(Article originally posted on December 3, 2020)

Pain, suffering, trials, tribulation and afflictions are all around us. It is almost impossible to live in this world and not experience adversity. The Savior Jesus Christ said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 33 in the Bible). What does it mean to be of “good cheer, I have overcome the world”? Because of the Savior’s successful mission of living a perfect life, suffering for our sins and overcoming death through His resurrection from the dead, His great plan of salvation is operative for all of us and His goodness is available both in this life and life after death.

President Russell M. Nelson said:

“On November 20, I offered a message and prayer of gratitude for the people of the world. I am humbled that you would join with me in thanking God for His countless blessings to each of us. Great changes can start with individual acts of love and kindness. Thank you for your faith. Thank you for also recognizing and sharing experiences about the people and things for whom you are grateful. As we all do this, I hope you can sense how our collective faith and actions may ease the prevailing burdens of grief and uncertainty. Gratitude can give us renewed perspective and feelings of peace and hope.”

Helping Others Be of Good Cheer

When Jesus Christ was born, angels proclaimed, “Peace on earth, good will to men.” (Luke 2: 14 in the Bible)

During December 2020 could we individually be the source of lifting the burdens of others?

Listed below are some December daily suggestions as to how we could help others feel greater love, happiness and closer to their Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ:

• Call or see someone in your family and tell them how much you love them;

• Make a donation to a local charity or volunteer to help a local food kitchen or non-profit organization;

• Who do you know represents Christlike love? Highlight them on social media, text or telephone call;

• Ask God in prayer how you could be an answer to someone’s prayer;

• Show gratitude to someone that has helped or served you, a neighbor, friend, someone at work etc.;

• Share your favorite scripture with a friend or family member and explain why it is special to you;

• Fast for one or two meals and donate the cost of the food savings to the food bank or someone in need;

• Show appreciation to health-care workers whenever you see them in action or off-duty;

• If a parent or parents are still alive, call or write a message of love and appreciation;

• If married, show love and appreciation in unexpected ways to your spouse;

• Express love in word and action to your children, both those living in your household and living away;

• Read to your children faith promoting stories from the bible, especially about the Savior;

• Express appreciation to your neighbors that live around you;

• Visit a local nursing home to cheer-up those that are lonely by reading biblical stories of the Savior;

• Offer a special prayer to your Heavenly Father for those toward whom you have negative feelings; and

• Become a light to others that know you by increasing your closeness to God through prayer, expressing gratitude for your blessings, reading the scriptures and keeping the commandments of the Savior.

Love One Another

The Savior taught, “…That ye love one another; as I have loved you…” (John 13: 34 in the Bible)

An ancient prophet explained, “…when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” (Mosiah 2: 17 p. 148 in the Book of Mormon)

The Savior further instructed us on this subject, “Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves…” (Doctrine and Covenants 58: 27-28 p. 105)