Why Harry Potter References Should Be Used In More Lessons at Church

We live in dark, horrible times, but we don't have to feel dark and horrible. We can live in the light and love of our Heavenly Father, and feel peace with hope for a brighter day. 

"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light" -Albus Dumbledore. (Harry Potter rocks my world). 

I was reading the news this week and just was totally overwhelmed with feelings of despair and fear. I was honestly wondering how I could handle living on my own for 18 months because it's just getting worse and worse! But I watched Harry Potter and this quote really helped me (haha). Happiness really can be found in the darkest of times, if we remember to turn on the light that living the gospel has to offer. We don't need to fear when we allow God to shed His light into our lives and allow Him to guide and direct us by being obedient to Him.  

Two correlating scriptures can be D&C 59:23 and a New Testament Story:

He who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace (not a perfect life, but peace in the trials) in this world, and eternal life in the world to come. 

In the New Testament there is a passage about the tempest raging while Christ and His disciples are on a boat. While the storm is raging from every side Christ is sleeping, and the disciples ask, "carest thou not that we perish?" And Christ calms the storm and asks why they feared. It reminds me that life won't always be perfect by following Christ, but I will be okay. The ship won't sink but it can rock. I can have peace knowing that I can't and won't sink if I am on the Lord's side. 

Our ship will go up and down in our lives. We will have great  moments, and we will have dreadful ones. We can experience the love of our God in both of those moments. Our lives will never be forever in the same place- they will be either moving up or down, but as Brad Wilcox put it: "Our lives are like a heartbeat- the ups and downs let us know we are alive". 

 Remember that in your times of darkness or loneliness, Jesus Christ will always be there for you. Remember that when you go through failure or rejection, it's an opportunity to feel more deeply what Christ felt and become more like Him, because he faced so much rejection during His mortal ministry. You can find peace if you rely on Him and ask for His help and comfort.