Holding On To Our Faith

I was touched by the recently posted video featuring Elder Holland and many individuals who have struggled with some form of mental illness.  The message that I took from their words was that there is no easy or quick fix solution to these very complicated and sometimes debilitating illnesses, but that there is hope if we can hang on and hold to our faith no matter what the circumstance is.  We do everything in our power and then hope and pray and keep holding on.  In the words of Elder Holland, “We do the best we can and we manage the situation. But when we’ve done all we can do, we endure. Hang in there and count on light at the end of the tunnel.”         

I’m certainly not one to judge any who struggle with these kinds of challenges, but I do have faith that holding on to our faith is always the best path forward.  With these and many other kinds of serious trials that we may face in mortality so many are tempted to give up on the Lord.  But in the midst of these kinds of struggles when so many seem to renounce faith and the Lord asks us, “Will ye also go away?” we can respond with Peter, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:67-68).  The best solution is always never to give up on the Lord or let go of the faith that we hold dear.  In times of great distress and trouble I think we can find strength by holding fast to the words of the ancient prophets like Peter who also fought great affliction and held fast to their faith.  So many had such serious challenges to face, and we revere them especially for the way they persevered.  So with Nephi we can try to exclaim during our own challenges, “O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever” (2 Nephi 4:34).  With Paul we can gather together and say when we are tempted to quit, “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 10:39).  With Isaiah we can trust that “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles” (Isaiah 40:31).  With Mormon we can say, “And now… notwithstanding [the] hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God” (Moroni 9:6).  With the Prophet Joseph we can say when all the world seems to be against us, “Behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies, for the Lord God hath spoken it. Let all the saints rejoice, therefore, and be exceedingly glad; for Israel’s God is their God” (D&C 127:2-3).  With Job we can witness that we will trust the Lord no matter what difficulties we are in: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15).  With Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego we can testify that our faith does not depend on outcomes: “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us… and he will deliver us…. But if not, be it known… that we will not serve [other] gods” (Daniel 3:17-18).  With Ether we can say about our circumstances, “It mattereth not, if it so be that I am saved in the kingdom of God” (Ether 15:34).  In other words, no matter what happens we will remain true to the Lord so that we can return to Him.  And hopefully, one day, with the Savior, we too will be able to declare that we did not shrink and tell of our own bitter cups, “Glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished” (D&C 19:19).