Richard L. Evans wrote:
In days of deepening disappointment we react in many ways, depending upon our teaching and temperament, upon our outlook and understanding, and upon the faith and foundations on which our feet are fixed.
To sudden and shocking news, depression and deep discouragement are perhaps the immediate reaction of most of us. The first impact almost always brings a heavy heart and a feeling that the future is futile. But what happens after the first impact is exceedingly important. Some become cynical. Some become desperately despondent. Some rush into fevered action without any real plan or purpose. Some give up and lay aside all plans or purpose and live in listlessness. But some quietly think things through, consider the issues or alternatives, and recover their courage and then set about to do as promptly as possible what should and can be done.
In any circumstance or situation, despondent inaction is almost the worst thing in the world. And to you who are depressed, to you who are young and are trying to see the future before you, to you who have loved ones who are lost or fear to lose, to you who have oppressive problems and are heartsick and are heavy laden, to all of you (and to all of us together)—take courage, have faith in the future; live and work and watch and wait and pursue life prayerfully, repentantly, and purposefully. There are reserve resources within us that we seldom see or suspect until we are pressed beyond the point of our usual performance.
But even when we come to what seems to be the end of our own resources, there is another and never-failing source of strength and peace and purpose in our Father who is in heaven, and in His Son, our Savior, the Prince of Peace. The courage and conviction of men in a righteous cause is a source of surpassing strength. But even if we were to meet situations beyond the combined wisdom and judgment and effort and ingenuity of all of us, we shall never meet a situation that is beyond the help of Him in whose image we were made and who would not withhold His helping hand from a prayerful and repentant person or people. ~Richard L. Evans, Thoughts for One Hundred Days (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1966). 120-21
(Posts with a preamble asterisk * are for a more general audience and not specific to teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)
