Fear Not!

Daniel and I were asked to give a talk today at a stake Conference and this is what I said:

I  am grateful to be with you this morning. I pray that the Spirit will bless us during our few minutes together. 

During this past year, our daughter has been sending questions for me to answer so that she can record my life. One by one I have answered questions like What were your grandparents like? or where did you go on vacation as a child? or How did you get your first job? and all those were easy to answer but one day I received a question that read: “What is your greatest fear?”

Today I don’t want to talk about my greatest fear but rather the greatest story ever told found on Luke 2. You probably have this story all memorized.  It begins with the duty of paying taxes. It continues with a long journey. The plot gets conflicted when no room can be found “in the inns” and the story ends when the Son of God is born. (Luke 2:7) 

 No matter how many times we read the story of the birth of Christ, there is always something new we can learn from it. The last time I read the account of the first Christmas I noticed two words “Fear not.”

 Here are some examples: To Zacharias, an angel appeared with the news that his wife would bear a son whom he would name John. The angel said, “Fear not, . . . for thy prayer is heard.”

Later the same angel visited Mary announcing that she would be the mother of the Son of God, saying: “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.”(Luke 1:30)

Shortly thereafter an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Fear notto take unto thee Mary thy wife.”(Matthew 1:30)

And then, on that holy night, the angel came upon the shepherds who were afraid, they heard the angel proclaimed, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”(Luke 2: 9-10)

So much of what happened in those days depended upon the courage of people like Zacharias, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. Their lives were about to change forever. Imagine if they had let fear overcome them. What if they had pulled back, doubted, and failed to do what God needed them to do?

 I, like you, have fears, and I need to be reminded at times to “fear not.” I don’t know what your fears are. Like Zacharias, who feared that he would never have children, we may have fears about our family. Or maybe our fear isn’t that we won’t have children but that we will have children, whom we will have to raise in a wicked world. Like Mary, we may have an assignment or responsibility that seems far beyond our abilities. Like Joseph, we may fear getting married—or that we will never get married. Like the shepherds, we may be afraid because God has plans for us that are bigger than what we have for ourselves.

Life presents endless opportunities to fear. We may fear what people think of us. We may fear failure or rejection. We may be afraid of changes we know we must make in our lives. Or maybe we are just afraid we may lose our job. We may be experiencing failure or rejection and wonder if we have what it takes. We may have fears of public speaking, educational and career fears, financial fears, and so on and so forth. Yes, we have the same fears people had in ancient times.  

The Lord’s message to us today is the same message He sent through His angels so long ago: “Fear not.” He can say that because He knows more than we do. He sees what we cannot see. He knows what is coming, and, in the eternal scheme of things, it is not as bad as we may think. 

Most of all, He tells us not to fear because He knows that fear will paralyze us. It will keep us from doing His will; accepting His blessings, His love, and His light; and fulfilling His purposes. 

Satan wants us to give in to fear. God wants us to hold on to hope. 

President Uchdorf stated: “Certainly, our world has always been, and will continue to be imperfect. Far too many innocent people suffer because of circumstance of nature as well as form man’s inhumanity. The corruption and wickedness in our day are unique and alarming but in spite of all this, I wouldn’t trade living in this time with any other time in the history of the world. We are blessed beyond measure to live in a day of unparalleled prosperity, enlightenment, and advantage. Most of all, we are blessed to have the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which gives us unique perspective on the world’s dangers and shows us how to either avoid these dangers or deal with them.  When I think of these blessings, I want to fall to my knees and offer praises to our Heavenly Father for His never-ending love for all of His children. I don’t believe God wants His children to be fearful or dwell on the evils of the world. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” He has given us an abundance of reasons to rejoice. We just need to find and to recognize them. The Lord often reminds us to “be not afraid” to “be of good cheer,” and to “fear not, little flock.” 

Let us look at the scripture President Uchdorf just quoted found on 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Using these words, let us explore how power, love, and a sound mind serve as antidotes for fear.

This “spirit of power” is not what the world perceives of power. The world tells us that power comes from wealth or popularity and that life is a competition in which we advance ahead of others by acquiring more and more material possession. 

The Lord’s way is deeper, higher, and holier. His power is governed “by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, kindness and by love.  Where worldly power is for the privileged few, the Lord’s power is available to all. It is found in the ordinances of the priesthood.We access it through making and keeping sacred covenants. We nurture it through sincere prayer, fasting, and feasting “upon the words of Christ.” (2 Nephi 32:3)  

Perhaps you know someone who has this kind of power and therefore seems fearless. 

My grandmother was such a woman. She was a new convert to the Church when she was called to be the Relief Society President. She told the Branch President how she feared she was inexperienced, unprepared and inadequate. She was in her thirties caring for her seven young children on her own but she accepted the call anyway. Still today I meet people who say, “Your grandmother, Hilda was my mentor. From her I learned honesty, charity, and compassion. She is the kindness woman I have ever known.  My grandmother is featured in the Daughters in My kingdom (Relief Society publication) as an example of a woman of faith. 

Fearless power is the kind of power that comes to those who trust God and have faith in Jesus Christ—faith to do things His way, even if it differs from the world’s way. That faith inspires and empowers us to do remarkable and courageous things that we would not be able to do otherwise. Anytime we feel fearful because we feel powerless, we need to turn to the Lord. Draw upon the power of the covenants we have made. Trust in God’s power, for it is mightier than any power on earth. God’s words to ancient Israel are also His words to us today. In Isaiah 41:13 we read: “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”

Next let’s look at love.As both Paul and Mormon taught, “Perfect love casteth out all fear.”(1 John 4:18 and Moroni 8: 16) Anyone who has served a mission knows what I am talking about. A mission would be a petrifying experience if it weren’t for love—Love for God and for His children. But tens of thousands of young men and women, serve every year because God has granted them the gift of Christ-like love. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Of course, love conquers fear not just in missionary work but in all aspects of life. When President Hinckley was a young man he was worried about the economic realities of marriage during the depression years. 

He told his soon to be bride, Margerie: “I think you should know, that I only have $150 to my name. Her response was: “Oh, that will work out just fine!”

Sister Hinckley’s love and faith empowered her to “fear not” as they started their lives together—a marriage that would become nearly seven decades of love, faith and service.

His love gives meaning to life. His love is the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It has no end and no limits. It remains when all else fails. His love never quits and never runs out; it simply endures, love “never faileth.”  (Moroni 7:46-47) 

This year the Church has invited us to light the world helping others at this Christmas time. Several years ago, a Bishop told us he knew a family in need. It was a family we didn’t know but we wanted to help. Our family got together, included the little children, and prepared presents for them. When we went to deliver the presents, we saw they didn’t have anything.  We felt love—love for God, love for each other, and for people who we had never seen. This took place in a cold winter night in Utah. As the evening ended and we stepped outside into the cold night we felt warm inside. We each felt the joy and meaning of Christmas more deeply. —a night never to be forgotten.

What I have learned with years is that whatever my fears may be, I need to turn to the Lord and trust in His love. His goodness, and His grace. His loving words to the early Saints are also His words to us: “Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world.” (D&C 50 :41) 

Finally, in addition to power and love, God has given us the spirit of a sound mindto dispel fear.  The word sound means safe, secure, and reliable.  We achieve a sound mind by anchoring ourselves to the safest, most secure, and most reliable rock, the Lord Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. Our prophets have consistently warned us that only those who have anchored their lives firmly to the Savior will survive.

The Lord stands ready to help. This Christmas, let us, fear notbut turn to the Lord and build upon His firm foundation. The world needs our spiritual strength, our power, our love and light, and our sound mind and heart. 

 I will leave you with one of my favorite scriptures found in D&C 6:36  Fear notlittle flock; do good…Look unto me in every thought, doubt not, fear not.” I bear my testimony to you that I know Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is our Savior and Redeemer. And because “unto [us was] born [that] day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord,” we have no need to fear, for He has indeed brought with Him peace on earth and goodwill toward men. I testify that these good tidings are for all people—including you and including me.(Luke 2: 11) In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Con amor,

Vero