God will never lose hope—even when you do

I grew up in a typical happy, church-attending Mormon family. I am the youngest of five, and my parents taught us all about gospel principles and choosing the right. My parents were stalwart. My mom was involved with seminary for over ten years, and she was wise in the way she taught us. My dad was in the stake presidency for over ten years. He has also served as a bishop, a branch president, and a temple worker. He has the warmest smile that lights up the room. He was a pillar of strength and an example of righteousness to all who observed him.

When I was a freshman in college (about seven years ago), my father was excommunicated from the church. I was shocked, hurt, and confused. I remember feeling like I finally understood the phrase, "my world was turned upside down." Amidst the pain, I was able to forgive my father for what he had done almost immediately. I was grateful that the Lord had granted me this tender mercy.

The hardest part about this experience has not been forgiving my father—the Lord enabled me to do this through His grace. The hardest part has been continuing to have hope that my dad will someday turn his life around. After months and years of my father's unchanging desire to stay away from the church, I started talking about the gospel with him less and less. I would occasionally bring it up, but it was a steady decline, and eventually the gospel was left out of our conversations altogether.

That is why the following scripture in the Book of Mormon has brought me so much strength. After His death and resurrection, Christ visited the people of the ancient Americas. Here in the book of 3 Nephi, chapter 18, verse 32, He is teaching the people about how they should treat others who no longer believe in His gospel:

"Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them."

When I read this verse for the first time after my freshman year of college, I was deeply moved. Tears came to my eyes as I realized that even when I lose hope for my own father, the Savior won't. He will never give up on us. I think this is because He sees us as the divine beings we can become, whereas we tend to see each other as we are currently—fallen, wandering, sinful, mortal.

“Let people repent. Let people grow. Believe that people can change and improve.

“God doesn’t care nearly as much about where you have been as He does about where you are and, with His help, where you are willing to go. 

“…every day ought to be the start of a new year and a new life. Such is the wonder of faith and repentance and the miracle of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "Remember Lot's Wife"

Every day—any moment in time—can be the start of a new life. I now try to expect that more of others, instead of assuming they will be the same as they were yesterday. The Lord will never give up on us, even when we give up on each other. Even when we lose hope and give up on ourselves. As I remember this truth, my heart takes courage, and I am strengthened.