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have seen it in new mothers with whatis euphemistically labeled “after-babyblues.” I have seen it strike anxiousstudents, military veterans, and grand-mothers worried about the well-beingof their grown children.

 And I have seen it in young fatherstrying to provide for their families. Inthat regard I once terrifyingly saw it inmyself. At one point in our married life

 when financial fears collided with stag-gering fatigue, I took a psychic blowthat was as unanticipated as it was real.

 With the grace of God and the love ofmy family, I kept functioning and kept

 working, but even after all these yearsI continue to feel a deep sympathyfor others more chronically or moredeeply afflicted with such gloom thanI was. In any case we have all takencourage from those who, in the wordsof the Prophet Joseph, “search[ed] . . .and contemplate[d] the darkest abyss”3 and persevered through it—not theleast of whom were Abraham Lincoln,

 Winston Churchill, and Elder George Albert Smith, the latter being one ofthe most gentle and Christlike men ofour dispensation, who battled recur-ring depression for some years beforelater becoming the universally belovedeighth prophet and President of TheChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-daySaints.

So how do you best respond whenmental or emotional challenges con-front you or those you love? Above

all, never lose faith in your Father inHeaven, who loves you more than you can comprehend. As PresidentMonson said to the Relief Societysisters so movingly last Saturdayevening: “That love never changes.. . . It is there for you when you aresad or happy, discouraged or hopeful.God’s love is there for you whetheror not you feel you deserve [it]. It issimply always there.”4 Never, ever

the Father who sent Him and the Son who came. It is only an appreciationof this divine love that will make ourown lesser suffering first bearable,then understandable, and finallyredemptive.

Let me leave the extraordinary ill-nesses I have mentioned to concentrateon MDD—“major depressive disorder”—or, more commonly, “depression.”

 When I speak of this, I am not speak-

ing of bad hair days, tax deadlines, orother discouraging moments we allhave. Everyone is going to be anx-ious or downhearted on occasion.

 The Book of Mormon says Ammonand his brethren were depressed ata very difficult time,2 and so can therest of us be. But today I am speak-ing of something more serious, of anaffliction so severe that it significantlyrestricts a person’s ability to functionfully, a crater in the mind so deep

that no one can responsibly suggest it would surely go away if those victims would just square their shoulders andthink more positively—though I am a

 vigorous advocate of square shouldersand positive thinking!

No, this dark night of the mind andspirit is more than mere discourage-ment. I have seen it come to an abso-lutely angelic man when his belovedspouse of 50 years passed away. I

By Elder Jeffrey R. HollandOf the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

The Apostle Peter wrote that dis-ciples of Jesus Christ are to have“compassion one of another.”1 

In that spirit I wish to speak to those who suffer from some form of mentalillness or emotional disorder, whetherthose afflictions be slight or severe, ofbrief duration or persistent over a life-time. We sense the complexity of suchmatters when we hear professionalsspeak of neuroses and psychoses, of

genetic predispositions and chromo-some defects, of bipolarity, paranoia,and schizophrenia. However bewilder-ing this all may be, these afflictionsare some of the realities of mortallife, and there should be no moreshame in acknowledging them thanin acknowledging a battle with highblood pressure or the sudden appear-ance of a malignant tumor.

In striving for some peace andunderstanding in these difficult mat-

ters, it is crucial to remember that weare living—and chose to live—in afallen world where for divine pur-poses our pursuit of godliness will betested and tried again and again. Ofgreatest assurance in God’s plan is thata Savior was promised, a Redeemer,

 who through our faith in Him wouldlift us triumphantly over those testsand trials, even though the cost to doso would be unfathomable for both

Like a Broken Vessel How do you best respond when mental or emotionalchallenges confront you or those you love? 

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doubt that, and never harden yourheart. Faithfully pursue the time-testeddevotional practices that bring theSpirit of the Lord into your life. Seekthe counsel of those who hold keysfor your spiritual well-being. Ask forand cherish priesthood blessings. Takethe sacrament every week, and holdfast to the perfecting promises of the

 Atonement of Jesus Christ. Believe inmiracles. I have seen so many of themcome when every other indication

 would say that hope was lost. Hopeis never  lost. If those miracles do notcome soon or fully or seemingly at all,remember the Savior’s own anguishedexample: if the bitter cup does notpass, drink it and be strong, trusting inhappier days ahead.5

In preventing illness whenever pos-sible, watch for the stress indicatorsin yourself and in others you may beable to help. As with your automobile,

be alert to rising temperatures, exces-sive speed, or a tank low on fuel.

 When you face “depletion depres-sion,” make the requisite adjustments.Fatigue is the common enemy of usall—so slow down, rest up, replenish,and refill. Physicians promise us thatif we do not take time to be well, wemost assuredly will take time later onto be ill.

If things continue to be debilitating,seek the advice of reputable people

 with certified training, professionalskills, and good values. Be honest with them about your history and yourstruggles. Prayerfully and responsiblyconsider the counsel they give and thesolutions they prescribe. If you hadappendicitis, God would expect youto seek a priesthood blessing and  getthe best medical care available. So too

 with emotional disorders. Our Fatherin Heaven expects us to use all  of the

marvelous gifts He has provided inthis glorious dispensation.

If you are the one afflicted or acaregiver to such, try not to be over-

 whelmed with the size of your task.Don’t assume you can fix everything,but fix what you can. If those are onlysmall victories, be grateful for themand be patient. Dozens of times in thescriptures, the Lord commands some-one to “stand still” or “be still”—and

 wait.6 Patiently enduring some things

is part of our mortal education.For caregivers, in your devotedeffort to assist with another’s health,do not destroy your own. In all thesethings be wise. Do not run faster than

 you have strength.7 Whatever else youmay or may not be able to provide,

 you can offer your prayers and youcan give “love unfeigned.”8 “Charitysuffereth long, and is kind; . . . [it]beareth all things, . . . hopeth all

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things, endureth all things. Charitynever  faileth.”9

 Also let us remember that throughany illness or difficult challenge, thereis still much in life to be hopeful about

and grateful for. We are infinitely morethan our limitations or our afflictions!Stephanie Clark Nielson and herfamily have been our friends for morethan 30 years. On August 16, 2008,Stephanie and her husband, Christian,

 were in a plane crash and subsequentfire that scarred her so horrificallythat only her painted toenails wererecognizable when family memberscame to indentify the victims. There

 was almost no chance Stephanie

could live. After three months in asleep-induced coma, she awoke to seeherself. With that, the psyche-scarringand horrendous depression came.Having four children under the age ofseven, Stephanie did not want them tosee her ever again. She felt it would bebetter not to live. “I thought it wouldbe easier,” Stephanie once told me inmy office, “if they just forgot about meand I quietly slipped out of their life.”

But to her eternal credit, and withthe prayers of her husband, family,friends, four beautiful children, anda fifth born to the Nielsons just 18months ago, Stephanie fought her way

back from the abyss of self-destructionto be one of the most popular “mommybloggers” in the nation, openly declar-ing to the four million who follow herblog that her “divine purpose” in lifeis to be a mom and to cherish everyday  she has been given on this beau-tiful earth.

 Whatever your struggle, my broth-ers and sisters—mental or emotionalor physical or otherwise—do not voteagainst the preciousness of life by

ending it! Trust in God. Hold on inHis love. Know that one day the dawn will break brightly and all shadowsof mortality will flee. Though we mayfeel we are “like a broken vessel,” asthe Psalmist says,10 we must remem-ber, that vessel is in the hands of thedivine potter. Broken minds can behealed just the way broken bones andbroken hearts are healed. While Godis at work making those repairs, the

rest of us can help by being merciful,nonjudgmental, and kind.

I testify of the holy Resurrection,that unspeakable cornerstone giftin the Atonement of the Lord JesusChrist! With the Apostle Paul, I testifythat that which was sown in corrup-tion will one day be raised in incor-ruption and that which was sown in

 weakness will ultimately be raisedin power.11 I bear witness of that day

 when loved ones whom we knew tohave disabilities in mortality will standbefore us glorified and grand, breath-takingly perfect in body and mind.

 What a thrilling moment that will be!I do not know whether we will behappier for ourselves that we have

 witnessed such a miracle or happierfor them that they are fully perfectand finally “free at last.”12 Until thathour when Christ’s consummate gift isevident to us all, may we live by faith,hold fast to hope, and show “compas-sion one of another,”13 I pray, in the

name of Jesus Christ, amen. ◼NOTES

  1. 1 Peter 3:8.  2. See Alma 26:27; see also Alma 56:16.  3. Teachings of Presidents of the Church:

 Joseph Smith (2007), 267.  4. Thomas S. Monson, “We Never Walk

 Alone,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013,123, 124.

  5. See Matthew 26:39.  6. See, for example, Psalm 4:4; Doctrine and

Covenants 101:16.  7. See Mosiah 4:27.  8. Doctrine and Covenants 121:41.  9. 1 Corinthians 13:4, 7–8; emphasis added;

see also Moroni 7:45–46.

 10. Psalm 31:12. 11. See 1 Corinthians 15:42–43. 12. “Free at Last,” in John W. Work, comp.,

 American Negro Songs: 230 Folk Songs andSpirituals, Religious and Secular  (1998), 197.

 13. 1 Peter 3:8.

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