselves spiritually unprepared.



__________________

God Made Man, Sam Colt Made Him Equal.

Jason
rayb


Hot Air Balloon

Status: Offline
Posts: 5370
Date:
Permalink  

The virgins without oil go to Islamic heaven...  --Ray


 



__________________
I'm not slow; I'm special.
(Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
fear of shiz


Profuse Pontificator

Status: Offline
Posts: 775
Date:
Permalink  

Ray, that is wrong on so many levels....  

__________________
I'm not voting for Ron Paul because it's not expressly prescribed in the Constitution.
Jeffery_LQ1W


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 264
Date:
Permalink  

Fear is generally what you have when your faith is weak.


 


If you break the commandments (weak faith) and the Lord appears, you experience fear.


If you don't break the commandments and the Lord appears, you simply experience the manifestation of your faith.



__________________
I am like a rough stone rolling...
Cat Herder


Understander of unimportant things

Status: Offline
Posts: 4126
Date:
Permalink  

Fear can also be traced back to ignorance... if one does not have the gospel or a part thereof, one is a lot more easily tossed to and fro on the waves.  Faith not only implies a certain amount of action, but action based off acting in some degree in accordance with knowledge of the gospel truths.


It is a lot easier for Satan to cause fear if he can keep people from a knowledge of the truth.  Hence, the reason so many dictatorial regimes repress freedom of information.  They can control people through fear better.  People are unable to choose a better way because they are prevented from having access to information that would show them a better way...



__________________
It seems to me the only thing you've learned is that Caesar is a "salad dressing dude."
isaiah28


Newbie

Status: Offline
Posts: 2
Date:
Permalink  

Cat Herder wrote:


Fear can also be traced back to ignorance... if one does not have the gospel or a part thereof, one is a lot more easily tossed to and fro on the waves.  Faith not only implies a certain amount of action, but action based off acting in some degree in accordance with knowledge of the gospel truths.


It is a lot easier for Satan to cause fear if he can keep people from a knowledge of the truth.  Hence, the reason so many dictatorial regimes repress freedom of information.  They can control people through fear better.  People are unable to choose a better way because they are prevented from having access to information that would show them a better way...




Very insightful, and true.


But then how does this apply to my fear of Texas-sized spiders and insects?  ;)



__________________
The only thing new under the sun is the history you don't know. -- Harry S Truman
rayb


Hot Air Balloon

Status: Offline
Posts: 5370
Date:
Permalink  

Though they look similar, Hobo Spiders are relatively small, compared to your traditionally large common house (or wolf) spider. If you know your arachnids, you need not fear them... well, besides hobo spiders... they have a nasty necrolizing venom.


Often the larger the insect, the less likely it is that it will be harmful to humans...


--Ray


 



-- Edited by rayb at 16:27, 2006-10-09

__________________
I'm not slow; I'm special.
(Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
salesortonscom


Wise and Revered Master

Status: Offline
Posts: 2882
Date:
Permalink  

FEAR, DOES NOT EXIST ON THIS FORUM, DOES IT!


NO SENSEI!

PAIN DOES NOT EXIST IN THIS FORUM, DOES IT!


NO SENSEI!



__________________

God Made Man, Sam Colt Made Him Equal.

Jason
rayb


Hot Air Balloon

Status: Offline
Posts: 5370
Date:
Permalink  

BOO!!!

__________________
I'm not slow; I'm special.
(Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Bountiful -> Signs of the times -> Fear vs. Faith
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard