SUNDAY LESSON - Righteous Living During Perilous Times

Given the devastating news over the last week, Sunday's lesson was very timely: Righteous Living During Perilous Times. 

Many of the sisters in the ward shared the feelings they had as they watched the horrific news unfold about last week's gunfire in a Connecticut elementary school.

President George Albert Smith said that "[H]e also found optimism in his belief that righteous Latter-day Saints could have a powerful influence on the world around them. He taught that the Saints should not merely accept the condition of the world but should remain active in their communities and strive to make their influence felt, in spite of any opposition they might face. “We are all under the obligation of making this world a happier place for our having lived in it,” he said."

We are reminded that the adversary never sleeps. I thought about that today as I was looking at some online posts. Many, many people are posting messages of hope and peace to the families of those who lost children and loved ones in the massacre. I was astonished to read how many people were angry over those messages of hope, saying that they were offering empty promises that will not help those families. We cannot listen those naysayers.

Women in the gospel can make the gospel light felt in our schools, our neighborhoods and communities, and especially within our homes, which should be a haven from the wickedness of the world.

One sister said that it is hard to feel positive and happy during these troubled times. Another said: "Faith and fear cannot co-exist."  I saw this quote posted on Facebook today as many sisters in the ward took that message to heart.

We are reminded that these catastrophes and horrors are, unfortunately, part of living in the latter days. We can avoid much of the overwhelming fear and feelings of hopelessness by living the gospel.  How?  "If we know Heavenly Father approves of our lives, we can have peace" in spite of what is going on around us.  Our lives may not remain untouched from tragedy or hardship, but the faith we have in what is to come can bring us peace despite the troubled waters we may find ourselves in.

We were challenged to "RADIATE SUNSHINE AND PEACE WHEREVER WE GO."

I was also touched by the message of the last verse of our closing song, "With Wondering Awe", and felt that it also gives us hope of peace to come:

The heavenly star its rays afar on every land is throwing,

And shall not cease 'til holy peace on every land is growing.

Hosanna!  Hosanna! Hosanna to His name.