Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: "Indeed, if we finally lose hope, we lose our last sustaining possession....I testify that the future is going to be as miracle-filled and bountifully blessed as the past has been. We have every reason to hope for blessings even greater than those we have already received because this is the work of Almighty God, this is the Church of continuing revelation, this is the gospel of Christ’s unlimited grace and benevolence." April 2020 General Conference
HOPE, DIRECTION & CHANGE
How do you handle problems that seem to be getting in the way of your ideal life?
Where does Jesus' Atonement fit into that strategy?
What is within your control to change the present so that your future goals can be achieved?
2 Nephi 2:14: And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: "How I admire men, women, and children who know how to work! How the Lord loves the laborer! He said, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread,” and “The laborer is worthy of his hire.” He also gave a promise: “Thrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins are forgiven you.” Those who are unafraid to roll up their sleeves and lose themselves in the pursuit of worthwhile goals are a blessing to their families, communities, nations, and to the Church.
The Lord doesn’t expect us to work harder than we are able. He doesn’t (nor should we) compare our efforts to those of others. Our Heavenly Father asks only that we do the best we can—that we work according to our full capacity, however great or small that may be.
Work is an antidote for anxiety, an ointment for sorrow, and a doorway to possibility. Whatever our circumstances in life, my dear brethren, let us do the best we can and cultivate a reputation for excellence in all that we do. Let us set our minds and bodies to the glorious opportunity for work that each new day presents." October 2009 General Conference
Elder Russell M. Nelson: "How you deal with life’s trials is part of the development of your faith. Strength comes when you remember that you have a divine nature, an inheritance of infinite worth." April 2011 General Conference
President Thomas S. Monson: “My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.” April 2009 General Conference
THERAPEUTIC MODALITY
"Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a short-term goal-focused evidence-based therapeutic approach, which incorporates positive psychology principles and practices, and which helps people change by constructing solutions rather than focusing on problems. In the most basic sense, SFBT is a hope friendly, positive emotion eliciting, future-oriented vehicle for formulating, motivating, achieving, and sustaining desired behavioral change." https://solutionfocused.net/what-is-solution-focused-therapy/
What is your current distressing problem? With a partner(s), use one of the following questions to think about the gap that exists between where you are currently and where you'd like to be in your mental and emotional health.
THE MIRACLE QUESTION
In the middle of the night, there is a miracle and the problem you have is all solved. But because this happens when you are sleeping, you have no idea that there was a miracle and the problem is finally gone. When you are slowly coming out of your sound sleep . . .what would be the first small sign that will make you wonder . . .there must’ve been a miracle ... the problem is all gone! How would you discover this?
SCALING QUESTIONS
What is your current distressing problem? What would it look like if that problem was solved? Where on a scale from 1 to 10 (1=not solved; 10=completely solved), is your problem today? What would it take to move it from that number to a 10?
MIRACLE 10 QUESTION
Imagine a 0-10 scale in which 10 represents that you have now fully achieved your goal and 0 represents the exact opposite. Let’s suppose that tonight while you are sleeping somethings shifts during the night and when you wake up tomorrow you are suddenly at a 10. But since you were asleep when it happened, you don’t initially realize it. What will be the first differences(s) that you or people around you begin to notice about you that begins to give you (and/or them) the idea that something has changed, that in fact you are a 10 now?
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