Describing Hope

     When David got back from his mission, we had a conversation one day in which he pointed out something that seemed to me to be an sort of anomaly in the Book of Mormon, which was the way that the concept of hope was taught.  In most passages it seemed to follow faith, rather than be the desire that leads to faith, which might be the normal way that hope would be understood if the word was being used as it typically is in our current 21st century American vocabulary.  I dug into studying the use of the word hope in the book of Mormon and found lots of confirmation that it generally had a stronger meaning than just being a positive wish.  It was an anchor to ones soul, an advanced companion virtue to charity, a gift of the Spirit.  I discussed this with Eric Huntsman, the BYU religious scholar, who was a friend and associate on our Provo Temple shift, who agreed and said there might be two kinds of “hopes” referenced in the Book of Mormon, which he characterized as a “weak” hope and a “strong” hope, the later being this sort of non-standard use of the word.   I wrote a chapter or more in my book on the Book of Mormon “Nearer to God: The Book of Mormon and the Good News of Christ” elaborating on this insight.

     Recently, I found some additional discussion with wonderful descriptive language on this very concept of hope in the writings of Bruce C. Hafen in his book “The Broken Heart” which was his earlier predecessor book to the 2016 family Reading Club book “The Contrite Spirit.”  In this book, Brother Hafen discusses at length the advanced processes that help us move toward sanctification and perfection after we have complied with the requirements to come through the initial gate of faith, repentance, and baptism and are now on the path toward eternal life.  He describes hope as the major support for our navigating this path.  Here are some of his ideas: 

     “[after quoting Ether 12:4]...the spiritual endowment of hope–of perspective, of patience, of an inner serenity, a sure inner sight, that is  “not weary in well-doing.” (D&C 64:33). Such hope is bestowed by the Holy Ghost, “which Comforter filleth with hope (Moroni 8:26). (Hafen, p. 183)

     “It is the hope that Mormon [in Moroni 7:3-4] recognized as a sustaining, God-given source of strength in the maturing stages of spiritual development... Not perfect, not frantic, not pessimistic, and not artificially cheerful.  The walk of those who walk with the endowment of hope is “peaceable.” (p. 184)

     “The divine blessing of hope gives us much needed perspective and strengthens our will to keep moving, against the odds, against the backward pull.  It is the principle by which our Father guides us – line upon line, precept upon precept.  It is “Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling gloom... I do not ask to see the distant scene; one step enough for me.”  (p. 186)

     Comparing our efforts to that of a toddler being helped by parents to being to learn to walk, “Our Father in Heaven also waits and coaxes and literally gives us hope... (p. 187)

     “Hope, a divinely given blessing of atoning grace for those who seek it, after all they can do on their own, establishes in the way our mind sees things just the right distance between where we are and where we strive to be.  It also reassures us, somehow, that the ever-receding ideal is not a trick, but part of the growth process that can be not only acceptable but exhilarating.  The growing pains become a sign of life and energy, and we are invigorated by hope to watch every step unfold.  For the hope within our heart is the Spirit of the Almighty: “For I will go before your face.  I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.” (D&C 84:88)” (p. 188)

Making every commandment a delight

     Here is a sweet thought that came to me last night.  It starts with the numerous talks and lessons were have received recently on keeping the Sabbath Day holy, including Wendy having to prepare a 7 minute talk for the adult session of our Stake Conference several weeks ago.  Many of these presenters have dwelled on a point made by Elder Nelson in his April 2015 General Conference talk “The Sabbath Is a Delight,” that the motive behind our obedience to the commandment to honor the Sabbath should be to give a sign to our Heavenly Father:

     “How do we hallow the Sabbath day? In my much younger years, I studied the work of others who had compiled lists of things to do and things not to do on the Sabbath. It wasn’t until later that I learned from the scriptures that my conduct and my attitude on the Sabbath constituted a sign between me and my Heavenly Father. With that understanding, I no longer needed lists of dos and don’ts. When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, “What sign do I want to give to God?” That question made my choices about the Sabbath day crystal clear.”

     I found a larger application in my reading of a chapter in a book on temples.  This is, we may view any obedience we give to any of the commandments of God as such a sign, to show our gratitude to him for being so merciful and generous to us, and to show our desire to please and follow him.  It may be like a “Gift of Love” returned to one who loved us first. 

     I find this motive for attempting obedience to our Father motivating in itself, and much superior to obeying commandments out of fear of punishment, to get a reward, to look good in the eyes of other people, etc., etc.