President Ezra Taft Benson offered a poignant declaration of hope and encouragement during the Saturday Afternoon Session of the October 1974 conference:

“We live in an age when, as the Lord foretold, men’s hearts are failing them, not only physically but in spirit. (See D&C 45:26.) Many are giving up heart for the battle of life. Suicide ranks as a major cause of the deaths to 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, of all people, we as Latter-day Saints should be the most optimistic and the least pessimistic. 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.” (D&C 1:35–36.)”

Satan wants us to forget that the Gospel is a message of hope. He wants us to be discouraged. He wants us to be weighed down by guilt and discomfort. But the message of Christ is one of liberation and peace. If we belong to Christ, then we will be lifted up and protected against the buffeting of Satan. If we belong to Christ, then we will find hope even amidst the storms of the world. We have great reason to rejoice and take heart. We should not forget that.

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This post is part of the 54th weekly edition of the General Conference Odyssey, in which we cover the Saturday afternoon session of the October 1974 General Conference. Here are the other posts:
– The Cost of the Death Taboo by Nathaniel Givens

http://difficultrun.nathanielgivens.com/2016/12/13/the-cost-of-the-death-taboo/
– The New Aristocracy by G

http://www.jrganymede.com/2016/12/13/a-new-aristocracy/
– United As One In Power by Jan Tolman

http://www.ldswomenofgod.com/united-one-power/
– You can exert this divine power by Marilyn Nielson

http://light-in-leaves.blogspot.com/2016/12/you-can-exert-this-divine-power.html