David A. Bednar asked; “. . . can we hush fears that so easily and frequently beset us in our contemporary world? The answer to this question is an unequivocal yes. Three basic principles are essential to us receiving this blessing in our lives: (1) look to Christ, (2) build upon the foundation of Christ, and (3) press forward with faith in Christ.”
Hushing our fears is the first step in finally being able to cast them out with the perfect love of Christ.
How does this happen? As we spiritually learn of Him and His eternal gifts to us, we feel His love for us. We love Him. “We love Him because He first loved us.” That love engenders hope and faith in Him and His Atonement. We receive His power to help change our lives. We realize that He cannot only forgive our sins, but He will forgive our sins as we more fully come unto Him. Nephi’s counsel comes alive in us: “Ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.” 20 And we “pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that [we] may be filled with [the pure love of Christ], which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ.” 21
Pride
Pride, too, can have more than one meaning. As we are humble, pride in the accomplishments of a child, or praise for accomplishments well done, is a sign of love and encouragement. The Father of us all acknowledge His Son with these words: “This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 22
The other side, the ugly bully, is the pride that describes a swollen sense of self and a diminished view of God, a person overstating his own importance. 23 Pride moves us away from the first commandment to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and the second, to love our neighbor as ourselves, 24 and focuses our love more directly upon ourselves.
. . . Quinten L. Cook explain how pride affects the thinking of the world: “One of the unique and troubling aspects of our day is that many people engage in sinful conduct but refuse to consider it sinful. They have no remorse or willingness to acknowledge their conduct as being morally wrong. Even some who profess a belief in the Father and the Son wrongfully take the position that a loving Father in Heaven should exact no consequences for conduct that is contrary to His commandments.” 26
He then added these words attributed to Robert Louis Stevenson: “Sooner or later everybody has to sit down to a banquet of consequences.”27
In its most severe form President Ezra Taft Benson has stated, Pride pits “our will against Gods. When we direct our pride toward God, it is the spirit of my will, not thine be done.’ As Paul said, They seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.'”28
President Benson goes on to explain that pride can keep us from accepting the authority of God and allowing God to give direction to our lives. He said, “The proud wish God would agree with them. They aren’t interested in changing their opinions to agree with God’s.” 29
See complete talk at ‘Therefore, They Hushed Their Fears.’
(Note from kdm. . . I’m unclear as to what is happening here. With this post, I’m not to give links to numbered references. You’ll find those as you go to the link at the last sentence above).
