Of all the topics I picked this semester, depression and
anxiety is the one that I was looking the most forward to seeing what the
prophets and apostles had to say about. It is something that I suffer from and
I so often feel like I am alone in that. Over the past few months I have truly
come to see that I really am not the only one. It is a topic that is mentioned
with growing frequency in General Conference and other talks. We are being
counseled to not give up hope and reminded that so many others share our
struggles. I have been very encouraged by the uplifting words I have read and
have been looking for ways to use what I have learned in my life each day.
"Our Heavenly Father, who gives us so much to delight in, also knows that we learn and grow and become stronger as we face and survive the trials through which we must pass. We know that there are times when we will experience heartbreaking sorrow, when we will grieve, and when we may be tested to our limits. However, such difficulties allow us to change for the better, to rebuild our lives in the way our Heavenly Father teaches us, and to become something different from what we were—better than we were, more understanding than we were, more empathetic than we were, with stronger testimonies than we had before."
"And to all who suffer—to all who feel discouraged, worried,
or lonely—I say with love and deep concern for you, never give in. Never surrender. Never allow despair to overcome your
spirit. Embrace and rely upon the Hope
of Israel, for the love of the Son of God pierces all darkness, softens all
sorrow, and gladdens every heart."
"So how do you best respond when mental or emotional
challenges confront you or those you love? Above all, never lose faith in your
Father in Heaven, who loves you more than you can comprehend. As President
Monson said to the Relief Society sisters so movingly last Saturday evening: 'That love never changes. … It is there for you when you are sad or happy,
discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you
deserve [it]. It is simply always there.' Never, ever doubt that, and never
harden your heart. Faithfully pursue the time-tested devotional practices that
bring the Spirit of the Lord into your life. Seek the counsel of those who hold
keys for your spiritual well-being. Ask for and cherish priesthood blessings.
Take the sacrament every week, and hold fast to the perfecting promises of the
Atonement of Jesus Christ. Believe in miracles. I have seen so many of them
come when every other indication would say that hope was lost. Hope is never
lost. If those miracles do not come soon or fully or seemingly at all, remember
the Savior’s own anguished example: if the bitter cup does not pass, drink it
and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Like a Broken Vessel”, October
2013"There are cycles of good and bad times, ups and downs, periods of joy and sadness, and times of plenty as well as scarcity. When our lives turn in an unanticipated and undesirable direction, sometimes we experience stress and anxiety. One of the challenges of this mortal experience is to not allow the stresses and strains of life to get the better of us—to endure the varied seasons of life while remaining positive, even optimistic. Perhaps when difficulties and challenges strike, we should have these hopeful words of Robert Browning etched in our minds: “The best is yet to be” (“Rabbi Ben Ezra,” in Charles W. Eliot, ed., The Harvard Classics, 50 vols. [1909–10], 42:1103). We can’t predict all the struggles and storms in life, not even the ones just around the next corner, but as persons of faith and hope, we know beyond the shadow of any doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the best is yet to come."
Elder L. Tom Perry, “Let Him Do It with Simplicity”, October 2008 General Conference
"Brothers and sisters, I testify that no one of us is less treasured or cherished of God than another. I testify that He loves each of us—insecurities, anxieties, self-image, and all. He doesn’t measure our talents or our looks; He doesn’t measure our professions or our possessions. He cheers on every runner, calling out that the race is against sin, not against each other. I know that if we will be faithful, there is a perfectly tailored robe of righteousness ready and waiting for everyone, 'robes … made … white in the blood of the Lamb.' May we encourage each other in our effort to win that prize is my earnest prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Other Prodigal”, April 2002 General Conference
"Challenges, difficulties, questions, doubts—these are part of our mortality. But we are not alone. As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have enormous spiritual reservoirs of light and truth available to us. Fear and faith cannot coexist in our hearts at the same time. In our days of difficulty, we choose the road of faith. Jesus said, 'Be not afraid, only believe.'"
Elder Neil L. Andersen, “You Know Enough”, October 2008 General Conference
"When memory of past mistakes encroaches upon your mind, turn your thoughts to the Redeemer and to the miracle of forgiveness with the renewal that comes through Him. Your depression and suffering will be replaced by peace, joy, and gratitude for His love."
Elder Richard G. Scott, “The Path to Peace and Joy”, October 2000 General Conference
"My desire today is for all of us—not just those who are 'poor in spirit' but all of us—to have more straightforward personal experience with the Savior’s example. Sometimes we seek heaven too obliquely, focusing on programs or history or the experience of others. Those are important but not as important as personal experience, true discipleship, and the strength that comes from experiencing firsthand the majesty of His touch."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Broken Things to Mend”, April 2006 General Conference
My dear sisters, your Heavenly Father loves you—each of you. That love never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents and abilities. It is simply there. It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there.
President Thomas S. Monson, “We Never Walk Alone”, October 2013 General Relief Society Meeting
"When comparing one’s personal performance with the supreme standard of the Lord’s expectation, the reality of imperfection can at times be depressing. My heart goes out to conscientious Saints who, because of their shortcomings, allow feelings of depression to rob them of happiness in life. We all need to remember: men are that they might have joy—not guilt trips! We also need to remember that the Lord gives no commandments that are impossible to obey. But sometimes we fail to comprehend them fully."
Elder Russell M. Nelson, “Perfection Pending”, October 1995 General Conference
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