A Perfect Brightness of Hope

In the "Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker" a young boy in search of his kidnapped sister soon learns that more is at stake than just his sister. The world is being threatened once again by an evil thought to have been stopped long ago. On the side of this noble hero, is the ancient king who saw the destruction of his people due to the evil. Before the climatic battle, in an effort to thwart the plans of Ganon, the king wishes for hope. After the battle the King, parting ways, tells the green-clad lad "you must look forward and walk a path of hope, trusting it will sustain you when darkness comes." Though just a game, in it is taught the truth about the power of hope.

In gospel terms, hope is an abiding trust in the Lord and his promises. It is a sustaining force that helps us to remain peaceful during challenging times. I love the quote above because it shows the dichotomy between the darkness we may face during the trials of life and the light that fills us with peace because of hope. Just as darkness is cast out by light, hope casts out fear, worry and sorrow and replaces them with courage, comfort and joy. Nephi teaches we need to have "a perfect brightness of hope" (2 Nephi 31:20) because it does illuminate our minds allowing us to see  the good in the present and in that to come, no matter the darkness of the past. People often speak of the light at the end of the tunnel, meaning see the good that is to come. Hope is that light which pierces through the darkness of the tunnel which leads and persuades us forward because of the good things to come.

Mormon teaches what the good thing is at the end of the tunnel. He poses the question "what is it that ye shall hope for?" In other terms, what is the light at the end of the tunnel. He goes on to answer by saying "ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise." (Moroni 7:41) God's plan for us is to someday live with him, never to die again, if we are faithful to his teachings.

We all face challenging times, that often seem to envelop us with darkness, but God gives promises in the scriptures which if we trust, disperse the darkness, and will fill us with the light of hope. We just need to look forward to those good things, and continue to walk in the light of that hope.

for more about hope