Becoming One With the Savior
In recent years I have made a change in how I stay informed about the world. I have largely stopped watching the news and instead choose to read it. When events unfold on a screen in real time—especially when watched continually—it can create a dark and heavy cloud over the mind and heart. By reading the news instead, I am able to stay informed and understand what is happening in the world without exposing myself to the constant images of violence, tragedy, and suffering that often accompany televised coverage. The written reports provide the information I need without overwhelming the spirit.
Even so, for many people, simply reading the news can still bring feelings of anxiety and fear. The challenges we see unfolding in the world can feel heavy and uncertain. One of the ways I have learned to become stronger in the face of adversity is by striving to draw closer to the Savior. The scriptures teach us to become like Him in all things, and part of that process is strengthening our spirits. As our hearts become more aligned with Christ, we develop the capacity to endure trials that might otherwise feel unbearable. The burdens may still be heavy, but through Him we gain the strength to press forward, even when the path before us seems difficult or impossible.
In recent days, the news has been filled with reports of growing conflict and tension in the world, including the ongoing war with Iran. Events like these naturally stir concern and uncertainty. It is not difficult to feel anxiety about the future when we see instability among nations and hear constant discussion of what might come next. The scriptures warned that such times would come. Jesus taught that in the last days “men’s hearts [would fail] them for fear” as they looked upon the things happening in the earth (Luke 21:26). This phrase is deeper than it may appear at first glance. It is not merely a reference to physical weakness, but to spiritual and emotional collapse—hearts overwhelmed by fear, uncertainty, and despair. We are human, and if not spiritually in tune, we leave a crevice open for the adversary to step in.
The adversary understands the power of fear. When fear takes hold of the human heart, it weakens faith and clouds judgment. We begin to fall to pieces inside, becoming overwhelmed to the point that we feel incapable of functioning. It can cause people to bend under the slightest weight of trial or adversity. Yet the Lord never intended His people to live in constant dread of the future. The scriptures consistently remind us that while difficult times will come, the faithful are not left without strength or guidance. The Savior Himself declared, “Be not troubled” (Matthew 24:6). The difference between those whose hearts fail and those who endure is found in where their hearts are anchored.
To align our hearts with Jesus Christ is to anchor them in something eternal and unshakable. Christ Himself lived this pattern during His mortal life. Though He faced rejection, suffering, and ultimately the weight of the world’s sins, His heart remained perfectly aligned with His Father. Because of that unity, He received divine strength to endure what no other person could bear. The same principle applies to us. When we seek daily communion with Heavenly Father through prayer, scripture, and obedience, we open ourselves to divine help. The Lord promises that those who trust in Him will be strengthened beyond their natural capacity. This doesn’t mean things become easier, but it does strengthen us to be able to bear trials without falling into dysfunction and fear.
The Book of Mormon echoes this promise. Nephi taught that the Lord “shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them” (1 Nephi 3:7). That promise extends to every challenge we face—whether it be personal trials, trauma, abuse, or the heavy uncertainties of the world around us. Aligning our hearts with Christ does not remove hardship, but it changes how we experience it. Instead of being crushed by the weight of our trials, we are given strength to carry them.
In the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord warned that in the latter days “men’s hearts shall fail them” (D&C 45:26), yet He also offered reassurance to those who remain faithful. The Lord repeatedly promises peace to those who turn to Him. King Benjamin taught that when we yield our hearts to God and follow Christ, we become spiritually changed, having “no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2). A heart that is changed in this way becomes resilient. It is not easily shaken by the storms of the world.
The times we live in—and the times that may yet come—will test faith in many ways. But the scriptures also promise that those who remain close to the Savior will be sustained. When our hearts are aligned with Him, fear loses its power to cripple us. Instead of collapsing under the pressures of the world, we find strength, hope, and even peace in the midst of uncertainty. The Savior invites us to draw near to Him now, to cultivate faith, love, and obedience. As we do, we will discover that the promise is true: when our hearts are united with Christ, they will not fail us.