Be of Good Cheer

Something that I have learned for myself is that there is a lot to be gloomy about…but only if I choose to see it. There is also so much to be happy about! Over the last few months in the LDS church magazine, The Ensign, there have been a lot of messages about overcoming our circumstances. As President Uchtdorf pointed out in the April General Conference, “…we have a glad message to share, and we have a message of joy.”
As I was thinking about this topic, I thought of so many quotes and words from other people more knowledgeable than me, but I’m going to attempt to not make this entire blog in quotation marks!
In the Ensign this month there is an article called, “Be of Good Cheer.” It is based off of the scripture John 16:33 where Christ says, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
What a gift! Jesus Christ came from a better world, “…to live among His people and share in their poverty and suffering so that He might be a more compassionate king.” He came to overcome the world and all of the havoc in it. Through Christ we can see all of the good because there is an, “…escape from the grasp of this awful monster…” who is Satan (2 Nephi 9:10). He is as real as Christ and we each fall prey to his cunning tricks. But there is hope. Joy to the world! The Lord is come! There is so much good to look to for, because through Christ we can be made free. Just like in my favorite Christmas hymn, “No more will sin and sorrow grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He’ll come and make the blessings flow Far as the curse was found…”
Some of the most precious moments of my life have been to feel Christ’s love for me personally. We will each endure tough things; but if we didn’t, we would not become our greatest potential by overcoming our sorrows through the One who feels our sorrows personally, “…that He [would] know…how to [help] his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:12).
I’ll finish with one of my favorite quotes: “In my lifetime I have seen two world wars. … I have worked my way through the Depression and managed to go to law school while starting a young family at the same time. I have seen stock markets and world economics go crazy, and I have seen a few despots and tyrants go crazy, all of which causes quite a bit of trouble around the world in the process.
“So I am frank to say tonight that I hope you won’t believe all the world’s difficulties have been wedged into your decade, or that things have never been worse than they are for you personally, or that they will never get better.” 2
There are no better days than these days, because “these are [your] days” (Helaman 7:9). You are here on earth at this time for a reason. You have what it takes. You have skills, knowledge, and natural talents given to you from God. If you live righteously, you will have access to the inspiration and strength you will need to triumph over any challenge you face. You will have the protection of a worthy life; guidance from the Lord through the Holy Ghost and prophets, seers, and revelators; and the power of sacred promises that are yours because you keep your covenants.
Take these things that are yours and have a great life!
References:
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Waiting on the Road to Damascus,” Ensign, May. 2011,70.
Camille Fronk Olson, “Be of Good Cheer,” Ensign, Jul. 2011, 56.
 Bruce D. Porter, “The Prince of Glory,” Ensign, Dec. 2009, 26. 
Hymns, no. 201
Paul V. Johnson, “Make Yours a Great Life,” Ensign, Jan. 2011,