It was late evening and fully dark when my two youngest daughters begged permission to check on the neighbor’s animals. Rebecca and Kate had been hired to care for our friends’ dog, cats, goats, and chickens while the family went out of town. Though my creature-loving girls had already fed and played with the animals more than once earlier in the day, they were eager to make sure everything was well with them for the night. I gave my permission, and the girls hurried down the street.

A few minutes later, Kate received an unwelcome surprise. As she entered the small chicken coop, flashlight in hand, she found herself face to face with a skunk. For a brief moment Kate froze in fear. Fortunately, she understood that nothing good comes from lingering in the presence of a skunk, so she scrambled out of the coop and far away from the nocturnal visitor.

I have thought many times since that night that being fearful is like encountering a skunk in the chicken coop. Nothing good comes from lingering on fearful thoughts.

Decades ago, when widespread use of the internet was a relatively new thing, the proliferation of pornography through the internet quickly led to an epidemic of porn addiction. Many words of warning were given by religious leaders, urging people to use extreme caution in what they were viewing and to cultivate virtuous thoughts.

I was very troubled by this latter-day plague, even fearful about what effect it might have on my family. One day, I received a strong impression from the Spirit that, “It is as important to replace fearful thoughts with faithful ones as it is to replace impure thoughts with virtuous ones.” This idea was startling to me, as I had never considered the spiritual danger of dwelling on fear.

We live in a tumultuous season. Simply scrolling through the news feed on our phones can be enough to raise our heart rate. In the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord speaks of a time when “…all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men’s hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people.” (D&C 88:91) Often, we deal with general commotion: stresses in the workplace, news of natural disasters, political upheaval. At other times, the commotion is much closer to home: a serious medical diagnosis, damaged relationships, a faith crisis, financial disaster, or the throbbing ache of a loved one’s death. 

Commotion is agitation, disruption, turmoil, disturbance, disorder, upheaval, confusion. How exhausting it is to live in a state of perpetual commotion. When our hearts are in commotion, where should we turn for peace and assurance? How do we overcome the fear and anxiety that come with the challenges of mortal probation?

It is helpful to remember that fear is not a principle of the gospel. But faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is. Our prophet has said, “We have been promised that “if [we] are prepared [we] shall not fear.” (D&C 38:30) This assurance has profound implications today. The Lord has declared that despite today’s unprecedented challenges, those who build their foundations upon Jesus Christ, and have learned to draw upon His power, need not succumb to the unique anxieties of this era.” (1)

Sister Virginia Hinckley Pearce asks an important question: “Why is fear part of earth life? Perhaps our Heavenly Father’s greatest hope is that through our fears we may choose to turn to him. The uncertainties of earth life can help to remind each of us that we are dependent on him. But that reminder is not automatic. It involves our agency. We must choose to take our fears to him, choose to trust him, and choose to allow him to direct us. We must make these choices when what we feel most inclined to do is to rely more and more on our own frantic and often distorted thinking.” (2)

Many years ago, Elder Neil L. Andersen taught a similar principle: “Several years ago, a friend of mine had a young daughter die in a tragic accident. Hopes and dreams were shattered. My friend felt unbearable sorrow. He began to question what he had been taught and what he had taught as a missionary. The mother of my friend wrote me a letter and asked if I would give him a blessing. As I laid my hands upon his head, I felt to tell him something that I had not thought about in exactly the same way before. The impression that came to me was: Faith is not only a feeling; it is a decision. He would need to choose faith… My friend… chose the road of faith and obedience.” (3)

I have experienced the truth of Elder Andersen’s words that faith is a decision–we must act to choose it. Here is one personal example: “Have you [ever] received the kind of news that shakes your world and leaves you uncertain about the future? Many years ago, I found myself in that situation–reeling from the shock. Though I had experienced sorrows before, this time my heart was truly broken. The adversary knows me well enough to see that I am very vulnerable to fear, and I felt his dark influence working on me.

I spent the night battling fear and anxiety. The next morning, I found that I could barely function. At that moment of total despair, an important thought filled my mind, a phrase from a talk I had recently read: “… faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time, for one will dispel the other.” (4) As I caught hold of that idea, it was as if a tender green shoot pushed through the crack in my broken heart–like a daffodil bulb bursting to life–giving me a glimmer of hope.

Determined to act on that feeling, I immediately went to my husband…and asked if he would give me a priesthood blessing specifically rebuking the fear and despair I had been feeling. He willingly pronounced the blessing, and from the moment he finished, the gloom began to lift until I felt real faith and hope in spite of the current situation.” (5)

For more than two years, my friend Lori has dealt with a life-threatening medical condition. As I visited with her recently, I asked how she combats the uncertainty and fears associated with her circumstances. She said it hasn’t been any one big thing that has helped, but many smaller ones. As you might expect, she has found comfort in the scriptures, general conference addresses, and the temple. Her husband has insisted that he and Lori keep a miracle journal, recording instances–large and small–where they have seen God’s hand in their journey. In fearful times, they can read through the journal to be reminded that the Lord is aware of them.

Lori also keeps a digital gratitude journal by taking a photo with her phone each day of something for which she is grateful. Music has been helpful in pushing back her fears. At night when she has difficulty sleeping, Lori listens to a carefully chosen playlist of songs that soothe and inspire her. She emphasized to me that faith is a decision and that she and her husband have deliberately chosen faith in this difficult time. Whenever Lori engages in one of the above actions, she is choosing faith again.

I appreciate the following counsel from Elder Richard G. Scott: “I suggest that you memorize scriptures that touch your heart and fill your soul with understanding. When scriptures are used as the Lord has caused them to be recorded, they have intrinsic power that is not communicated when paraphrased. Sometimes when there is a significant need in my life, I review mentally scriptures that have given me strength. There is great solace, direction, and power that flow from the scriptures, especially the words of the Lord.” (6)

Here are a few “faith over fear” scriptures I have relied on when my heart is in commotion:

“Be not afraid, only believe.” (Mark 5:36)

“God has not given us the spirit of fear…” (2 Timothy 1:7)

“Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.” (D&C 6:36)

“I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4)

“Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” (2 Kings 6:16)

Occasionally, when I’m struggling to choose faith over fear, I turn to Hebrews 11 and 12:1-2 which I consider the “Faith Hall of Fame.” Here Paul lists person after person who exercised tremendous faith. I recommend studying these words when your heart is in commotion, including the JST footnote for verse 40.

During 2020, after months of pandemic related uncertainty and isolation, I felt the exhaustion of living with a constant undercurrent of fear and anxiety. So, I added another scripture to my “fear-fighting” repertoire as a reminder that God’s light can penetrate the commotion in our hearts even in the middle of our worst times:

“And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them…  when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters… and they did have light continually, whether it was above the water or under the water.” (Ether 6:7,10 emphasis added)

Let us turn aside from the ugliness of fear as swiftly as we would from a skunk in a chicken coop. When our hearts are in commotion, let us consciously choose faith over fear, pleading as the early apostles did, “Lord, increase our faith.” (Luke 17:5)

 

Notes:

  1. President Russel M. Nelson, The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation, Oct. 2021 General Conference.
  2. Sister Virginia Hinckley Pearce, Fear, October 1992 General Conference.
  3. Elder Neil L. Andersen, You Know Enough, October 2008 General Conference.
  4. President Thomas S. Monson, Decisions Determine Destiny, speeches.byu.edu, Nov. 6, 2005.
  5. Lynne Perry Christofferson, Blooming Hope: Planting in a Bleak Season, Meridian Magazine, May 15, 2019.
  6. Elder Richard G. Scott, He Lives, Oct. 1999 General Conference.