And all these are the beginning of sorrows...

In Matthew 24, Christ prophesies of the terrible things to come in the last days.  He tells of Anti-Christs, wars, rumors of wars, famines, pestileces, earthquakes.  And then he says, "All these are the beginning of sorrows" (24:8).  Holy cow, we're in trouble!  Recently I've been thinking of all the scary things that have gone on in the last couple of months, hurricanes, Russia's war with Geogria, the economic craziness and it is scary.  Yet, this is just the beginning of our sorrows.  But the message of Christ is "Be not afraid, only believe" (Mark 5:36).  Amid his prophecies of fearful things, he also includes hope; "this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world" and "he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved".  It is nice to know that while we are enduring these frightful things that seem to be swirling around us these days, Christ is always there to help us and give us comfort.  He has given us so many things to help us through.  He has given us the scriptures to warn us of these things, living Prophets to warn and guide us in what to do, and the Holy Ghost to comfort us.  All these things together can prepare us for anything, and "when ye are prepared, ye shall not fear" (D&C 38:30).  I'm so glad.