What you do not like when done to yourself do not do to others. God is not simply the cause, but the indwelling spirit of the World, the all-embracing actuality. One early use of the word “golden” in English is “most excellent, important, or precious.” With reference to rules or precepts it was used to mean “of inestimable value,” and the expression “the golden rule” was often specifically used with reference to the precept in Matthew: “Therefore all things whatsoever you would that people should do to you, do you even so to them: for this is the law and prophets” (7.12). This, the principle that has come to be known as the golden rule has been so called presumably because it has been regarded as being of inestimable value or importance. This regard was not solely from the fact that it was set forth in the Sermon on the Mount. The golden rule has been widely accepted, in word if not in deed, by vast numbers of greatly differing peoples; it is a basic device of moral education; and it can be found at the core of innumerable moral, religious, and social codes.  What the golden rule requires a person to do is to take account of the wishes of others and accord them the respect and consideration one would want them to accord one with. #RandolphHarris 1 of 16

In other words, what the golden rules requires of each of us is that we should treat others in accordance with the same principles or standards that we would have others apply in their treatment of us. The golden rule requires us to take account of and accord respect to the differing needs, interest, and desires of others, and it is just that the inversion of the golden rule is intended to bring about. It comprehends all the requirements of morality in a single formula; on the other hand, the golden rule is only a guide, that is far from complete, it requires rules, a sense of justice, or even a whole system of morality for its proper interpretation and application. The golden rule is a perfect guide to conduct and the only thing needed to make the World perfect is for everyone to follow it; at the same time, it has been claimed that the golden rule leads to paradoxes and is misleading, false and absurd. However, the golden rule, in one version or another, has a prominent place in all the major religions and most minor ones. And that is because the goal of religion is to create a society where people love and fear the Lord and out of this love for God, they want to do what is just. Paradoxically, because of this fear of God, people will not want to harm others. #RandolphHarris 2 of 16

The nearly universal acceptance of the golden rule and its promulgation by persons of considerable intelligence, through otherwise divergent outlooks, would therefore seem to provide some evidence for the claim that it is a fundamental ethical truth. Furthermore, with the power of the storms and flood being done by hurricane Harvey, which is dumping feet of rain in Texas, who would not fear the power of the Lord? Storms like Harvey happen once every 500 years, so to many, it seems apocalyptic. Since every person is part of nature and, hence, of the divine, we share the basic impulses of all-natural things—specifically, the urge to develop upward and outward, the striving for ideal. Action and striving are not only means to some static goal, but are also ends in themselves. Since there is no goal for human beings apart from one’s life, people struggle with the fear of life and are tempted by care. Human fulfillment is in activity itself, but many would like you to believe that there is no fulfillment—contentment means annihilation—so that people are destined to be dissatisfied, unfulfilled, no matter what one achieves. We live in an age when, as the Lord foretold, people’s hearts are failing them, not only physically, but in spirit. #RandolphHarris 3 of 16

Many are giving up heart for the battle of life. Suicide ranks as the major cause of the deaths to college students. 1,100 is the number of suicides that occur at colleges every year. The suicide rate among young adults, ages 15-24, has tripled since the 1950s, and suicide is currently the second most common cause of death among college students. As the showdown between good and evil approaches with its accompanying trials and tribulations, Satan is increasingly striving to overcome the Saints with despair, discouragement, despondency, and depression. Yet, we as children of God should be the most optimistic and the least pessimistic. The economy is getting many people down, the cost of living, competition, and some people just life to make life Hell on others. For while we know that peace shall be taken from the Earth, and the Devil shall have power over his own dominion, we are also assured that the Lord shall have power over his saints, and shall reign in their midst. God will be directing us through the troubled times ahead, and it becomes our individual responsibility to see that each of us remains faithful to God and his teachings. #RandolphHarris 4 of 16

If the pleasure experienced in contemplating a beautiful landscape is an intrinsic good, then the beautiful aspects of the landscape itself are inherent goods. Our intellectual contemplations should be on the ultimate good. One who remains steadfast and is not overcome, by virtue will be saved. We must keep it in our minds that we should be desirable or beings of interest, and there is a variety of distinct features by virtue of which concrete wholes may qualify as instances of intrinsic good. Human beings share a common nature or essence. Humans were essentially or by nature a rational animal, rationality being the one significant trait distinguishing them from the beast. Consequently, the human being’s highest good will consist in the exercise of his or her rational powers, or contemplation. All people are endowed by their creator with a natural tendency to seek beatitude. This tendency may lie dormant or be perverted, but it cannot be eradicated. God draws us toward himself like a magnet. To resist this attraction is to pervert our nature. By allowing ourselves to be drawn to God, we fulfill our nature and experience the greatest satisfaction of which we are capable. #RandolphHarris 5 of 16

All subjectivist agree that nothing is proper object of choice unless there is reason to believe that its desirable consequences outweigh its negative consequences, if it has any. To determine whether a proposed inherent good has on the whole more desirable than undesirable subjective consequences requires empirical knowledge of the properties and casual effects of the alleged inherent good. It is, however, true that decision as to what subjective states qualify as intrinsically good are almost certainly conditioned by such factors as personal temperament, education, cultural conditioning, and historical circumstances. To help us from being overcome by the devil’s design of despair, discouragement, depression, and despondency, the Lord have provided at least a dozen ways which, if followed, will lift our spirits and send us on our way rejoicing. All inherent goods must have the property of conducing to happiness and only those things are inherently good which do conduce to happiness. The concept of happiness consists in activity in accordance with human nature. Despair comes because of iniquity. #RandolphHarris 6 of 16

When I do good, I feel good. And when I do bad, I feel bad. Sin pulls a person down into despondency and despair. The best-known effort to provide criteria for evaluating choices to consider the relative merits of proposed inherent goods, including things as the intensity and duration of the pleasures or pains which the alleged goods tend to produce and the number of persons capable of benefiting from them. Good experiences have only one common denominator—God. While people may take some temporary pleasure in sin, the end result is unhappiness. Wickedness never was happy. Hurt and pain involves wickedness. Sin creates disharmony with God and is depressing to the spirit. Therefore, any person would do well to examine oneself to see that one is in harmony with all of God’s laws. Every law kept being some particular blessings. Every law broken brings a particular blight. Those who are heavy laden with despair should come unto the Lord, for his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Happiness is a life of many pleasures and few pains. Satisfaction often accompanies the performance of one’s moral duty or the sense of achievement and self-esteem often accompanying creative work. #RandolphHarris 7 of 16

A kind of life which is favorable to happiness is a life of uprightness, not given to excesses, and infused with understanding of the World and a person’s place in it. This also includes interests in other people and in causes, and acceptance of an objective picture of oneself. Prayer can put us in touch with God, our greatest source of comfort and counsel. Pray always that you may come to conqueror—persistent prayer. Exerting all my powers to call upon God to delivery me is the method I use to keep the adversary from destroying me. This is also a key to use in keeping depression from destroying us. When the Spirit of the Lord is upon you, everything seems illuminated. Instead of letting fiends weave ropes of pure hell around us, we should work at taking care of the spiritual, mental, social, and physical needs of ourselves and those whom we are charged to help. There is plenty of work to do to move forward the Kingdom of God. The condition of the physical body can affect the spirit. That is why the Lord gave us the Word of Wisdom. We should retire to our beds early and rise early, and should not run faster than we have strength, and use moderation in all good things. Also, the healthier our food is, the better it will be for us. Food can affect the mind, and deficiencies in certain elements in the body can promote mental depression. #RandolphHarris 8 of 16

A good physical examination periodically is a safeguard and may spot problems that can be remedied. Rest and physical exercise are essential, and a walk in the fresh air can refresh the spirit. Wholesome recreation is a part of our religion, and a change of pace is necessary, and even its anticipation can life the spirit. Reading is also important. Many people have been enlightened, enlivened, and comforted by a good book. And certainly, we can say that a person is happy even if her or she is not feeling joy at good fortune all the time. However, if a person is happy, one will not be subject (expect briefly—for example, in connection with disappointments about noncentral things) to gloom, stress, restlessness, depression, discouragement, and shame for these feelings will not occur if one likes the total pattern of one’s life insofar as the parts one deems important are concerned. We have a special food for the soul of one in distress. We are blessed with Doctrine and Covenants, modern revelation. The words of the prophets are crucial reading and can give direction and comfort in an hour when one is down. A period of a person’s life may said to be happy of the person was happy during most of it. #RandolphHarris 9 of 16

We often speak of feeling happy. This means feeling the way one typically or ideally does if one is happy—that is, being neither depressed nor stressed and moreover having at least one of the optimistic feelings characteristic of being happy, such as enjoying what one is doing, feeling joy, and so forth. One can be happy, of course, without actually feeling happy all the time. In a particularly stressful time, or in the anticipation of a critical event, one can see for a blessing and receive solace and direction for one’s soul. Happiness is not identical with welfare or well-being. A person can be quite happy in a situation which is harmful to one if one does not know it is, and perhaps even if one does. Thus, a person’s fortune may be dwindling if it is invested in bonds during a time of inflation, but one may be quite happy if one is ignorant of economics or even if one sees what is happening (perhaps he is of the priesthood). Furthermore, we may contribute to a person’s welfare without affecting one’s happiness: for instance, we may improve one’s standard of living, but not make that individual happier if one was quite content with the pattern of one’s life before, or if one regards the change as unimportant. #RandolphHarris 10 of 16

The fatherhood of God is the core of our being. The infinite worth of the human soul, and the ethical ideal of the Kingdom of God makes sense for modern minds. Parents should live so that the can bless their spouses and children. To receive, and then consistently and prayerfully ponder, one’s patriarchal blessing can give helpful insight, particularly in an hour of need. The sacrament will bless the souls of all those who worthily partake of it, and as such it should be taken often, even by the bedfast. Periodic fasting can help clear up the mind and strengthen the body and spirit. However, you have to use wisdom and do only what is reasonable for you, and in this time also meditate and pray and reduce work. Education is the self-development of the individual. The fellowship of true friends who can hear you, share your joys, help carry your burdens, and correctly counsel you is priceless. For one who has been in the prison of depression, how sweet the voice of a friend is; one token of friendship from any source whatever awakens and calls into action every sympathetic feeling. Ideally, your family ought to be your closet friend. Most important, we should week to become the friend of our Father in Heaven and our brother Jesus the Christ. #RandolphHarris 11 of 16

The only authentic self-activity is God, as the unmoved motion and self-contained existence of Reason, which, as Reason, is also personal. We receive the Absolute into the heart the symbols. What a blessing to be in the company of those who edify you. To have friends, one should be friendly. Friendships should begin at home and then be extended to encompass the home teachers, quorum leader, bishop, and other Church teachers and leaders. To meet often with the Saints and enjoy their companionship can up lift the heart. May bright sunshine, youthful vigor, beautiful appearance and comfortable smile belong to you forever! Inspiring music may fill the soul with Heavenly thoughts, move one to righteous action, or speak peace to the soul. When Saul was troubled with an evil spirit, David played for him with harp and Soul was refreshed and the evil spirit departed. When the mind is afflicted by temptations, sing aloud, to keep before your mind the inspiring words and thus crowd out the evil thoughts. For example, silver and gold, silver and gold, I would rather have Jesus than silver and gold. This could also be done to crowd our debilitating, depressive thoughts. #RandolphHarris 12 of 16

When we are sick, it may seem like we have sunk into the lowest put of Nova Scotia and the Rocky Mountains are piled on top of us, but do not be discouraged. God’s most striking victories arise out of the graves of apparent defeat. Hang on, exercise faith, and keep up the good courage and you will come out in top of the Rocky Mountains. There are times when you simply have to righteously hang on and outlast the devil until his depressive spirit leaves you. Your adversity and your afflictions, shall be but a small moment. And then, if we endure it well, God shall exalt us on high. Wait on God and he will work, but to not wait in spiritual sulks because you cannot see what is happening. Are we detached enough from out spiritual hysterics to wait on God? To wait is not to sit with folded hands, but to learn to do what we are told. God never made a promise that was too good to be true. To press on in noble endeavors, even while surrounded by a cloud of depression, will eventually bring you out on top into the Sunshine. While you are going through your trial, you can recall your past victories and count the blessings that you do have with a sure hope of greater ones to follow if you are faithful. #RandolphHarris 13 of 16

Have certain knowledge that in due time God will wipe away all tears and that God has prepared for us love. Every accountable child of God needs to set goals, both short-term and long-term and short-term, as these goals are important to ensure growth and sustainability. Short-term objectives represent the goals individual sets that are centered on tasks that can be achieved within the next six months or, at the outset, within one year. An example of a short-term goal might to be increase savings by 10 percent. Long-term objectives define any goal that has a time frame exceeding one year. Long term plans can be buying a house, growing annual revenue. While they take more time than short-term objectives, long-term goals must be realistic and time bound. A person who is pressing forward to accomplish worthy goals can soon put despondency under his or her feet, and once goals are accomplished, others can be set up. Some till be continuing goals. Each week when we partake of the sacrament we commit ourselves to the goals of taking upon ourselves the name of Christ, of always remember him and keeping his commandments. We must increase in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and humans. #RandolphHarris 14 of 16

To grow in wisdom, we have to also focus on our spiritual goals, mental, physical, and social. There is a lifetime goal to become more Christ like, to perfect ourselves in every virtue as he has done, to seek his face, and to work to make our calling and election sure. Forget the things which are behind us, and reach forth unto those things that are before us. We must press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ. Let our minds be filled with the goal of being like the Lord, and you will crowd out depressing thoughts as you anxiously seek to know him and do his will. Let this mind be open to you. Look unto God in every thought. And what will follow if we do? We will keep in perfect peace, if our mind is focused on God. Salvation is nothing more nor less than to triumph over all our enemies and put them under our feet. We can rise above the enemies of despair, depression, discouragement, and despondency by remembering that God provides righteous alternatives. You will be able to bear temptation and escape it. Yes, life is a test; it is a probation; and perhaps being away from our Heavenly home we feel we are strangers and pilgrims on the Earth. #RandolphHarris 15 of 16

We are pressing forth as Christians to gain entrance to the celestial city. That is our goal. Essentially, goals that are superfluous or which detract from our mission should have a subordinate, lesser, or smaller role, if one at all, to more serious and beneficial objectives. To get to the celestial city, we have to overcome many obstacles, one of which is to escape from the Giant Despair. To life our spirit and send us on our way rejoicing, the devil’s design of despair, discouragement, depression, and despondency can be defeated in a dozen ways, namely: repentance, prayer, service, work, health, reading, blessings, fasting, friends, music, endurance, and goals. May we use them all in the difficult days ahead so that we Christian pilgrims will have greater happiness here and go on to a fullness of joy in the highest realms of the celestial kingdom is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Greater than fear is love. Love dissolves all fear, casts out all doubt and sets the captive free. Love, like River of Life, flows through me and refreshes me with its eternal blessing. Love cannot be afraid; it is fearless and strong, and is mighty in its works. It can accomplish all things through the inner light of that faith in God which fills my very being with a powerful presence. #RandolphHarris 16 of 16