President Hinckley - Who among us can say that he or she has
not felt fear? I know of no one who has been entirely spared. Some, of course,
experience fear to a greater degree than do others. Some are able to rise above
it quickly, but others are trapped and pulled down by it and even driven to
defeat. We suffer from the fear of ridicule, the fear of failure, the fear of
loneliness, the fear of ignorance. Some fear the present, some the future. Some
carry the burden of sin and would give almost anything to unshackle themselves from
those burdens but fear to change their lives. Let us recognize that fear comes
not of God, but rather that this gnawing, destructive element comes from the
adversary of truth and righteousness. Fear is the antithesis of faith. It is
corrosive in its effects, even deadly. (“God Hath Not Given Us the Spirit of
Fear”. Oct GC 1984.)
Elder Holland - I ask everyone within the sound of my voice
to take heart, be filled with faith, and remember the Lord has said He “would
fight [our] battles, [our] children’s battles, and [the battles of our]
children’s children.” And what do we do to merit such a defense? We are to
“search diligently, pray always, and be believing[. Then] all things shall work
together for [our] good, if [we] walk uprightly and remember the covenant
wherewith [we] have covenanted.” The latter days are not a time to fear and
tremble. They are a time to be believing and remember our covenants. (“The
Ministry of Angles” GC Oct 2008).
