170: POWER OF WORDS

Below are two photos of billboards that I saw yesterday on my way to work in Salt Lake City. Both billboards just have just one word on it.  One says HOPELESS, the other one says DISCOURAGED. Many people are both without hope and are discouraged. We live in a time when the future is uncertain and for most it may look bleak.

HOPELESS:

a state of despair, having no expectation of that which is desirable and positive,

having no confidence in a future event,

DISCOURAGE:

to dishearten, to depress the spirits, to deprive of confidence;

to attempt to repress or prevent, to dissuade from. 

The root word of "dis" means "away from".  The root word of "courage" means "heart, innermost feelings, temper". (The Latin root word "cor" means heart.(mind, soul). 

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Seeing these billboards made me wonder the impact of negative words have on us. Obviously, this is part of some larger advertising campaign for a possible drug like Prosac or for counseling services.. but even still, I think it is a reflection of the world in which we live. I wonder instead of reading large negative words everyday but positive words, if that would help our society. I think one of the things that we will need MOST in the days ahead is COURAGE and HOPE.  Courage is a form of love, Hope is a form of Faith. Yes, as the Book of Mormon prophets who experience and lived through the destructions of their civilization spoke on FAITH, HOPE, and CHARITY. May we all be in possession of all three.

About four years ago, this video was created. I know many who read this blog have already seen this video. But for those who might not,  here is the LINK



Moroni 10:20
Wherefore, there must be faith; and if there must be faith there must also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be charity.
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Moroni 7:42
Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope;

for without faith there cannot be any hope.
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Ether 12:32
And I also remember that thou hast said that thou hast prepared a house for many,

yea, even among the mansions of thy Father, in which man might have a more excellent hope; herefore man must hope, or he cannot receive an inheritance in the place which thou hast prepared.
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Moroni 7:41
And what is it that ye shall hope for?

Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ

 and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal,

and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.
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Ether 12:4
Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world,

yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith,

maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast,

always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.