Each year since my mission for the church, I have participated in reading the Book of Mormon in full by the end of each year. I have conducted each reading as a study by topic and have so far done studies on the topics of The Atonement, Preaching the Gospel, and The Eternal Family.
This year, as I have moved away from home to the strange land of Utah and have begun an independent journey to learn and become self-sufficient away from the comforts of home, I had decided that "Overcoming Fear" was an appropriate topic to study. In this evaluation of my 2018 study of the Book of Mormon, I have listed and expounded upon the conclusions I have drawn from the doctrines and principles contained therein. Here we go...
Draw on the courage of others
As sad as it is to admit that I don't feel at all times that I can derive the strength to overcome fear by my own accord, listening to and observing the actions of others and how they obtained courage by divine guidance is always a helpful tool. In the words of Jeffrey R. Holland from his talk "Lord, I Believe" from April 2013 General Conference, "If your faith is a little tested in this or any season, I invite you to lean on mine. I know this work is God's very truth..."
Although it may be embarrassing to look for examples of other people's faith rather than miraculously overcoming fear on one's own accord; to me, no person of courage has ever overcome fear without the application of some kind of inspiration outside of their own selves.
What's more important, and rather impressing, is that these examples of strength are an invitation to be the courageous example to someone else who may be struggling. Practically every good person in the Book of Mormon is inviting others to cast out their fears by coming unto Christ. In the book of Helaman, the Nephite, turned dissenter, turned good again, Abinadab comes to this realization when he and the other prisoners are set upon by a dark presence while the missionaries Nephi and Lehi are protected by the Lord's voice.
"And Abinadab said unto them: You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ...and when ye shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you" (Helaman 5:41).
What's intriguing about this passage, is that Abinadab does not say "have faith in Christ" to a people who are obviously in doubt, but he says to call upon God until they have faith. It's easy to tell somebody to not be afraid, but more understanding and beneficial when telling someone to do what they need to do, despite their fear, until they are not afraid anymore.
Courage is doing the right thing, not without fear, but despite fear.
Now that anxiety and depression are more clinically communicated nowadays, I find myself living in an age where it is acceptable to retreat from obligations and responsibilities. Being someone who struggles with anxiety myself, I know this to be detrimental to my own spiritual progression.
In Alma 53 when I read about the valiant example of the Sons of Helaman, I'm sure that they had unimaginable anxieties as they left their homes and their own "comfort zones" to fight in battle; after all, they were just young adults themselves. But they were still "men who were true at all times"--my own emphasis on "all"--"in whatsoever thing they were entrusted" (vs. 20).
The more I read about Captain Moroni, the more I feel like I can relate to him on a level of courage and obedience. Don't get me wrong, he has always been somebody who I felt I could never measure up to--his war strategies, his unwavering determination, and his love of liberty and the gospel all paled in comparison to my own it seemed, until I read about his own fears and anxieties on behalf of this people. "And now, when Moroni saw that the city...was lost, he was exceedingly sorrowful, and began to doubt, because of the wickedness of the people..." (Alma 59:11). And then all of the next chapter is a letter from Moroni to his friend Pahoran, specifying these fears.
To think that even the most solid example of faith and diligence made his fears known, gives me hope that I too can achieve to some degree the spiritual giant of Moroni's character. While fears and doubts from prophets and righteous men may seem as weaknesses to some, I see as strength. Acknowledging you weakness before proclaiming what you believe to be true, is the ultimate sign of courage.
As sad as it is to admit that I don't feel at all times that I can derive the strength to overcome fear by my own accord, listening to and observing the actions of others and how they obtained courage by divine guidance is always a helpful tool. In the words of Jeffrey R. Holland from his talk "Lord, I Believe" from April 2013 General Conference, "If your faith is a little tested in this or any season, I invite you to lean on mine. I know this work is God's very truth..."
Although it may be embarrassing to look for examples of other people's faith rather than miraculously overcoming fear on one's own accord; to me, no person of courage has ever overcome fear without the application of some kind of inspiration outside of their own selves.
"And Abinadab said unto them: You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ...and when ye shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you" (Helaman 5:41).
What's intriguing about this passage, is that Abinadab does not say "have faith in Christ" to a people who are obviously in doubt, but he says to call upon God until they have faith. It's easy to tell somebody to not be afraid, but more understanding and beneficial when telling someone to do what they need to do, despite their fear, until they are not afraid anymore.Courage is doing the right thing, not without fear, but despite fear.
Now that anxiety and depression are more clinically communicated nowadays, I find myself living in an age where it is acceptable to retreat from obligations and responsibilities. Being someone who struggles with anxiety myself, I know this to be detrimental to my own spiritual progression.
In Alma 53 when I read about the valiant example of the Sons of Helaman, I'm sure that they had unimaginable anxieties as they left their homes and their own "comfort zones" to fight in battle; after all, they were just young adults themselves. But they were still "men who were true at all times"--my own emphasis on "all"--"in whatsoever thing they were entrusted" (vs. 20).
The more I read about Captain Moroni, the more I feel like I can relate to him on a level of courage and obedience. Don't get me wrong, he has always been somebody who I felt I could never measure up to--his war strategies, his unwavering determination, and his love of liberty and the gospel all paled in comparison to my own it seemed, until I read about his own fears and anxieties on behalf of this people. "And now, when Moroni saw that the city...was lost, he was exceedingly sorrowful, and began to doubt, because of the wickedness of the people..." (Alma 59:11). And then all of the next chapter is a letter from Moroni to his friend Pahoran, specifying these fears.
To think that even the most solid example of faith and diligence made his fears known, gives me hope that I too can achieve to some degree the spiritual giant of Moroni's character. While fears and doubts from prophets and righteous men may seem as weaknesses to some, I see as strength. Acknowledging you weakness before proclaiming what you believe to be true, is the ultimate sign of courage.
ACCEPT that bad things happen to good people
Too often we hear and experience the phrase: "Why do bad things happen to good people?" And then comes the answer: "I don't know." Due to the constant reiterations that when we do good, blessings are given to us, when the bad things, or trials come, we immediately think that it's because we have done something wrong. While this is true in some regard--I mean, let's face it, consequences are inevitable laws of nature--sometimes bad things just happen...for no reason at all.
Whether by the outcome of someone's act of free agency or reason beyond our own comprehension and limited knowledge, one things remains certain: we cannot know (we after all only use 10 percent of our brains, right?) or control why bad things happen, only that we can control our reaction when they do. So, the answer to the initial question "Why do bad things happen to good people?" should be another question: "What can I do when bad things happen to me?"
A few weeks ago at a Thanksgiving fireside, I had the privilege of hearing a young man, let's call him Jared, give a talk on Gratitude. What's unique about this young man was that he had muscular dystrophy, and had his own special microphone lowered to accommodate him in his wheelchair. I don't think that I ever stopped smiling the whole 15 minutes Jared gave his talk. He started by introducing the fact that he had a disability, but that he was grateful for the body he was given and the grand adventure that they had had together throughout his life. He then wittingly spoke of his family and how all four of his siblings shared the same condition. When he related the story of how three of those siblings had passed away, he expounded upon how thankful he was for the times he was given to spend time with each of them and what a positive impact each of their characters had on his own.I will always remember this experience and how, despite horrible circumstances, light can always be found within ourselves to guide us out of them. We just have to know where to look.
Have you ever sopped to notice that in the Book of Mormon, bad things happen to good people ALL THE FRICKIN' TIME. It's sometimes just easy to miss amidst all of the miracles and blessings that are expounded upon so much by the prophets. One of my favorite passages, which I'm sure is one of the most quoted scriptures, is Helaman 5:12:
"...Remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
My favorite word in this whole scripture, other that "remember," is "when." This reveals that no matter what, bad things WILL happen and "when" they do, the strongest foundation to build your courage upon is Christ. To me, it is probably of the most raw and realistic scripture on the expectations of fear and how to overcome it. There's no sugar-coated it, it is what it is.
If you want to be active in church, then BE ACTIVE IN CHURCH. You will definitely get more out of church if you participate in discussions and relate spiritual experiences to people of your own age group.
As an introverted, socially-anxious, homebody, I have learned how rewarding it is to be among people my own age, because as shocking as it might sound, I feel more fulfilled spending time with people than by myself. Just like misery loves company, so does anti-socialism. Before all the socially-anxious people in the world start throwing javelins at me, it is just as hard for me to admit this as you hate hearing it, but it must be said.
I love being by myself more than is socially acceptable, but I know that I get so much out of scripture study on my own. It's nice to not only hear what other people have experienced in the gospel, but to SHARE what is going on in my own spiritual development. Like the prophet Lehi said to his sons at the beginning of the book, "...Arise from the dust...and be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things, that ye may not come down into captivity" (2 Nephi 1:21).
This last year, some ways I have found unity within the church have been through REGULAR attendance at:
- Weekly Institute
- The Temple
- Church (ALL meetings)
- Family Home Evening activity
- Unplanned service opportunities
I have found that if I attended at least one additional activity in my ward (or congregation) during the week, both of my spiritual AND social heath were improved significantly.
I can be my worst enemy or my closest friend
In this study, I have come to the conclusion that anyone can be capable of great fear or great courage, and sometimes, I find myself playing tug-of-war with both. No matter what, anxiety will always be something that I will struggle with; it's my lot in life. But, I don't have to go through it alone. There is a 530 page book chalked full of people who, despite their own weaknesses, draw on Christ and trust in Him to accomplish the things they have been entrusted to accomplish.
"...I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear" (Moroni 8:16).
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