Lessons on the Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ and His Apostles
Lesson No. Twenty-One
We Can Face the Future Cheerfully and with Confidence
In the last days “men’s hearts are failing them for fear” (Luke 21:26) – Jesus gave this as a sign of His Second Coming. Today “men’s hearts are failing them for fear” as depression and despair are rampant and suicide is too common. Fortunately, if we live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and believe the following principles there is no need to fear, and we can face the future cheerfully and with confidence.
The founding of the United States was the work of God and prologue to the restoration of the Gospel – The history of the world has been a history of repressive and tyrannical governments willing to do whatever is necessary to maintain power. To change this required the power of God.
As recorded in 1 Nephi 13, Nephi was shown in vision some of the most important events in the last two thousand years of the world’s history. Included in these events was the founding of the United States. Nephi saw that our forefathers “had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord; and the power of Lord was with them" (Vs 16). After describing the War of Independence Nephi again emphasized that "the power of God was with them" and that they "were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations" (Vs 18-19).
Jesus taught that the United States was established by the power of God so the gospel be restored: "For it is wisdom in the Father that they (gentiles) should be established in this land (United States), and be set up as a free people by the power of the Father, that these things (Book of Mormon and the Gospel) might come forth from them unto a remnant of your seed, that the covenant of the Father may be fulfilled which he hath covenanted with his people, O house of Israel" (3 Nephi 21:4, clarification added).
The Lord also claimed responsibility for the Constitution of the United States: “And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose…”(D&C 101:80).
The restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the last days is the work of the Lord – “And the voice of warning shall be to all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days… Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments” (D&C 1:4,17).
Joseph Smith spoke of the restoration of the Lord’s Church: “We obtained of Him [Jesus Christ] the following, by the spirit of prophecy and revelation; which not only gave us much information, but also pointed out to us the precise day [April 6, 1830] upon which, according to His will and commandment, we should proceed to organize His Church once more here upon the earth” (Headnote to D&C 20).
The work of Lord never fails – At a time of great difficulty in the life of Joseph Smith the Lord taught him, and each of us, an important lesson that should be remembered: “The works, and designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught. For God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round” (D&C 3:1-3).
If we believe that the establishment of this nation and the restoration of the Gospel is the work of the Lord and that the work of the Lord never fails, we must conclude that, even though there will be difficult times, neither this Church or nation will fail.
The Church will stay on course and the United States will remain free - The Lord spoke of the future of his Church: "This is my church, and I will establish it; and nothing shall overthrow it, save it is the transgression of my people" (Mosiah 27:13). There is, and will be, individual transgression and apostasy, but the Church as a whole will stay on course. Therefore, if we stay in the mainstream of the Church and follow the prophet we can face the future cheerfully and with confidence.
President Harold B. Lee testified about the future of the United States: “Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation founded on principles laid down by men who God raised up, will never fail. This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of her New Jerusalem. This is the place that the Lord said is favored above all other nations in all the world. This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple. This is the favored land in all the world. Yes, I repeat, men may fail, but this nation won’t fail! I have faith in America; you and I must have faith in America, if we understand the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are living in a day when we must pay heed to these challenges. I plead with you not to preach pessimism! Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world. This is the favored land. This is the land of our forefathers. It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through” (Ye Are the Light of the World, pp. 350).
Freedom, as the Lord established it in the United States, was necessary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be restored, and it is necessary for the gospel to go to the whole world.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the leaven which lifts the whole world - "The Book of Mormon makes it clear that we never will dominate by numbers. But we have the power of the priesthood.... “While it may be said … that we are but a handful in comparison with … the world, yet we may be compared with the leaven of which the Savior spoke, which will eventually leaven [or lift] the whole world" (Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, April 2010).
“If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30) - Our primary responsibility and greatest opportunity, as individuals and families, is to be faithful and prepared in every way. If our lives are in order we can face the future, and as Joseph Smith taught, we can “cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed" (D&C 123:16-17, emphasis mine).
We are responsible to do all that we can to strengthen our nation and the Lord’s Church in preparation of the Second Coming. If we are faithful and prepared we can look to the future cheerfulness and confidence because we know that the establishment of this nation and the restoration of the Gospel is the work of the Lord, and the work of the Lord never fails.
PS – Advice Especially for Youth – Trust in the Lord and keep His commandments; get educated; date; serve; get married; get a job; raise a family; stay in the mainstream of the Church; contribute; and cheerfully have confidence in your future.