Marion G. Romney on keeping hope strong amid challenges

President Marion G. Romney (1897-1988) was born in the Mormon Colonies in Mexico. He was ordained an apostle in 1951 and served as a counselor in the First Presidency from 1972 to 1985. After the death of President Spencer W. Kimball, President Romney was released and returned to serve in the Quorum of Twelve until his death in 1988.

"The theme I have chosen for these remarks I have taken from a jingle we used to sing in the army back in 1918 when things looked gloomy. It began:

"'There's a silver lining / Through the dark clouds shining.' (Lena Guilbert Ford.)

"This I have done because although there is presently a widespread foreboding of difficult times ahead, I am persuaded that there is 'a silver lining' to our predicament and that 'behind the dim unknown, Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own.' ('The Present Crisis,' James Russell Lowell.) ...

"As the Lord has repeatedly warned that breaking His commandments would bring on calamity, so has He promised that observance of His commandments would avert calamity and bring blessings....

"That we shall in full faith, relying upon these assurances, so keep the commandments that we shall be sustained by the knowledge that 'behind the dim unknown, Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own' would be my fervent hope."

- Marion G. Romney, "A Silver Lining," Ensign, May 1977, p. 53
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Prophets tend to be optimists, and always encourage hope and confidence in their followers. In spite of "widespread foreboding of difficult times ahead" that President Romney sensed almost 40 years ago, he knew that God was in charge, and that things would work out. And while we may sense the same "foreboding" today, we can benefit from his encouragement and by remembering that obedience and faith will bring the blessings of God to our lives.