Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

By Jim Greer

LW contributor

President Kevin J. Worthen gave a compelling presentation on the nature and importance of hope and faith at the Sept. 9 BYU fall semester opening devotional. President Worthen explained that today’s society often equates hope with positive thinking. But, within the gospel, hope plays a more affirmative and certain role. Hope can be an anchor to our soul, making us sure and steadfast. And, the right type of hope purifies us. Nephi, the last Nephite prophet in the Book of Mormon, pro affirms that “a perfect brightness of hope” is central to the process of achieving eternal life.

Hope is so critical in our eternal progress that Moroni, one of the central figures in the Book of Mormon, emphasizes that we must hope, or else not receive the inheritance in the place Christ is preparing for us. Elder Neal A. Maxwell once observed that the hope described in scripture, real or ultimate hope, “is much more than a wishful musing. It stiffens, not slackens the spiritual spine. It is serine, not giddy, eager without being naive, and pleasantly steady without being smug.”

Hope comes both before and after faith. It is both a predecessor and a product of faith. The Guide to the Scriptures describes hope as “the confident expectation of and longing for the promised blessings of righteousness.”

We must first want to believe, or as Alma said, “desire to believe.” If we have enough hope to desire to believe, God will engender faith within us and assure us that what we hope for is indeed possible or, as Paul describes as an “assurance of things hoped for.” This faith leads to stronger hope, a more mature hope, what Moroni called “a more excellent hope.”

In Alma 22:16, the faith/hope process is outlined, “if thou desirest and call on Christ’s name in faith, believing, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest.” This iterative process combines faith and hope, again and again, increasing our faith and our hope.

Our constant exercise of faith in Christ translates wishful thinking into the kind of hope that is an anchor to our soul. We need only plant our desire, our hope in Christ. If we want to strengthen our hope, we will focus more on the Savior, especially when we feel hopeless.

“In those moments when it feels like all that we can do is hang on to the last shred of hope we have, be assured that can be enough. In the long run, our desires will determine our destiny. The smallest form of hope, the smallest desire to believe, can be the first step in a miraculous process for which God can exalt us.”