Managing Stress and Anxiety

Read the following statement by President Russell M. Nelson, looking for how we can overcome our anxieties.

The Lord has declared that despite today’s unprecedented challenges, those who build their foundations upon Jesus Christ, and have learned how to draw upon His power, need not succumb to the unique anxieties of this era. (“The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 94)

anxiety, discouragement

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles also taught:

I personally believe that much of discouragement and anxiety comes from failing to understand or remember God’s plan and trust in His power when troubles arise. Without the conviction of God’s reality, His love, and His plan of happiness for His children, young minds can see their future as bleak and fragile. (“Trust in God” [seminary and institute annual broadcast, Jan. 26, 2024], Gospel Library)

anxiety, discouragement, faith

Answer the following in your notebook:

• How could understanding and remembering God’s plan help you when you feel stress and anxiety?

• What do you know about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that gives you confidence they can help you overcome stress and anxiety?

One way to deal with your stressful or anxious feelings is to recognize your expectations and align them with what the Lord desires for you. Unrealistic or unmet expectations can be a strong source of disappointment and stress.

Read Mosiah 4:27. Mark what the Lord expects from us in one color. Mark what the Lord does not expect from us in a different color.

One example of a person who had to reexamine his expectations is Moses.

Read Exodus 18:13–18, looking for what Moses was doing that worried Jethro (his father-in-law). Make a link from what Jethro taught him in verses 17–18 to Mosiah 4:27.

The counsel from King Benjamin and Jethro is just as valuable for modern teens as it was for Moses. For example, how would the truths you have learned from these prophets help a teenager with the following expectations?

• I am going to read the Book of Mormon for 90 minutes a day.

• I am never going to make any mistakes again.

• I don’t need to prepare for a mission. I’ll just figure it out while I’m there.

Select one thing in your life that causes you stress and anxiety and practice evaluating your expectations. Seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost as you answer the following questions in your notebook:

• Am I trying to do more or less than the Lord would have me do (either running faster than I have the strength to or not being diligent)?

• How can I turn to the Lord for help?

One way the Lord helps us is through others—for example, counseling with someone we trust. As you counsel with others, you can discuss what must get done now, what can wait, or what can be dropped or done by someone else. You don’t need to feel guilty for setting healthy boundaries or for saying “no” or “not yet” to some opportunities.

The Lord helped Moses through his father-in-law, Jethro. As Moses counseled with his father-in-law, Jethro proposed a solution to the problem.

Read Exodus 18:19–24, looking for what Jethro counseled Moses to do next. Why do you think Jethro’s counsel was helpful?

Instead of facing all his problems at once, Moses was able to get the help he needed to take the next step.

Who are some people the Lord may want you to counsel with when you feel stress and anxiety? List the people whom you could trust to counsel with when you feel stress. They might include parents, older siblings, teachers, counselors, mental health professionals, and Church leaders. Write down anything you are currently stressed or anxious about. Decide if and when you might counsel with someone about that thing.