In response to the last post by Jimmy...

For family night tonight (Jimmy worked monday so we had it tonight), we read a great talk given by Elder Neal A. Maxwell, "Behold, the Enemy Is Combined".  It talked about standing strong in the last days.

"Even during these difficult times, members “armed with righteousness” can do so many things. We can have love at home, even though the love of many waxes cold in the world. We can have inner peace even though peace has been taken from the earth. We can keep the seventh commandment even though others break it and mock it. We can render individualized, humanitarian service even though the mass of human suffering seems so overwhelming. We can use our tongues to speak the truth in love, while refusing to use them to bear false witness. We can stand fast “in holy places” even though in the world “all things shall be in commotion.” We can reach for “hands which hang down,” even if some refuse our proffered hands of friendship. We can hold to the iron rod even if others slip away and a few end up mocking us from “the great and spacious building.” Like Nephi, we may not always know the meaning of things happening to us or around us. Nevertheless, like Nephi, we can still know that God loves us!

Yes, “the enemy is combined,” but when we are combined with the Lord’s “chariots of fire,” then “they that be with us are more than they that be with them”! Furthermore, the divine promise is that no weapon formed against the Lord’s work shall finally prosper; this “is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.” I so assure; I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen!"

His whole talk showed me how I need to proactively seek to have the Holy Spirit in my life by actively being righteous and extending my help and friendship to others so that we will be strong enough to withstand these difficult last days.  This gives me hope that though the world may be changing for the worse, we can stand strong.