Nephi is experiencing that sorrow and depression which every missionary feels at some point. He has just been rejected by those who should have known the truth. He returns to Zarahemla only to find the people in a terrible state of wickedness which has extended to the highest governmental positions. He bears a great weight on his shoulders as the prophet of the Lord charged with rectifying what seems to be a hopeless situation. Nephi and all missionaries feel this godly sorrow and can appreciate, in some degree, the emotions which the Savior felt. As He did, they feel ’despised and rejected of men…and acquainted with grief’ (Isa 53:3).
"I am a sister missionary serving in my own country, Jamaica. Recently, I felt a great depression come over me. I felt alone, and I felt I had had no achievement as a missionary.
“Then I heard two sister missionaries talking about a passage of scripture where angels are sent to bear us up. I quickly turned to the Doctrine and Covenants and read this passage, ’for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up’ (DC 84:88). I learned that Heavenly Father knew how depressed I felt and how important my calling was as a missionary, that I am called of God.” (C. Meikle, Church News, 11/12/94)
Bruce C. Hafen
"During my own missionary days in Germany, I discovered the mission-field version of opposition—we had our share of rainstorms, dogs, sad news from home, feisty ministers, concerned relatives, and problem missionaries. But few things hurt as much as losing a good investigator—they were so rare. Once, after weeks of fruitless, frustrating tracting in a new city, we found a golden family. They were a handsome young couple with two small children. How well they had received the first three lessons. How warm they were each time we came to see them. What a contribution we knew they would make to the struggling little branch. They seemed destined to become an ideal Latter-day Saint family.
“The night the fourth discussion was scheduled, we went bouncing up the stairs to the front door. Our anticipation of this evening had sustained us through days of discouragement. We rang the bell cheerfully. There was no answer. We rang again. Still no answer. We knocked. How strange it seemed. The lights in the house were on when we arrived. We stepped back from the house, threw a little pebble at a lighted upstairs window, and called, ‘It’s us, the missionaries. We’re here for the appointment!’ The light upstairs went out. Then the other lights went out. All was dark and silent. In shocked disbelief, we looked at each other and then began to cry. As we trudged back to our bicycles, I felt real pain in my heart. ’How can they do this to us?’ I said to my companion, choking back the tears. He added, ’How can they do this to themselves?‘ It was one of those sad and lonely missionary nights when all the pep talks about having a positive mental attitude fade away like so much salesman’s chatter. At such quiet times missionaries can face stiff opposition, feeling unloved, unneeded, and personally rejected.” (The Broken Heart, p. 71)
Boyd K. Packer
"I have come to believe that this is worth knowing, not only for teachers, but for everyone. If you get a little depressed during those dreary days, do not begin to think that you’re psycho-something-or-other.
"For missionaries, this was well worth knowing. Occasionally a missionary told me in an interview, ‘I’m not doing very well. I just seem to be depressed and discouraged.’ Unless there was an unusual reason for these feelings, my answer was, ’Well, I’m glad to hear that. At least now we know that you’re normal. Enjoy the feeling—it probably won’t last. And the first sunny day will do wonders for it.’
"We know from the Book of Mormon that there must be opposition.
’For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad.’ (2 Nephi 2:11.)
“It helps a great deal if we realize that there is a certain healthy element in getting the blues occasionally. It is quite in order to schedule a good, discouraging, depressing day every now and again just for contrast.” (Teach Ye Diligently, p. 101–2)