What I Know of Hope

I started reading a book called "Look Up, My Soul: The Divine Promise of Hope" by Gerald Lund (I absolutely love his books!). When I saw the book for the first time, I knew I had to read it.

On my mission (I probably have mentioned this before), I learned something new about hope. In the scriptures, faith, hope and charity always go hand in hand. However, we don't realize why hope is really important. After studying hope for a while, I realized that the way we use hope and the way the scriptures use hope are different.

Let me give you an example using Lehi's dream of the tree of life. You know the destination, the tree of life; however, you can't see what's in front of you because of the mist of darkness. All you can do is to cling onto the iron rod and hope that you will get to your destination. Hope is not merely wishing. If you just wished, you wouldn't move at all but stay where you are at. If you hope, you move forward because you know that you will be able to get to the destination. If you hope for things, you have faith that you will acquire what you hope for by acting. You can't see what's in front of you but you move forward.

It is awesome that Elder Lund felt the need to write a whole book about hope and I am so excited to read this book (I checked it out from the library but if I really like it, I will buy it). In the preface of the book, he mentioned how his view of hope changed and he realized the importance of hope along with faith and charity. I want to learn more about hope and have greater understanding of it. I want to apply it into my life so that I can have greater hope for the future and exercise my faith.

"And if you have not faith, hope, and charity, you can do nothing." -Doctrine and Covenants 18:19 (Emphasis added)-

Not just faith and charity but hope also.