The scriptures tell us, “…ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal…” (Moroni 7:41).
Adam and Eve’s predicament is the universal one. They were given only a few “first” commandments:
1. Beget children
2. Don’t die physically
3. Don’t die spiritually
In order to keep commandment 1, they had to temporarily break 2 and 3. Physical death and spiritual death (even thinking of them) are barriers to our happiness and hope. How do we overcome them, since we all die, and are all cut off from God’s presence (spiritual death)?
God prepared a Savior to overcome these obstacles.We can have hope in Christ because of His victories over sin and death, His resurrection and return to His Father’s presence—He did all these things on our behalf, so that we could receive them as well.
The Lord told Moses, “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). Immortality means overcoming physical death through the resurrection. Eternal life means reunion with God, the Father of our spirits, and living with Him forever, enjoying His kind of life.
So Jesus Christ overcomes physical death for everyone, and spiritual death to whatever degree we are willing to follow Him.
All will be resurrected some day; the question is, what kind of resurrection will we have?
“Now, verily I say unto you, that through the redemption which is made for you is brought to pass the resurrection from the dead.
“And the spirit and the body are the soul of man.
“And the resurrection from the dead is the redemption of the soul.
“And the redemption of the soul is through [Jesus]…”
“For notwithstanding they die, they also shall rise again…
“…even ye shall receive your bodies, and your glory shall be that glory by which your bodies are (currently) quickened.
“Ye who are quickened by a portion of the celestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness” (D&C 88:14-17, 27-29).
Jesus Christ atones for our sins, and makes it possible for us to overcome those two enemies, physical and spiritual death.
Assurances
Job expressed faith and hope from within a difficult pit of problems: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
“And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God…” (Job 19:25-26).
We can feel hope in spite of death and temporary separation from God. Hope and faith in Christ materialize together; we cannot have one without the other.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for…” we read in Hebrews 11:1. But the Joseph Smith translation gives us, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for…”
How can we be hopeful even when present circumstances look grim?
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:26-27).
The peace and hope that come from God transcend worldly assurances and consolations. The promise of comfort through the Spirit is reiterated in modern revelations.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy” (D&C 11:13).
Elder Maxwell points out that even dungeon walls four feet thick could not keep out revelation to the Prophet in Liberty Jail. Nothing of this world can stop the Lord from consoling us directly, accessing our hearts and giving comfort and knowledge by His Holy Spirit.
The knowledge that the course of our lives is in harmony with God’s will is one of the most hopeful things His Spirit can reveal to us. We can pray for that confirmation; if there is anything amiss in our lives, God can prompt us to repent of it.
Sources of Hope
There is a kind of chicken-and-the-egg question about faith, hope, and charity. Does faith beget hope? Or does hope beget faith?
“...hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men...” (Ether 12:4).
This verse indicates that hope comes from faith.
But Mormon writes, “How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?” (Moroni 7:40).
Which comes first, faith or hope? Faith, hope, and charity have been compared to legs on a three-legged stool. Either they all arrive in us at once, or do not stand alone for very long. This is why it is good that the Lord can instill them all into our souls simultaneously, rather than one at a time.
When a car battery loses its charge, another battery can be used to recharge it. Then the recharged battery will run again—provided the car is used regularly to maintain its charge.
The Lord can infuse us with a spark of faith, hope, and His love; it is our job to get moving and improve on those initial gifts. Receiving the Spirit is the way to do so. The greater the portion of the Spirit we receive, the more intensely faith, hope, and charity manifest in our hearts, minds, and actions.
And the more they manifest, the greater the portion of the Spirit we qualify to receive. But it requires an initial investment by God through His Spirit to get that positive cycle going in us.
“And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity” (Moroni 10:22).
The reverse is also true; keep the commandments and repent, and we will have His Spirit to be with us; it will infuse us with faith, hope, and every good virtue.
Faith, hope, and charity are not just things we cultivate; their best versions come as gifts from God to us.
Jesus Christ’s Roles
Talking about hope can get technical; focusing on hopeful things engenders hope.
Jesus is always with us, always mindful of us. “...and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:20).
“And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (D&C 84:88).
“Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days” (D&C 24:8).
Sister Al Carraway has pointed out that in the scriptures, all our blessings are described as “prepared” (e.g. D&C 78:17). In other words, already ready for us. Who prepares them? Our Father in heaven, and His Son Jesus Christ.
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3).
He is our advocate with the Father:
“Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—
“Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;
“Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life” (D&C 45:3-5).
He atoned for our sins to mitigate suffering.
“For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent” (D&C 19:16).
When we are happy, we can celebrate; if we are passing through pain, Jesus will help us personally.
“And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
“And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord” (Mosiah 24:14-15).
Death is an intimidating prospect. Who comes to greet us when we die?
“Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.
“And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow” (Alma 40:11).
“Wherefore, fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full” (D&C 101:36).
All flesh is in His hands (see Moses 6:32, D&C 61:6, 101:16). He subjects the devil; He controls the elements; i.e., He is the referee in this wrestling match of life, and can blow the whistle or change circumstances however and whenever He sees fit.
If we are in the thick parts of life, we can take it as a compliment; He sees we are growing and sees us as able to handle present circumstances. And little wonder life gets hard; think of what we are hoping to receive one day:
“And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;
“And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him” (D&C 84:37-38). This life is a proving ground; we are being tested and prepared to wear “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17).
We need hope and faith in Christ and assurances delivered by His Spirit from time to time in order to succeed and make it through victorious.
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen” (Moroni 7:48).
