“See That Ye Be Not Troubled”
Matthew 24:6–8
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
President M. Russell Ballard said:
“Living in these difficult times, brothers and sisters, requires each one of us to maintain a positive, hopeful perspective about the future. Today, more so than in the past, I am asked about the signs of the times and if I think the end of the world is near. My answer is the same one that Jesus gave some two thousand years ago: ‘But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
“‘Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is’ (Mark 13:32–33).
“When Jesus was asked about the sign of His coming, He said, ‘Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
“‘For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
“‘All these are the beginning of sorrows’ (Matt. 24:6–8; emphasis added).
“Although the prophecies tell us that these things are to take place, more and more people are expressing great alarm at what appears to be an acceleration of worldwide calamity. As members of the Church, we must not forget the Savior’s admonition, ‘Be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass.’ These are difficult times, when the forces of nature seem to be unleashing a flood of ‘famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.’ . . .
“My message to you today, my brothers and sisters, is simply this: the Lord is in control. He knows the end from the beginning. He has given us adequate instruction that, if followed, will see us safely through any crisis. His purposes will be fulfilled, and someday we will understand the eternal reasons for all of these events. Therefore, today we must be careful to not overreact, nor should we be caught up in extreme preparations; but what we must do is keep the commandments of God and never lose hope!
“But where do we find hope in the midst of such turmoil and catastrophe? Quite simply, our one hope for spiritual safety during these turbulent times is to turn our minds and our hearts to Jesus Christ. . . .
“I assure you, my brothers and sisters, that our Heavenly Father is aware of us, individually and collectively. He understands the spiritual, physical, and emotional difficulties we face in the world today. In fact, they are all part of His plan for our eternal growth and development. And His promise to us is sure: ‘He that endureth in faith and doeth my will, the same shall overcome’ (D&C 63:20).”
(“The Joy of Hope Fulfilled,” Ensign, Nov. 1992, 31, 32, 33.)
