I don’t know about you, but listening to Conference addresses is a wonderful experience and blessing in my life.  The words from our prophets are truly inspiring, thought provoking, and life changing, but only if we let them be.  I can’t ever pick a favorite talk.  When I get my Ensign, I read each of the talks and underline what is most meaningful to me.  Writing some of these talks on my blog allows me to take an even deeper study, which fills me with great love and appreciation for the Plan of the Father.
In The Infinite Power of Hope, Pres. Uchtdorf tells us that hope is a gift of the Spirit.  We all understand that that means we all have the ability to gain it, to feel its power and blessing in our lives.  And boy, do we need it in this day!  And also, because of this gift, we have no excuses.  We all have the power to endure to the end; all because of hope.
Pres. Uchtdorf explains how hope “leads us to peace, mercy, rejoicing, and gladness.  The hope of salvation is like a protective helmet; it is the foundation of our faith and an anchor to our souls.”  He explains it through a series of scriptures in this paragraph.  As I looked up each of these scriptures, I was filled with hope, and with the Spirit.  Look in the footnotes for the following scriptures (#7-13):
Romans 15:13  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and (a)peace in believing, that ye may abound in (b)hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.  (Pres. Uchtdorf: “Hope…is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances.  It pierces the darkness with a brilliant dawn.”)
Psalms 33:22  Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we (a)hope in thee.  (Pres. Uchtdorf: “…hope…transcends the trivial and centers on the Hope of Israel, the great hope of mankind, even our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.”)
Romans 12:12  Rejoicing in hope; (a)patient in (b)tribulation; (c)continuing instant in prayer;  ( Pres. Uchtdorf: “Hope is…the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us.  It is confidence that if we live according to God’s laws and the words of His prophets now, we will receive desired blessings in the future.  It is believing and expecting that our prayers will be answered.  It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance.”)
Proverbs 10:28  The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.  (Pres. Uchtdorf:  “…without hope we cannot receive an inheritance in the kingdom of God.” )
1 Thess 5:8  But let us, who are of the day, be (a)sober, putting on the (b)breastplate of (c)faith and love; and for an helmet, the (d)hope of salvation.   (Pres. Uchtdorf:  “And what kind of existence can we hope for?  Those who come unto Christ, repent of their sins, and live in faith will reside forever in peace.  Think of the worth of this eternal gift.”)
Moroni 7:40  And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning (a)hope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?  (Pres. Uchtdorf: “The brighter our hope, the greater our faith.  The stronger our hope, the purer our charity.”)
Ether 12:4  Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with asurety (b)hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which (c)hope cometh of (d)faith, maketh an (e)anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in (f)good works, being led to (g)glorify God.  (Pres. Uchtdorf: “We hope in Jesus the Christ, in the goodness of God, in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, in the knowledge that prayers are heard and answered…that God will keep His promises to us…things will ‘work together for our good’.”)
Pres. Uchtdorf concludes with this powerful message:
“God will wait with ‘open arms to receive’ those who give away their sins and continue in faith, hope, and charity. 
And to all who suffer—to all who feel discouraged, worried, or lonely—I say with love and deep concern for you, never give in. 
Never surrender. 
Never allow despair to overcome your spirit. 
Embrace and rely upon the Hope of Israel, for the love of the Son of God pierces all darkness, softens all sorrow, and gladdens every heart.”