Conference Analysis III--"Do Not Fear"

Brief comments on something I've touched on in previous posts...

A common theme from April Conference:

Elder Scott:

You have a choice. You can wring your hands and be consumed with concern for the future or choose to use the counsel the Lord has given to live with peace and happiness in a world awash with evil....We cannot dry up the mounting river of evil influences, for they result from the exercise of moral agency divinely granted by our Father. But we can and must, with clarity, warn of the consequences of getting close to its enticing, destructive current.

Now the brighter side. Despite pockets of evil, the world overall is majestically beautiful, filled with many good and sincere people. God has provided a way to live in this world and not be contaminated by the degrading pressures evil agents spread throughout it. You can live a virtuous, productive, righteous life by following the plan of protection created by your Father in Heaven: His plan of happiness.

Elder Packer:

We do not fear the future for ourselves or for our children...The moral values upon which civilization itself must depend spiral downward at an ever-increasing pace. Nevertheless, I do not fear the future....While we cannot erase wickedness, we can produce young Latter-Day Saints who, spiritually nourished, are immunized against evil influences....True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.

President Hinckley:

Our times are fraught with peril...But peril is not a new condition for the human family. Notwithstanding the great evil of these times, what a glorious season it has been and now is....Somehow, through all of the darkness, there has been a faint but beautiful light. And now with added luster it shines upon the world.

The lesson: Stop worrying so much. Things are bad now but have been at every point in human history and the light has survived. Many members today are thrown into a panic at each new 'immoral' development in society, like someone who immediately cries "Sell! Sell!" when they see their company stock dropping a couple points. The problem is panicked people often act irrationally and foolishly when all they need to do is 'wait out the storm'. Which side is going to win in the end, anyway? Just keep things in perspective and don't worry about things you can't control...