*Farewell Talk*

Overcoming Fear

D&C 6:34- Fear not little flock do good. 

D&C 6:36- Look unto me in every thought doubt not, fear not. 

1 Timothy 3:12- Be thou an example of the believers in words, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Can you be that example if you have fear over it? I testify that you can not.

In 2 Timothy 1:7- God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power & love & of a sound mind.

God is the God of love, the God of compassion & the God of service. Satan is the father of fear, the father of worry the father of confusion & the father of hate.

There are 4 points to overcoming fear. The first one is to 

*Become Self-Reliant*

In D&C 38:30 it says, "if ye are prepared ye shall not fear."

Prepare for your mission, prepare for the future, prepare for trials, prepare for change.

D&C 64:33-states-Be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying a foundation of a great work. And out of small thing proceedeth that which is great.

When it states that "ye are laying the foundation of a great work." it reminds me of when missionaries go tracking. Even if the person doesn't let them in they have left a seed that will hopefully grow to bring them closer to the Gospel, closer to Christ, closer to happiness & closer to a better understanding of why they are here.

The second point to overcoming fear is to

*Trust in the Lord*

If God is on your side whom shall you fear? Fear is the opposite of faith, fear is the absence of a testimony.

Much of life is found in overcoming obstacles by asking for help from Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ. Not only "asking" but having the "faith" that they will help you. As you pray in faith, & prepare with patience, the happiness that you desire will be yours. the Lord has his own timing & His own ways. Your prayers will be answered, your time will come.

Just like it says in James Chapter 2, "Faith without works is dead."

When we fear the obstacle itself- How can we overcome it? In other words, If we fear how can we overcome an obstacle? By overcoming an obstacle you ask for help. Heavenly Father *will* extend his hand to lift you up. He is always wanting to help you. He is constantly reaching out his hand to you, you just need to reach up and take it.

We are sent to have trials so that God can help us through it.

Fear is self limiting thoughts and doubts.

Choose hope vs fear, choose knowledge vs doubt, choose happiness vs worry.

I don't know what each and every one of you are going through. I don't know your trials. But what I do know if that when you turn to the Lord, he will extend his hand and he will help you! He will make your burdens light.

Brothers and Sisters, focus on your blessings, today, this month and always. Life is about overcoming. It's about having faith that everything will be okay. It's about asking for help.. It's about learning, teaching, and serving others. I know the Lord gives me strength when I stand and faith when I fall. Why are people depressed? They fear. They fear the future, they fear life, they fear death.

Which brings me to the third point,

*Understand the Plan of Salvation* 

Moses 1:39 says, "For behold this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"

In Preach My Gospel it states that...the plan of salvation teaches us where we cam from, why we are here on earth and where we will go after this life. It maps our eternal journey through pre-mortality, mortal life, death, resurrection, and to our life in the eternities. The plan also explains what our loving Father in Heaven does to help us make this journey successful so that we can return to his presence and become like him. The plan focuses on the mission and atonement of Jesus Christ in overcoming the effects of the fall and making eternal life possible for us.

It helps us understand the purpose of life and who we are. It gives us hope and helps us find peace, joy and happiness. It tells us where we came from, why we are here on earth and where we will go after this life. god is our Father, we are His children and He loves us. We are part of His family and we lived with Him before we were born on this earth. Our progress depends on how we use our God-given agency, or ability to choose. We will all be resurrected and will live forever, free of pain and sickness. he made it possible to overcome spiritual death. As we live His gospel He will forgive our sins. He will heal us and replace guilt and shame with peace and happiness in this life.

We will life for a time in the spirit world. We will them be resurrected with an immortal body. We will be judged according to our works and desires. If you live the gospel you will receive our Father in Heaven's greatest gift, the gift of eternal life in His presence. 

In 2 Nephi 9:13 it states "oh how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous, and the spirit and the body is restored to itself again and all men become incorruptible and immortal and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our knowledge shall be perfect."

Understanding this plan gives me no fear, no worry and no doubt. The last and 4th point is to 

*Become Perfectly Obedient*

In Hymn #237- Do What Is Right it says in verse 3.

"Do what is right be faithful and fearless. On ward, press on ward, the goal is in sight. Eyes that are wet now, ere long will be tearless. Blessings await you in doing what's right!" If you are doing what is right then why shall you fear? Just like in the song be faithful and fearless"

If we become self-reliant, trust in the Lord, understand the plan of salvation and become perfectly obedient. I testify that we can overcome fear.

When I heard the announcement I was beyond excited, but I also feared. I feared if I knew the gospel well enough to teach others and if I did, will i be able to teach it in French? I prayed for an answer. Soon after, my fear turned in to faith. By having faith in the Lord I know I can do this. I am on His side. he is always there to lift me up when I fall. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission. I am so grateful for the support my friends and family give me. I can't wait to get out there to do the Lord's work.

Gordon B. Hinckley said, "We need not fear as long as we have in our lives the power that comes from righteously living by the truth which is from God our Eternal Father. Fear doesn't come from God but from the adversary. Fear is the opposite of faith . God give us power, love, and a sound mind. The power of the gospel gives us the strength that comes from knowing we are sons and daughters of God. We can overcome fear and doubt, worry and discouragement through the sustaining power of love. The power of a sound mind leads us to see that the gospel is simple, beautiful and logical. As we overcome fear, let us walk with confidence- never with arrogance.

I have a testimony of this gospel. It brings me happiness and peace. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. I can't wait to share it with the people in Canada.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.