AM I PLASTIC? OR HOPEFUL?

Magandang Araw po,

It's More Fun in the Philippines:

I only have one highlight this week and that was our last Mission Tour in which Elder Steven R. Bangerter of the Seventy came to speak to us. At one moment in our conference I had the opportunity to ask him a question, and now I will share his response as well as a few insights I had in my own personal studies:

In trying to be Positive and Hopeful at all times, is it wrong to act as though we are without Hardships and Sorrows?

I asked this question, because often times constant happiness is connected to being plastic or simply wearing a mask over the pain in order to appear perfect. Many frown upon this constant happiness due to its plastic appearance; which in turn, makes showing our pains and inner feelings the more desired trait, even if those feelings include self-pity. However, which side is more correct? First off, in defining Hope we will understand that it is "confident expectation and longing for promised blessings due to righteousness." This Hope comes only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, it is a hope to be raised to Life Eternal. We also learn in Moroni 7:40-43 that to have Hope we must also be meek and lowly in heart. To be Meek is to be "God-fearing, righteous, humble, teachable, and patient UNDER SUFFERING." Focus on those last two words. We must be Under Suffering if we are to be Meek and Hopeful, but that does not require that we dwell on and amplify that suffering. Rather, we are to minimize and look past our own pains with a hope of a better tomorrow. Let's approach this question from a different perspective. Take Jesus Christ for example. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Immediately After suffering all the pains of the world including our sins and sicknesses, we will remember that Jesus Christ was betrayed by Judas Iscariot and captured. In the process, Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ, cut off the ear of one of the Roman Soldiers. Jesus Christ reacted quickly and mercifully by healing the ear of this man. Consider this, Jesus Christ had just suffered EVERY pain that was and will ever be felt by man and woman; yet, he overlooked his own pain in order to heal this soldiers ear. Obviously, the Lord suffered much greater than this man, but Christ acted as if he was without hardships and sorrows. The key is that Jesus Christ looked outward instead of inward. Thus I conclude this question with the answer that Elder Bangerter gave to me, "To be positive and hopeful at all times as if we are without hardships is not a sin. It Is A Christlike Attribute."

WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Look Outward instead of Inward. This will lead to Happiness from serving others, and will give you a greater Hope in Jesus Christ.

Elder Hemmert