Tag Archives: fear

After All We Can Do

After All We Can Do
by Elder Claudio D. Zivic

I heard a friend ask this last week, “how long must I continue trying so hard?” and quickly thought, well, that’s easy to answer; we should do all that we can do for the WHOLE of our mortal lives. That’s what life is all about, learning!

I didn’t validate my friend’s feelings with that thought and it’s been so easy for me lately to toss out advice and miss how I’m not applying it at the same time.

Yesterday night however, after a friend of mine who was visiting from Logan UT talked to me about wanting to be better, I started to feel my passion for excellence come back. I do love that feeling. It’s exciting. It’s motivating and it’s necessary to push me forward in the cause of right. It’s the desire that the scriptures talk about and it’s the vital prerequisite for action and for accessing the full potential of the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Elder Zivic spoke of several gospel components that allow us to “be someone out of the ordinary.” My desire is to become just such a person. Who am I not to be?

  1. Sincere repentance allows us remove the burdens, or chains, of our fallen nature. Once this weight is removed, we can have the hope that lifts us up to be extraordinary people.
  2. Looking for and developing the opportunities that the gospel affords us is a key.
  3. Sharing the gospel, as I realized on my cruise, is a powerful tool to in feeling and knowing the Spirit.

I’d just like to end with a quote that I’ve always liked. It speaks of who we really are:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light , not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of god. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We were born to make and manifest the glory of god that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Authors Details: Marianne Williamson
“Our greatest fear” from her book ‘A return to love

You were never meant to be ordinary!

Live by Faith and Not by Fear

Live by Faith and Not by Fear
Elder Quentin L. Cook
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

“When we choose to follow Christ in faith rather than choosing another path out of fear, we are blessed with a consequence that is consistent with our choice (see D&C 6:34-36).”

Recently in my life I’ve been identifying fears that are keeping me from really diving into life and experiencing and enjoying all that it has to offer. It’s amazing how much fear is behind each one of my bad habits, my disobedience and my short comings. But it’s equally amazing just how much love there is that heaven offers to me on a daily basis. It is as if multitudes of angels sit waiting to help me, to bless me, to guide me and all I need do is ask to see it!

I’ve seen the doubt and hopelessness that comes from living in fear. I’ve also seen the confidence, hope, peace and love that comes from sharing love with others and in serving my fellow man.

There are so many things to fear in this life: “This person won’t like me if I tell them about the gospel.” “I won’t ever graduate.” “I won’t ever get married.” “I’ll never heal from this emotional pain.” “I’ll never be loved.”

But there are so many things to love! All the people in my life are such beautiful people. I only wish that there were enough time in the day to spend ample time with ALL those I’ve come to love. People, nature, music, learning…I am grateful for so many things!

Lastly, on my cruise I realized that sharing the gospel holds special treasures that can come from nearly no other source. As I thought today about the people that I met on the cruise and of ways to share my testimony with them I felt the sweet peace that only the Spirit of God can bring.

I know that God showers us with his love and that through the very personal atonement my Savior made for me I am able to have faith in the goodness of mankind. I am able to look ahead, put my fears behind and become all that I know I can be and more.