In this world filled with challenges, we do need help from time

Hearken, O seekers of light, to the words of Russell M. Nelson, a man who has walked both the path of healing bodies and the path of healing souls. He proclaimed: “In this world filled with challenges, we do need help from time to time. Religion, eternal truth, and our missionaries are vital parts of that help.” In these words lies a truth as old as humanity itself: that no man, no woman, no child can bear the weight of existence alone. The burdens of life press hard, and the storms of the world beat heavily upon the heart. It is then that the pillars of faith, truth, and service rise to hold us steady.

The ancients knew this well. They sought wisdom in temples, guidance from prophets, comfort from the scriptures, and strength from one another. For though courage is noble, and perseverance is worthy, no soul is fashioned to endure wholly alone. The human spirit, by its nature, longs for anchoring in something greater. It is religion, with its rhythms of prayer and its vision of eternity, that gives men and women the courage to endure. It is eternal truth, that which cannot be broken by time or shadow, that steadies the heart when all else trembles. And it is missionaries—those who carry hope from place to place—that remind us we are not abandoned, that light still comes to us through human hands.

Consider the tale of William Wilberforce, who battled the vast empire of slavery in Britain. Alone, his strength might have faltered against wealth, politics, and entrenched greed. But his faith in God’s eternal truth sustained him. Surrounded by allies of spirit, encouraged by the teachings of Christ, he rose again and again in Parliament until, at last, the slave trade was abolished. His story testifies that religion is no idle ceremony but a wellspring of power; that eternal truth can break the chains of injustice; that missionaries of conviction can reshape nations.

Nelson’s words also remind us that the world is not only a field of struggle but also a field of service. Missionaries—whether they be ministers, teachers, healers, or simple neighbors who extend kindness—are living answers to prayer. They embody the truth that God often sends help not as lightning from the sky, but as human hands knocking at the door. In this way, missionaries are more than messengers; they are instruments of the eternal, voices of hope, proof that none need walk alone.

The meaning, then, is clear: in every challenge, we must draw strength from faith; in every storm, we must anchor in truth; in every weakness, we must accept the help of those sent to lift us. To live otherwise is to stumble beneath burdens never meant to be borne in solitude. A single reed may break in the wind, but woven into a bundle, it endures the tempest. So too with us, bound together in religion, guided by eternal truth, supported by those who serve.

The lesson for us, O children of tomorrow, is profound. Do not neglect the soul’s need for faith. Do not cast aside truth for fleeting fashions. Do not close your heart to those who come in service, for they may be the very lifeline you prayed for. And in turn, be willing to become a missionary yourself—not always by crossing oceans, but by crossing the street, by speaking a word of kindness, by carrying hope to those whose strength is gone.

Practical steps lie before you: nurture daily moments of prayer and gratitude, so that when trials come, your faith is not barren but strong. Seek wisdom in eternal teachings, not just in the noise of the present hour. Support those who dedicate themselves to spreading light, and when you can, join them—even in small ways. A letter of encouragement, a meal shared, a word of testimony—these are no small things, for they echo with eternal weight.

And know this: the world will always be filled with challenges, but with religion, eternal truth, and missionaries of hope, no soul need ever be abandoned. Walk, then, not as one alone in the storm, but as one upheld by sacred pillars. Live this way, and you will endure. Live this way, and you will not only survive the world—you will transform it.