*This post contains  LDS scriptures, doctrines and language that might not be familiar to you.  I try to explain things the best that I can or provide links to help you understand.  Please feel free to ask any questions that you might have.  I will do my best to answer them for you.  Or you can visit mormon.org or lds.org for more information.

One of my favorite scriptures is Doctrine and Covenants 68:6,

Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come.

I have turned to it many times when I needed strength.  There is much that I like about it.  First, “be of good cheer.”  Being cheerful is one of the personality characteristics that I really admire.  Don’t you love being around people who are “of good cheer”?  I do.  Second, “do not fear.”  There is so much in this life that I am afraid of.  I worry so much and this admonition from the Lord to “not fear” is something that I often need to hear.  And third, “I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you.”  I love the reminder that the Lord is not only always with me but he will stand by me.  He is the rod that I can rely on when my strength fails.

Recently I read a quote from Jeffery R. Holland that said

We should honor the Savior’s declaration to “be of good cheer.” (Matthew 14:27)  Indeed, it seems to me we may be more guilty of breaking that commandment than almost any other.”

I loved that he made it clear that it is a commandment for us to “be of good cheer” not just something that would be good for us to do it we felt so inclined.

Recently I was struggling with a decision.  I knew what the Lord wanted me to do but I had a hard time believing it.  I couldn’t see why it needed to happen and I didn’t believe in myself.  During this time I discovered Doctrine and Covenants 78:17-18.

17 Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little  children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you; 18 And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along….

This scripture really hit home for me.  First of all, I liked it because it has my favorite phrase “be of good cheer” but it was so much more than that.  It told me that I don’t know what the Lord has in store for me and the blessings that he had prepared.  It even says that I can’t understand them now and he knows that but I can have faith and “be of good cheer” and he will lead me along.   And really, who else would I rather follow?  No one.  I have since followed through with what the Lord had told me to do and in a short time I am already seeing the benefits.

We are told many times in the scriptures to “be of good cheer.”  Another one of my favorites is John 16:33

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

This scripture again gives so much hope.  The world that we live in doesn’t provide us with peace but Jesus Christ has overcome the world.  We can turn to him for the peace we desire.

I love the commandment to “be of good cheer.”  When I am struggling, the scriptures that have this phrase in them are always some of the first that I turn to.  I hope that as Elder Holland said, I can honor the Savior’s declaration to “be of good cheer” more in my life.

 

There are many great talks on this topic.  Some good ones can be found here, here, here and here