By Camille Fronk Olson
Associate Professor of Ancient Scripture, Brigham Young University
speeches.byu.edu.
To the paralytic man lying helpless on a bed, Jesus proclaimed, "Be of good cheer" (D&C 61:36). In each instance the people had every reason to be anxious, fearful, and hopeless, yet the Lord directed them toward a reason to rejoice.
How does the Lord's admonition of cheer sound in our world today? When economic uncertainties, terrorist threats, and corruption provide top stories for the evening news, how can the good news of the gospel intervene? When we experience personal loss in so many ways and on so many days, what is left to be cheerful about?