Spencer W. Kimball on the power of eternal hope in Christ

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985) was ordained an apostle in 1943 and served as President of the Church from 1973 to 1985.

"We have a hope in Christ here and now. He died for our sins. Because of him and his gospel, our sins are washed away in the waters of baptism; sin and iniquity are burned out of our souls as though by fire; and we become clean, have clear consciences, and gain that peace which passeth understanding. (See Phil. 4:7.)

"By living the laws of his gospel, we gain temporal prosperity and maintain health of body and strength of mind. The gospel blesses us today.

"But today is just a grain of sand in the Sahara of eternity. We have also a hope in Christ for the eternity that lies ahead; otherwise, as Paul said, we would be 'of all men most miserable' (1 Cor. 15:19).

"How great would be our sorrow—and justly so—if there were no resurrection! How miserable we would be if there were no hope of life eternal! If our hope of salvation and eternal reward should fade away, we would certainly be more miserable than those who never had such an expectancy.

"'But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept' (1 Cor. 15:20).

"Now the effects of his resurrection shall pass upon all men, 'for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive' (1 Cor. 15:22).

"Now 'as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly' (1 Cor. 15:49).

"Now provision has been made whereby 'this corruptible shall... put on incorruption, and this mortal shall... put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory' (1 Cor. 15:54)....

"We have an eternal hope in Christ. We know this life is given us to prepare for eternity, 'and that same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy' (D&C 130:2)."

- Spencer W. Kimball, "An Eternal Hope in Christ," Ensign, Nov. 1978, p. 72
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It's a wonderful thing to have hope. I think to have hope in Christ is a special kind of gift. It involves the understanding of how Christ's atonement can bless us now, in this life; and also how its blessings and power enable all that really matters in the eternities:

Among the greatest blessings offered to all by the Savior are the resurrection and the opportunities of eternal life, which President Kimball discusses using the teachings of Paul. Because of those blessings "we have an eternal hope in Christ." What greater gift could be offered to man?