Hope

1
Hopeor Despair?

• www.kevinhinckley.com

2
Marines

• Two California Highway Patrol Officers were
  conducting speeding enforcement on I-15, just
  north of the Marine Corps Air Station at
  Miramar. One of the officers was using a hand
  held radar device to check speeding vehicles
  approaching the crest of a hill. The officers
  were suddenly surprised when the radar gun began
  reading 300 miles per hour. The officer attempted
  to reset the radar gun, but it would not reset
  and then turned off.
• Just then a deafening roar over the treetops
  revealed that the radar had in fact locked on to
  a USMC F/A-18 Hornet which was engaged in a low
  flying exercise near the location.
•   Back at the CHP Headquarters the Patrol Captain
  fired off a complaint to the USMC Commander. The
  reply came back in true USMC style
• Thank you for your letter.  We can now complete
  the file on this incident.
• You may be interested to know that the tactical
  computer in the Hornet had detected the presence
  of, and subsequently locked on to your hostile
  radar equipment and automatically sent a jamming
  signal back to it, which is why it shut down.
• Furthermore, an Air-to-Ground missile aboard the
  fully armed aircraft had also automatically
  locked on to your equipment location.
• Fortunately, the Marine Pilot flying the Hornet
  recognized the situation for what it was, quickly
  responded to the missile system alert status and
  was able to override the automated defense system
  before the missile was launched to destroy the
  hostile radar position.
• The pilot also suggests you cover your mouths
  when cussing at them, since the video systems on
  these jets are very high tech.
• Sergeant Johnson, the officer holding the radar
  gun, should get his dentist to check his left
  rear molar. It appears the filling is loose.
  Also, the snap is broken on his holster.
• Thank you for your concern.
•     Semper Fi

3
For internet readers

• The following lesson focuses on Moronis last
  counsel to us.
• In Chapter 10, he talks about Faith, Hope and
  Charity. The alternative is despair which comes
  from a general wickedness and deliberately
  cutting out the source of hope, the Savior.
• In particular, how will we, as Saints, continue
  to maintain hope in a world increasingly drowning
  in wickedness and hopelessness.
• Mormon preached to such a group, probably the
  Anti-Nephi-Lehies, who continued to walk the
  peacable walk even as the Nephite nation spun
  into its final years of self destruction.
• Finally, President Ucktdorf gives some sound
  guidance on this issue.

4
Book of Mormon Mystery Moroni Quotes Mormon

• And now I, Moroni, write a few of the words of my
  father Mormon, which he spake concerning faith,
  hope, and charity for after this manner did he
  speak unto the people, as he taught them in the
  synagogue which they had built for the place of
  worship.
• And now I, Mormon, speak unto you, my beloved
  brethren
• Wherefore, I would speak unto you that are of the
  church, that are the peaceable followers of
  Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient hope
  by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord,

Question Who is Mormon preaching to?
5
Moronis Closing Words

• Wherefore, there must be faith and if there must
  be faith there must also be hope and if there
  must be hope there must also be charity.
• And except ye have charity ye can in nowise be
  saved in the kingdom of God neither can ye be
  saved in the kingdom of God if ye have not faith
  neither can ye if ye have no hope.
• And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in
  despair
• and despair cometh because of iniquity.

Question, If our faith is weak and we find
ourselves despairing, Do we need to repent?
6
Moroni continues

• For if there be one among you that doeth good,
  he shall work by the power and gifts of God.
• And again I would exhort you that ye would come
  unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift,
  and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing

Question, What would it mean to us if despair
were one such evil gift?
7
Traveling Through Life
Despair
Journey Through Life
Hope
What determines Which one we listen to?
8
President Uchtdorf

• The scriptures say that there must be an
  opposition in all things.So it is with faith,
  hope, and charity. Doubt, despair, and failure
  to care for our fellowmen lead us into
  temptation, which can cause us to forfeit
  choice and precious blessings.
• The adversary uses despair to bind hearts and
  minds in suffocating darkness. Despair drains
  from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves
  behind the empty remnants of what life was meant
  to be.
• Despair kills ambition, advances sickness,
  pollutes the soul, and deadens the heart. Despair
  can seem like a staircase that leads only and
  forever downward. (October Conference, 2008)

9
President Uchtdorf

• Hope is critical to both faith and
  charity. When disobedience,
  disappointment, and procrastination erode
  faith, hope is there to uphold our faith.
• When frustration and impatience challenge
  charity, hope braces our resolve and urges us to
  care for our fellowmen even without expectation
  of reward. The brighter our hope, the greater our
  faith. The stronger our hope, the purer our
  charity.
• The things we hope for lead us to faith, while
  the things we hope in lead us to charity. The
  three qualitiesfaith, hope, and charityworking
  together, grounded on the truth and light of the
  restored gospel of Jesus Christ, lead us to
  abound in good works

10
Question

• What do you hope for?
• On whom do you focus your hope?
• Do you place more hope in the Savior or in
  yourself?