We find that fear has been a part of the history of individuals ever since the World began. However, let your life stand as a beacon to all as someone who magnificently developed one’s own gifts through facing challenges. It takes a particular brand of cynicism to profitably run an extreme culture outfit. The media and entertainment industry cynically and blatantly prey on the cravings of naïve people. They clearly know their audience and why they are attracted to these prophets of the perverse. Tribulations, afflictions, and trials will constantly be with us in our sojourn here in this segment of eternity. The Savior reported in John 16.33, “In the World we shall have tribulation.” Therefore, the great challenge in this Earthly life is not to determine how to escape the afflictions and problems, but rather to carefully prepare ourselves to meet them. There is evidence of the increasingly virulent strain of extreme individuality that the new conformity to Worldly values is giving rise to. In an era where everybody is special, people are starting to believe that you have to go the extra mile. They think they have to do things like a reporter once did, he had on-camera live liposuction in front of a studio audience to boost his ratings and get notoriety. Gross sells, and so does anger, outrage, and evil. Extreme emotion expressed in extreme ways. The goal of this kind of entertainment is descried as the creation of pure and unrelated presents in time. #RandolphHarris 1 of 7

In other words, entertainment will do whatever is necessary to rescue us from what is perceived as the mundane realities of daily life. This has always been the project of popular culture: to give us a sense of aliveness amid a reductive system of anonymous power subsources reducing us to various categories of crowd. Therefore, we must prepare ourselves because to overcome this Worldly behavior demands persistent effort to develop patience as a personal attribute. In practicing patience, one comes to understand it and to acquire it. Do not allow your hearts to be faint, as though some strange thing is happening unto us, for we have seen these things beforehand, and have an assurance of a better hope than that of our persecutors. God has made us strong and able to endure burdens. We glory in our tribulation, because we know that God is with us, that he is our friend, and that he will save our souls. We must have patience in order to withstand pain and grief without complaint or discouragement, which detract from the Spirit. It is necessary to have patience in the face of tribulation and persecution for the cause of truth, which sets an example because the manner in which we bear our cross will be an influence to others to help lighten their load. Patience must be our constant companion during the journey which carries us toward that great goal. We must continue in patience until we are perfected. #RandolphHarris 2 of 7

It should be made clear that we are not talking here about a passive patience which waits only for the passing of time to heal or resolve things which happen to us, but rather a patience that is active, which makes things happen. By being patient, we have to continue to do things well. Patience in affliction and adversity means to persist firmly and never forsake that which we know to be true, standing firm with the hope that in the Lord’s due time we will gain an understanding of that which we do not understand now and which causes us suffering. One lady remembers her parents standing in the doorway, talking to each other. “We have no more money.” At that time Jamaica had no public high schools nor universities. Those with academic inclinations took extra classes with the head teacher in their teenage years and with luck made it into teachers’ college. Those with broader ambitions had to somehow find their way into a private school and from there to a university in the United States or England. However, scholarships were few and far between, and the cost of private schooling was prohibitive for all but a privileged few. The parents of the young lady had paid the tuition for the first term of high school and bought the uniforms and had exhausted their savings. What would they do when the second-term fees for their daughter came due? And they could not send one daughter to school and not the other. #RandolphHarris 3 of 7

The grandmother of the young ladies was steadfast. She sent both—and prayed—and at the end of the first term, it turned out that one of the other girls at the school had won two scholarships, so the second was given to the young lady in need. Making the effort to concern yourself with more than your own need is rewarding. We are all Heaven sent. We are the beautiful adornment of the human race. Our roles are special and unique in the Lord’s work. It is important that we have a strong faith, work hard, nurture others, and act as caregivers with the feelings of charity and benevolence. It is important to display acts of faith, devotion, obedience, and righteousness. No matter what circumstances we experience, our influence can be marvelously far-reaching. Some people have a tendency to underestimate their profound blessing in the lives of others. More often than not, like the girl who shared her scholarship with a student in need, it is not on the stage with some public pronouncement but in one’s example of righteousness and the countless gentle acts of love and kindness done so willingly, so often on a one-to-one basis. On occasions when you ache for that acceptance and affection which belong to family life on Earth, please know that Our Father in Heaven is aware of your anguish, and that one day he will bless you beyond your capacity to express. #RandolphHarris 4 of 7

When the key is turned to you in the name of God, knowledge and intelligence shall flow down from this time. This blessing of knowledge and intelligence comes to all righteous people. Thee blessings flow to those who willingly perform the work of Angels. It is very substantial to make our homes a refuge of peace and happiness in a troubled World, which is healing from its infirmary. When we stand before the bar of God, there will be little mention of how much wealth we have accumulated in life or of any honors which we may have achieved. However, there will be searching questions concerning our domestic relations. Many are convinced that those who have walked through life with love and respect and appreciation will receive from our eternal Father the words, “Well done, you are a good and faithful person, enter into the joy of your Lord.” Sustain and be encouraged in your many callings. Be grateful for deep love that you are blessed with. If you want to have a sense of belonging and peace, it is your job as a child of God to match your inner drive to become your best self with how you can benefit in the World. The real barrier to happiness is fear. Fear of failing, fear of success, fear of financial losses, and fear of the unknown all hold us back from our destiny. #RandolphHarris 5 of 7

Fear is a deterrent to growth and change throughout life. The only reason any of us finally risks anything is that the potential rewards outweigh the potential strain. Think of some of the risks you have taken in the past. The promised benefits must have been worthwhile enough for you to move through your fear and go for the prize. Leaving home for college or a career, asking for a date, and traveling to a new city or country are all risk you have taken because the possible reward was greater than the possible failure. Studies show that the act of risk-taking itself—independent of the success or failure of the venture—increases one’s self-esteem. Fear is the overriding challenge to be met in all significant human endeavors. Why is fear part of Earth life? Perhaps our Heavenly Father’s greatest hope is that through our fears we may choose to turn to him. The uncertainties of Earth life can help to remind each of us that we are dependent on God. However, that reminder is not automatic. We must choose to take our fears to God, chose to trust him, and choose to allow him to direct us. Moving beyond fear and taking goal directed action is the primary requirement for evolving into a full-fledged person. #RandolphHarris 6 of 7

Unless we face the reality that fear can stifle us. Working increases our abilities, and as you feel your abilities increase, you will feel more secure. If we recognize that we must live God’s commandments and pray to him, there are things he will direct us to do that will help calm our fears. These actions often require great courage and direction from the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost may help us to understand when and with whom we should share our fears and try to do things that we have never done before. There is no getting around fear. It has to be faced directly. Our Heavenly Father brings peace, a respite from fear and anxiety. We only need to worry about pleasing the Lord and some of our fears will evaporate. Remember how you felt when you applied for a job your never thought you could get, bought a house you never thought you could afford, or gave a speech in public that you were scared you would mess up? Remember how you felt as you neared the moment of truth—exhilarated, anxious, full of energy—and the wonderful release you experience once you reached the point of no return and succeeded? What a blessing and a relief to be past the fear barrier, on your way to success. Even if we fail sometimes, at least we have overcome that uncertainty, worry, and stress. We are always doing what we cannot do yet in order to learn how to do it. Psalms 27.1 reports, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” #RandolphHarris 7 of 7