Looking Forward

What do you look forward to?

I look forward to the weekend. I look forward to family time. I look forward to good food. I look forward to retirement (even if it is a ways off). I look forward to seeing my children become good people. I look forward to having my family eternally. I look forward to seeing my loved ones who have passed on. I look forward to meeting the Savior. I look forward to asking Joseph Smith a million questions.

Looking forward, to me, is the same as hope.

We are faced to the future and hopeful for what it may bring.

As many of the people of Alma began to return to their old, sinful ways, some faithful few looked forward.

“Looking forward to that day, thus retaining a remission of their sins; being filled with great joy because of the resurrection of the dead, according to the will and power and deliverance of Jesus Christ from the bands of death.” (Alma 4:14)

Are we looking forward, being filled with great joy? Or are we fearing the future?

There is much in the future to fear if we are not prepared. With the bad will come much good.

The world will grow wicked, but true believers will grow stronger and will stand in holy places.

The power and influence of Satan will expand further that it ever has, but Christ will come and he will bind the devil.

There will be death and war all over the world, but so too will the gospel cover the world.

Families will lose all their worldly wealth, but will find themselves and each other in the aftermath.

While the future certainly seems perilous, it comes with great promise as well. Look forward with faith and hope. We have too much to be excited about to not be excited!