Fear can inhibit our reception of light. God emphasized that point twice in Doctrine and Covenants 67. The remedy, as Alma's people learned is to (1) remember God's love for us, (2) intentionally calm our fears, and (3) pray for divine help. Faith in Jesus Christ can help us hush our fears and receive light.
Who Can Stand?
The Jaredites cried, "Who can stand before the army of Shiz." God warned the ancient Israelites not to say things like that, because the answer is simple: He can. With God as an ally, no obstacle is insuperable and no person is invincible.
No Fear in Love
John says, "There is no fear in love." Therefore: 1. When we love, we are more confident. 2. When we feel loved, we are less likely to be anxious. We particularly need to establish an environment of love in our homes, so family members feel secure.
Burying My Talent
Loss aversion is the tendency to prioritize what we already have over what we can achieve. The unwise servant in the Parable of the Talents fell into this trap, missing opportunities to expand his resources because he was unwilling to take risks.
“Be Not Afraid of Their Words”
How would you like to receive a calling like this: Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day. For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God.... Ezekiel... Continue Reading →
Fear Not
Is fear a choice? God told Abraham, Hagar, Isaac, and Jacob not to be afraid. (See Genesis 51:1, 21:17, 26:24, 46:3.) An angel gave the same direction to Zacharias, Mary, Joseph, and a group of shepherds in Bethlehem. (See Luke 1:13, 30, Matthew 1:20, Luke 2:10.) And the prophet Isaiah several times gives us the... Continue Reading →
The Fear of the Lord
Throughout the scriptures, we are counseled to overcome our fears. God told Abraham, Hagar, and Jacob to "fear not" as they passed through troubling experiences (Genesis 15:1, Genesis 21:17, Genesis 46:3). Moses told the Israelites not to be afraid when they saw the glory of the Lord on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:20). Then, as they... Continue Reading →
“Be Strong, and of a Good Courage”
As the children of Israel prepared to enter the promised land, Moses admonished them to move forward and not let challenging circumstances intimidate them: Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail... Continue Reading →
Hagar and the Hidden Well
Be'er Sheva is a city in southern Israel, with a population of about 200,000. It's so far south, in fact, that Old Testament authors spoke of the land of Israel extending "from Dan even to Beer-sheba." (See Judges 20:1, 1 Samuel 3:20, 2 Samuel 3:10, 2 Samuel 17:11, 2 Samuel 24:2, 15, 1 Kings 4:25, 1... Continue Reading →
“Be Still”
Near the end of the 46th psalm, there is a curious sentence. The rest of the psalm is narrated by a person who reassures us that God is has all power. Even though terrible things might happen—"the earth be removed," "mountains be carried into the midst of the sea," "the heathen [rage]," and "kingdoms [be]... Continue Reading →