There is always something to worry about.  My list consists of school, work, boys, friends…just life in general. I’m sure you have a list too. No matter the size, those worries are there. Our worries can debilitate us.

With graduation around the corner, I am moving into the next chapter of my life. I thought I was ready and excited about this change, but recently I have started to worry about finances and other matters concerning moving out, and meeting new people in a new area. I find myself fearing and doubting this change in my life.

Thankfully, Heavenly Father knows me and loves me. He has given all of us tools to help us overcome fear and doubt. The Book of Mormon is full of stories and lessons of people who trusted their Heavenly Father and allowed Him to guide them.

The story of Sariah, worrying over her sons when they traveled back to Jerusalem to get the plates, is a great example of hanging onto faith, not fear.

1 Nephi 5:2 tells us how Sariah “supposed”, or worried, that her sons had perished in the wilderness, and she started to complain. She was probably already pretty tense having been uprooted from her home. Assuming that she believed what her husband had been saying, she had “faithfully” sent her boys back to a city that was in danger of being destroyed, where wicked people had been trying to kill her husband, and where her boys would have to confront the Big Bad Laban. Now they were taking a long time to come back. Holy Cow! I’d be upset too.

Think about when we lose faith and complain? When we worry, we allow doubt and fear to take over our faith.  Fear and complaining can destroy our faith. Fortunately, (and hopefully),we have loved ones in our lives to help us get our faith back.

In reply, Sariah’s husband, Lehi, lovingly testifies, “I know that I am a visionary man; for if I had not seen the things of God in a vision, I should not have known the goodness of God, but had tarried at Jerusalem, and had perished with my brethren.  But behold, I have obtained a land of promise, in the which things I do rejoice; yea, and I know that the Lord will deliver my sons out of the hands of Laban, and bring them down again unto us in the wilderness” (verses 4 & 5).

Nephi and his brothers eventually returned safely, much to the comfort and joy of their mother. “And she spake, saying: Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them” (verse 8).

I love how the story shows us how Sariah regained her testimony. Even when fear and worry got in the way for a moment, she learned, with a gentle reminder from her priesthood holder, that the Lord loves her and is mindful of her concerns.

We can learn that same lesson.  When life gets hard, and our faith shakes a little bit, just hold on. Don’t give in to your fears. President Gordon B. Hinckley encourages, “No matter the circumstances, I encourage you to go forward with faith and prayer, calling on the Lord (Be Not Afraid, Only Believing, CES Fireside 9 Sept 2001)”. The Lord loves us and will guide us. He teaches us through obstacles that He is there for us. He wants us to be faithful and believing.