We think of the virtue of courage when there are challenges, difficulties and hard times. Courage usually isn't needed when things are easy and life is running smoothly. Courage is called up when we face temptation or persecution, especially when we feel outnumbered or see no way out of a tough situation. William Clayton, in the hymn "Come, Come, Ye Saints," associated "courage" with phrases that defined the setting: "our lot is hard" and "shun the fight" (Hymns, No. 30).

Evan Stephens admonished us to "Fear not, though the enemy deride; Courage, for the Lord is on our side." ("Let Us All Press On," Hymns, 243)

"Courage" appears 41 times in the scriptures. In almost every instance, other phrases in the verse give us a clearer view of the circumstances surrounding "courage": "be strong," "valiant," "be not afraid" and "fear not."

Dictionary.com defines courage: "to act in accordance with one's beliefs, especially in spite of criticism."

Here are two examples of courage.

A high school's Day of Tolerance was sponsored by a campus club. The expectation was all students in the school that day would wear an armband in support of tolerance of the club members' lifestyle choices. A small group of students from many faiths felt that while they were tolerant of the club, they were uncomfortable wearing the armbands; to do so would show support for the lifestyle choices of their classmates. These students, a small minority, chose to not wear the armbands and became the targets of ridicule and taunting throughout that day and the weeks that followed. This challenge to students' values provided an atmosphere where courage was called up — courage that many of the youth didn't realize they possessed until it was needed.

A Latter-day Saint young man was invited to the school prom by a young woman not of his faith. He accepted the invitation on two conditions: he would attend general priesthood meeting the evening of the prom, and his date would dress modestly. She agreed, and the conditions were met. The young woman's mother later called the boy's mother wanting to know more about the "faith that gave this young man such high standards and the courage to live them." A prom invitation called up courage.

There is little call for courage in easy situations or trouble-free times. Comfortable lives require no courage. Undemanding times provide no seedbed for its growth. Members of the Church may now be entering an era of strong questions about their faith and challenges regarding their identity as members of the Church. While hard times are usually unwelcome, they may be precisely what is needed to nurture courage. Challenges provide the framework for the growth of the most desperately needed virtues, not the least of which is courage. Increasingly, ours will be the sacred privilege of choosing and defending what is morally right as we exercise courage.

"Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory!" (Doctrine and Covenants 128:22.)

Russell L. McClure is director of the Fort Collins Colorado Institute of Religion and president of the Fort Collins Colorado Stake.