Hope In Christ~

 Each of us are made up of what I like to call Celestial DNA. We have a Father and Mother in Heaven; we therefore have their heavenly genetics.  We each knew our Heavenly parents well. We also knew and loved our elder brother Jesus Christ. I like to think that I walked and talked with them all. I believe we learned many things as a spirit child that would prepare us for our sojourn on earth. We were taught and knew our Heavenly Father's plan for us. We were to come and experience earth life. We would have a body that would house our spirit. We would be tested to see if we would obey our Father's commandments. We would have opposition in life so that we might exercise agency to choose good over evil. We knew we were to come here; learn of our Savior, Jesus Christ and follow Him. If we chose the right path we could return again to Our Father in Heaven, who created us all. 
Every human being on this earth will have an opportunity to accept or reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ while on this earth or in the spirit world. We have the great gift of agency to choose whom we will follow. 

Today's world is not an easy one to live in. We do experience great opposition. We constantly hear of disasters, wars, rumors of wars, economic declines, political upheavals, religious divisions and etc. Within our own individual areas we are plagued with hate and crimes of all kinds. Within homes, families are in crisis with fighting, abuse, divorce, and the list goes on There is an epidemic of depression and other mental struggles, plus a list of other aliments that cause concerns. As individuals we are surrounded with evil but there is also great good. 

OK, are you all depressed?

There is HOPE! 

Our purpose as missionaries is to "Invite Others To Come Unto Christ". He is our hope. With this hope we can develop Faith in Him and through His Atonement all mankind can be saved. 

In the Preach My Gospel book, pg. 117 it states: "Hope is an abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promises to you. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance. It is believing and expecting that something will occur. When you have hope, you work through trials and difficulties with the confidence and assurance that all things will work together for your good. Hope helps you conquer discouragement. The scriptures often describe hope in Jesus Christ as the assurance that you will inherit eternal life in the celestial kingdom. President James E. Faust taught: “Hope is the anchor of our souls. … “Hope is trust in God’s promises, faith that if we act now, the desired blessings will be fulfilled in the future. …

“The unfailing source of our hope is that we are sons and daughters of God and that His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, saved us from death” (“Hope, an Anchor of the Soul,” Ensign, Nov. 1999, 59–60)."
For all that are experiencing great difficulties and perhaps severe trials there is hope. Turn to Jesus Christ; He is the light; He is the way. Just as in this painting of Christ knocking at our door; it is up to us to invite Him in. 

For anyone out there that is in a state of depression go here~