RS Lesson January 2009

The Infinite Power of Hope by Elder Deiter F. Uchtdorf taught by Alison Jaehne

Do you need more energy? Read this. "The Infinite Power of Hope." Infinite means endless, immeasurably great or extensive, and subject to no limitations. Power is the ability to produce an effect, a possession of influence and a source of energy. According to these definitions, "The Infinite Power of Hope" means that Hope is an endless (infinite) source of energy (power).



What is hope? To hope is to cherish a desire with the anticipation and expectation of fulfillment. To cherish is to hold dear and keep a devotion with tenderness in one's mind and heart. Some hopes are like mere wishes on trivial things. Some hopes are like aspirations: strong desires to achieve something high or great. It is the Hope of Israel, the great hope of mankind, our Redeemer, our Savior, and Jesus Christ that is the endless source of energy we can draw from.


Elder Uchtdorf lists scriptural references to the benefits associated with having hope: peace, mercy, rejoicing, and gladness as well as a protective helmet, a foundation and an anchor. (I write these attributes on one side of the board.) The thesaurus gives us more words associated with hope: confidence, assurance, cheer, sunniness, optimism, bliss, joy, happiness, encouragement, courage, count on, rely on, look forward to, to wait with patience, the foundation of our hope: faith, and the greatest of these: charity.


On the opposite side of hope is despair. Despair is the loss of hope: hopelessness. Words associated with despair are: (the opposite of faith): doubt, and (the opposite of charity): the failure to care for our fellow men, and other words are: desperate, despondent, sadness, sorrow, pessimism, uncertainty, indecisiveness, hesitation, defeat, disappointed, dismay, dispirited, discourage, dishearten, and demoralize. (I write these attributes on the other side of the board.)


Which side would you rather choose to be on? Elder Uchtdorf tells us that having a hope in the Atonement is both a principle and a commandment. Heavenly Father has commanded us to have hope. He does not give us commandments that we cannot achieve. He does not give us commandments unless He prepares a way for us to accomplish the thing He has commanded.


Lucifer wants us to believe that maintaining hope is too hard and too much work and we are incapable of keeping hope. He wants us to believe that we are hopeless. 'Maybe there is hope for everyone else, but I am different, I am hopeless. The discouragement, pessimism and doubts I have are out of my control. They are part of my nature. I am hopeless. The Atonement might work for those perfect people over there, but I am beyond hope. I am doomed to this life.' That is a lie!!


The second article of faith tells us that, "We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, ALL men may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel." It makes no exclusions! ALL men may be saved, regardless of the family they came from or have now, the sins they have committed, and how rich or destitute they are. ALL men may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. There is hope for everyone! Repentance is available to everyone and is a requirement for everyone!


Why is faith first, then hope, then charity? Faith is the first principle of the gospel. Hope must have a belief , the faith, that the desire is achievable or it is a mere wish. Faith needs hope because faith is the confidence in things hoped for. They are like intertwined cords of a strong cable and difficult to separate, Elder Russell M. Nelson tells us. (A More Excellent Hope Ensign Feb 1997) He also said faith hope and charity are like a three-legged stool that support and compensate for each other. Elder M. Russell Ballard (The Joy of Hope Fulfilled Ensign Nov 1992) also used the stool analogy as well as Elder Uchtdorf in our lesson today.


I read an account of a vision that Joseph Smith had. (James E. Faust The Dignity of Self Ensign May 1981) He saw the Twelve weary and in great tribulation after laboring. They were looking at the ground and didn't notice that the Savior was in their midst weeping over them, feeling their troubles with them. Joseph also saw the Twelve being crowned in the presence of God and Joseph could never talk about this vision without weeping.


Anne Gunnell shared with us how working in the ICU at Primary Children's Hospital she sees many families going through the various stages of hope and despair until they reach a point of charity where they submit to doing anything for the children. She watches the children and families undergo painful procedures. It is hard to watch but she knows that the children would die without it.


Without the trials of our faith and hope we could not progress enough to be worthy to have eternal life. Like the giant trees, we should reach up for the light. We can have hope and as we go about doing the Lord's work, we can know that He is near. His purposes will triumph in the end. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.