Be of Good Cheer and Do Not Fear

I haven't spotlighted a talk in awhile but this is one I saw on BYUTV this past week and it is really a good one. It is called, "Be of Good Cheer and Do Not Fear". Sister Pearce is President Hinckley's daughter. She served in the General YW Presidency for several years. Here are a few of my favorite excerpts:

"Most of us have our favorite out loud affirmations that we repeat to ourselves when things get tough. One of the ones I heard my father say often was 'things will always work out'. As a teenager, and now as a middle-aged woman, when I lay my conundrums on the table - he listens, asks questions, listens some more, and then invariable says something along the lines of 'just say your prayers and things will look better in the morning'.

"In my ninety plus years I have learned a secret. I have learned that when good men and women face challenges with optimism, things will always work out! Truly, things will always work out. Despite how difficult circumstances may look at the moment, those who have faith and move forward with a happy spirit will find that things will always work out." - Gordon B. Hinckley, Way To Be, p. 84.

"Positive words of faith are so helpful. When we say them out loud they have extra power because the Holy Ghost bears witness of their truth."

There seems to be a natural waning of faith that occurs when a crisis abates and daily deadlines and busyness catapult me forward in a monday, tuesday, wednesday kind of way. I often find myself trying to juggle more and more balls, then the juggling begins to get frantic, the cheer fades. The fear that things are beyond my control settles in and I lose the feeling that the Lord is standing by. You may not believe it but I know how to fix this. I will tell you how...

(First) Take a little quiet time to pray, asking for the companionship and guidance of the Spirit and then be mindful, keeping your heart open as well as your ears and eyes.

(then) Keep your scriptures open.

In other words - we can return to the discipline of a healthy spiritual diet (daily scripture study, unrushed prayers, and openness to the Spirit)

Conscientiously doing it for even thirty days will change everything.

Personal revelation will flood in. We will receive it when we go to church. The teacher will suddenly seem as if she or he is speaking directly to us. If we underline our scriptures as we read daily for the next 30 days with a new color and then review everything in that color next fast sunday, the messages from the Lord to us personally will leap off of those pages. A chance comment or question from a friend will rivet our attention. There will be words in the temple that we hardly remember ever hearing before that will seem so alive and pertinent.

As we make positive and cheerful decisions to do a multitude of things that invite the Spirit into our lives, we will abound. We will feel our sluggush spirits wake up! We will be overwhelmed with gratitude and love for the Savior. We will feel him beside us. I believe this. I have experienced it. I hope you will want to try it. Give it 30 days and begin soon.

-from 2004 Women's Conference closing remarks, "Be of Good Cheer and Do Not Fear"