FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT

"Hope, fortified by faith and charity, forges a force as strong as steel. Hope becomes an anchor to the soul. To this anchor, the faithful can cling, securely tethered to the Lord. Satan, on the other hand, would have us cast away that anchor and drift with the ebb and tide of despair. If we will cling to the anchor of hope, it will be our safeguard forever. . .

We know that there is an opposition in all things. Not surprisingly, therefore, faith, hope, and charity have their opposing forces. . . The antithesis of faith is doubt; the opposite of hope is despair. And the opposite of charity is disregard or even disdain for the Savior" (Russell M. Nelson, Perfection Pending, Deseret Book, 1998, p. 117).

Ether 12:4. . .

"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh from faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast."

Likewise, President Howard W. Hunter taught: "It is incumbent upon us to rejoice a little more and despair a little less, to give thanks for what we have and for the magnitude of God's blessings to us. . . We must continue to exercise confidence in God. . . He will bless us as a people. . . He will bless us as individuals. . . With the gospel of Jesus Christ you have every hope and promise and reassurance."