Why are Ye so Fearful? – Sunday, December 31, 1944
With the breathless passing of many days, we come again upon the changing of the year, which acutely reminds us of the passing of our lives and of the pace at which we are all moving toward whatever eventualities await us.
Countless times at this season we hear countless people wish each other Happy New Year, which, even though often thoughtlessly spoken, emphasizes the universal fact that every man in his own way is seeking happiness. Indeed, “men are, that they might have joy.” (Book of Mormon, 11 Nephi 2:25.)—a deep and abiding joy; and it is proper that the chief business of life should be a quest for happiness. But our difficulties begin with the distorted and perverted ideas that some of us have concerning happiness. Certainly it is not something that gives indulgence today and a headache tomorrow. But there are some things that most of us believe would contribute to our happiness, and greater certainty concerning the future is one of them. Our enjoyment of the prospect for the new year is beclouded by uncertainty—by all of its undisclosed events.
But new years have always held their own secrets. There have always been uncertainties. In this respect the coming year is no different from any other. A year ago, five years ago, ten years ago, there were uncertainties also, and we had no liking for the prospects, but we have lived through them, with many compensations to relieve the uninviting picture. And so again, as always, we face uncertainty. But this year, like all others, will bring both welcome and unwelcome events. Some things for which we should have had more concern may suddenly break upon us, with the price of neglect and indifference and false thinking being required. But also, as always, much that we have worried about, won’t happen.
For the comfort and courage of the fearful we recall again this New Testament account: “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full . . . and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? . . . and he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:37- 40.) As we have lived through all the years of the past and found life to be good in spite of many unwanted things, so we can live through all the years to come, even as long as time shall be given unto us, until we are called back to that home from which we came, where the years are no longer numbered, where the certainties of truth are not obscured, and where the sweep of time is measured only by the endlessness of immortality.
We wish you much of happiness for this new year, and always.
*Revised.
Heard over Radio Station KSL and the nationwide Columbia Broadcasting System from the Tabernacle, Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Sunday, Dec. 31, 1944. Copyright – 1945.
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December 31, 1944
Broadcast Number 0,802