Hope

In our prayer meeting on Wednesday at the Temple President Merrill J Bateman spoke to us about hope. I was so moved by his remarks that I asked for the references that he quoted from. I don't know that I will be able to communicate the same feeling of hope and comfort that I felt, but I hope so.

President Bateman encouraged us to have hope and not to preach pessimism but to look forward with faith.
He quoted from President Harold B. Lee (1899-1973) classic address given in 1973 at Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho),

Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail. This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of the new Jerusalem. This is the place that the Lord said is favored above all other nations in all the world. This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple. This is the favored land in all the world.

Yes, I repeat, men may fail, but this nation won’t fail. I have faith in America; you and I must have faith in America, if we understand the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are living in a day when we must pay heed to these challenges.

I plead with you not to preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world. This is the favored land. This is the land of our forefathers. It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through.

The Lord will not leave His church without direction. Revelation for our guidance comes to the leadership of the kingdom of God on earth. (Ye Are the Light of the World, 350-51)