Ronald A. Rasband - Be Not Troubled

Contents

Introduction

These Are My Days

W e live in perilous times. Rage, calamity, and commotion swirl about us. Rage , calamity , and commotion are sobering words, but our time was clearly prophesied by prophets of old.

In 2 Timothy, the Apostle Paul foretold of our day: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,... lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:12, 4).

Nephi prophesied of the condition of the hearts of the people in these, the last days: For behold, at that day shall [the devil] rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good. And others [members] will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is welland thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell (2 Nephi 28:2021).

Being cheated down to hell is an ominous conclusion to a life filled with promise since the pre-earth days when we shouted for joy to come to earth and choose life eternal by righteousness. Yet the deceit of the devil and those enslaved to him lures some away.

Challenges, trials, and tribulation are not new to Gods children. They make up much of our mortal experience as we seek to become true disciples of Jesus Christ. The key to withstanding the turmoil is to keep focused on Jesus Christ.

Be not troubled means to see with a blessed eternal perspective.

Picture the moment in the Kirtland Temple when Joseph described, The glory of the Lord shone round about and then bore this powerful witness of Jesus Christ:

He lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the FatherThat by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God (D&C 76:19, 2224).

We are those sons and daughters unto God.

The Lord spoke to the Church in the early days of the Restoration, as recorded in the first section of the Doctrine and Covenants: Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments (D&C 1:17).

If we live those divine laws, we lay a firm foundation to deal with troubles and trials of any proportion. We feel the presence of the Lord and the power of His Atonement to help us, lift us, and heal us. His Atonement was wrought in the vilest of circumstances, with the weight of all our pain on Him alone. From His infinite sacrifice came the capacity for Him to feel what we feelnot just when we sin, but when disappointment, broken dreams, unjust treatment, failure, and chaos seem to consume us.

As Alma counseled, Whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day (Alma 36:3).

No dispensation has been absolved of heartache, frustration, and failure. Nephi, son of Helaman, saw all around him lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. He had misgivingsas we are all prone to doabout his time on earth. Looking back at his ancestors and seeing their time as more glowing than it was, he wrote the following: Oh, that I could have had my days in the days when my father Nephi first came out of the land of Jerusalem, that I could have joyed with him in the promised land; then were his people easy to be entreated, firm to keep the commandments of God, and slow to be led to do iniquity; and they were quick to hearken unto the words of the LordYea, if my days could have been in those days, then would my soul have had joy in the righteousness of my brethren. But behold, I am consigned that these are my days (Helaman 7:79).

Our days are not about living with ease, having our names up in lights, or being the first to the finish line. Our days are about what happened at the Waters of Mormon as the newly baptized were charged to bear one anothers burdens,... mourn with those that mourn;... comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places (Mosiah 18:89).

Our days are about looking a little deeper for the good and building on it, generously complimenting the efforts of others, replacing pessimism with optimism, and finding joy in the work that the Lord has given us. Our days are about worshipping the Lord, praying to our Father, living the commandments, and honoring our covenants. Our days are about becoming disciples of Christ with hope and exaltation ever in our sights.

Church history and the scriptures are replete with accounts of those who lived up to their day. I have always loved the expression of Oliver Cowdery, who wrote of sitting with Joseph Smith as the young prophet translated the Book of Mormon by the power of revelation. These were days never to be forgotten, he penned (Joseph SmithHistory 1:71, note).

Consider ancient prophets Noah, Abraham, Peter, Lehi, and Enoch. By some standards Enoch was old, not particularly gifted, and he stuttered. But the angels wrote of his ministry: And so great was the faith of Enoch that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course; and the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness; and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him (Moses 7:13).

Our charge is the same given to all those throughout the history of the world who choose the covenant path: Be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples... , and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls (Alma 17:11).

By divine design, we have been called to the Lords service leading up to His Second Coming. May we rejoice in our day and be not troubled.

Find Refuge
from Fear

S ome years ago, one of our young married daughters and her husband asked Sister Rasband and me a very important, life-influencing question: Is it still safe and wise to bring children into this seemingly wicked and frightening world we live in?

Now, that was an important question for a mom and dad to consider with their dear married children. We could hear the fear in their voices and feel the fear in their hearts. Our answer to them was a firm, Yes, its more than okay, as we shared fundamental gospel teachings and our own heartfelt impressions and life experiences.