But there is a power within us that can rise above ridicule, that can, in fact, even turn it to good. We all occasionally have felt a little of such ridicule. For example, we need not fear ridicule because of our faith. Let us encourage the divinity within us to come to the surface. One who has this knowledge and permits it to influence his life will not stoop to do a mean or cheap or tawdry thing. There is a mighty strength that comes of the knowledge that you and I are sons and daughters of God. I love the words of his magnificent hymn: Last year much of the Christian world commemorated the five hundredth anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther, whom we honor as one of the great and courageous forerunners of the Restoration. What power? The power of the gospel, the power of truth, the power of faith, the power of the priesthood. These principles are the great antidotes to the fears that rob us of our strength and sometimes knock us down to defeat. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” It is corrosive in its effects, even deadly. Let us recognize that fear comes not of God, but rather that this gnawing, destructive element comes from the adversary of truth and righteousness. Some carry the burden of sin and would give almost anything to unshackle themselves from those burdens but fear to change their lives. We suffer from the fear of ridicule, the fear of failure, the fear of loneliness, the fear of ignorance. Some are able to rise above it quickly, but others are trapped and pulled down by it and even driven to defeat. Some, of course, experience fear to a greater degree than do others. Who among us can say that he or she has not felt fear? I know of no one who has been entirely spared. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” ( 2 Tim. “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee. … He knew his days were now numbered, and with great feeling he wrote to a junior companion, Timothy, whom he described as “my dearly beloved son”: 4:6.) He had been a great missionary, unflagging in his testimony, zealous in his desire to bear testimony of the risen Lord. At the time he was probably a prisoner in Rome, “ready to be offered,” as he said. In response to these challenges and concerns, I have often recalled some words that were written long ago by Paul the Apostle. As I have traveled throughout the world, and through the years of my life, I have met many people who have had problems and anxious concerns.
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