Moro. 10:22; Joshua 1:9; Prov. 17:22; refer in this text to Alma 8:10-15; Hel. 10:1, 4, 16; refer to the Joseph F. Smith quote under 1 Ne. 8:2, 36; My Father David O. McKay, David Lawrence McKay, pp. 17-25; Hugh B. Brown: His Life & Thought, Campbell and Poll, pp. 30-33
“There are times when you simply have to righteously hang on and outlast the devil until his depressive spirit leaves you. As the Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith: ‘Thine adversity and thine afflictions, shall be but a small moment: And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high’ (D&C121:7-8). To press on in noble endeavors, even while surrounded by a cloud of depression, will eventually bring you out on top into the sunshine.” (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Nov. 1974)
[An experience of Gordon B. Hinckley on his mission to England] “Elder Hinckley found some of that discouragement common to missionaries facing new circumstances in a new land. He was not well physically, and as he went to his first street meeting … he recalls: ‘I was terrified. I stepped up on that little stand and looked at that crowd of people that had gathered… . They looked rather menacing and mean, but I somehow stumbled through whatever I had to say.’ Down in spirit and facing no success in missionary endeavors, Gordon wrote a letter to his father, saying: ‘I am wasting my time and your money. I don’t see any point in my staying here.’ In due course a gentle but terse reply came from his father. That letter read: ‘Dear Gordon. I have your letter [of such and such a date]. I have only one suggestion. Forget yourself and go to work, With love, Your Father.’ President Hinckley says of that moment, ‘I pondered his response and then the next morning in our scripture class we read that great statement of the Lord: “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it” (Mark 8:35). That simple statement, that promise, touched me. I got on my knees and made a covenant with the Lord that I would try to forget myself and go to work.’” (Jeffrey R. Holland, Ensign, June 1995, p. 8)
“As you nurture the seedlings of faith in others, you will find yourself saying, ‘Is it already the end of the day?’ rather than ‘Will this day ever end?’ Pioneer women did not have time to wallow in discouragement. They were too busy working their way toward Zion.” (Mary Ellen Smoot, Ensign, Nov. 1997, p. 13)