Fear Not

People fear almost anything, from spiders to clocks failure to great mole rats (zemmiphobia).  However, fear in the gospel sense, is the opposite of faith.  When we fear, we lack trust that God is really in control.  Countless times in the scriptures it says "Doubt not fear not."  Often times when angels or prophets speak, they start by saying fear not.  True love casteth out all fear.  If we really love and God, we wouldn't fear man.  In D&C 3, the Lord chastens Oliver Cowdery by saying, "You should not have feared man more than God".  Elisha says to his servant in 2 Kings, "Fear not, for they that are with us are more than they that are with them." 

I'm a big Star Wars fan.  In Episode I, Yoda says to the young Anakin that fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.  All of the feelings qualify as those that come from the devil.  They build on each other and they do not come from God.  God teaches love, trust, and calmness, opposites of those other qualities. 

So while Star Wars is a great thing, and Halloween is lots of fun, the moral is that we need to cultivate love and trust in God.  When we trust in God, we do not fear what life will bring.  We know that all things will work out for our good and that God will not leave us comfortless or abandoned.  I love the consoling words that the Lord speaks to Joshua in the first chapter "As I was with Moses, so shall I be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.  Be strong and of a good courage:"  When we are faithful to the Lord, that promise applies to us as well.  He will not fail us or forsake us.  No matter what comes, we can walk with the assurance that He will be there with us.  We can be like Joshua; strong and of a good courage.  So during this gloomy fast approaching season, laden with creepy crawlies, spooks, and spine chilling masks; and when things get to be a little much for you, remember  2 Tim 1:7 God hath not given us the spirit fear" and 1 Jn 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear".

_Elder Halbert