President Boyd K. Packer on having confidence and comfort in the future

President Boyd K. Packer (1924-2015) served as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve (a position that no longer exists) from 1961 to 1970, when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.  He served as president of that Quorum from 1994 until his death on July 3, 2015 at age 90.

"We need not live in fear of the future. We have every reason to rejoice and little reason to fear. If we follow the promptings of the Spirit, we will be safe, whatever the future holds. We will be shown what to do.

"Christ promised that 'the Father, [would send] another Comforter, …

"'Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you' (John 14:16–17)."

- Boyd K. Packer, "The Cloven Tongues of Fire," General Conference, April 2000; see Ensign, May 2000, pp. 7-9
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There are, on the surface, many reasons to be fearful for the future in today's world. Some of those reasons might include declining moral standards, increasing wickedness and crime, political unrest, international tensions, economic uncertainty, natural disasters, and temptations of many kinds.

But President Packer reassures us that with the perspective and understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we do not need to fear. There is a source of direction and wisdom in the midst of the uncertainty:

One of the beautiful names given to the Holy Ghost is that of Comforter. When we are worried or struggling in any way, there is a source of peace and guidance available to us if we are willing to turn to it. How grateful we should be for that divine gift!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)