#BYUDevo: Overcoming Fear Through Faith in Christ

Scott C. Esplin, associate professor of BYU Church History and Doctrine, delivered the Devotional address Tuesday in the Marriott Center. Esplin spoke on "overcoming the fears that are an essential part of our experience in this earth life."

Fear of the Unknown Future

Throughout the address, Esplin used both personal experiences and scriptural references to deliver his message. He talked about fear and how it can lead to missing important opportunities.

"Fear of the future had kept me from continuing what I had commenced, and the time had passed," said Esplin.

Esplin used the story of Oliver Cowdery's inability to translate part of the Book of Mormon. When he should have commenced, he chose to stop instead. This led to his losing the privilege of translating.

"Behold, it was expedient when you commenced; but you feared, and the time is past, and it is not expedient now" (D&C 9:11).

Esplin said it is important to move forward, even if it means an uncertain future. He discussed personal leaps of faith that he had to take in order to overcome his fear. When you look at the larger picture, he said, it makes the smaller things seem less frightening.

"I learned a valuable lesson: as you exercise faith to overcome fears of future uncertainty, you will see God's hand in your life," said Esplin.

Fear of a Failed Past

Esplin said past fears can affect us in the future if we don't use the atonement to repent and "remember them no more" (D&C 58:42).

"Faith leads to repentance of our past mistakes," he said. "But all of us...need to follow necessary repentance up with belief, a belief in God and a belief that, though we all sin, the Atonement of Jesus Christ can and will save us."