A few years ago I was hiking with my
father to the top of a 14,000 foot peak in Colorado and happened to be in the
right place at the right time to help in the rescue of a man who had slid down
an ice field too fast and tumbled head over heels into a rock field. The
circumstances where such that we had to remain later than we planned on the
side of the mountain, and by the time the helicopter had taken the man away, it
was well into the afternoon. Many of you know that late afternoon is when
storms come almost daily when you reach that elevation. We hurried down from
the peak as massive black clouds rolled into view. The rain started, then
turned to hail. When the lightning started, we still needed to cross a valley
to reach the safety of shelter, but in order to do so, we would be the tallest
things in the valley, thus perfect lightning rods.
We said a prayer and felt a peaceful
assurance that God would protect us as we crossed the valley, and immediately
we set out walking across, with lightning striking on either side of us.
That day I learned that I had the
faith to walk through the midst of a lightning storm. But more than that, I
learned that I had faith to believe God’s word.
The scriptures tell us that God
cannot lie, that He is a being of truth and light. Do we have the faith to
really believe that?
Every week in church we have the opportunity to hear from some great speakers and teachers (in the LDS church, the talks--or sermons, are given by the members) who accepted a call to
teach even though they probably didn’t feel comfortable doing so. They might
have worried that they’d forget what to say, or say something dumb. But:
·
Do I believe that if I am given an opportunity to speak or teach a lesson, that
God will give me words to speak?
o God has promised
us that if we treasure up in our minds the words of life, it will be given to
us what we should say in the very moment that we need it. Do we believe it?
§ Do I exercise my
faith by treasuring up in my mind Christ’s words? Do I study the scriptures
daily?
§ Do I exercise my
faith by accepting and seeking out opportunities to teach God’s word and share
my testimony?
In the LDS Church, all positions of leadership are given by inspiration from God. No previous experience or schooling qualifies one for service. We call these positions a calling, meaning we are called of God to serve. I recently received a new calling that has stretched me in
ways I didn’t know I could be stretched. When accepting this calling, I had to
ask myself:
·
Do
I believe God can make me equal to any task?
o Nephi testified
that the Lord giveth no commandments to the children of men, save he prepare a
way for them to accomplish that which he commanded them.
§ Do I take on
assignments with zeal and enthusiasm, knowing that the Lord will open the way
for me to accomplish the task?
§ Do I exercise my
faith by asking the Lord’s help, or do I pridefully think I can do it on my
own.
·
This
one is big for me. My pride says I can do it by myself. But my heart knows I
can’t.
I’m
probably alone in this next example. I’m sure no one else has had a hectic and
stressful day, right? Sometimes I feel overwhelmed and like my day is out of
control.
·
Do
I believe I can feel peace on a hectic and stressfull day?
o “Peace I give
unto you.” The Lord said. “Not as the world giveth.”
o I love the
stories of the Lord calming the storm and helping Peter to walk on water. For
me, I’ve learned that sometimes the Lord calms the storm, sometimes the sailor.
§ Do I exercise my
faith by asking God to fill my heart with peace, or do I pridefully try to do
it on my own.
·
Honestly,
there have been a few times where I’ve prayed for and been filled with peace on
a stressful day. But there have been many more days where I’ve tried to deal with
it on my own.
What
about when I make mistakes. When I choose the way of the world instead of God’s
way:
·
Do
I believe that Jesus Christ can wash away all my sins?
o Jesus has said
that though our sins be as scarlet, they may be as wool.
§ Do I exercise faith
by praying for forgiveness, speaking to my bishop if need be, and giving my
burden to the Lord?
·
Or
do I try to do it by myself, perhaps thinking, “I made this mess, I’ll fix it.”
o Can I just
kindly say, “you can’t.” You, nor I, nor anyone else can truly repent and
receive forgiveness for our sins without
Jesus Christ. It can’t be done. He is the only way.
o But though I
know that myself, I still don’t turn to the Savior as often as I should.
·
Do
I believe I have the strength to overcome temptation?
o
“God
is faithful, who will not suffer
you to be btempted above
that ye are able; but will with the ctemptation
also make a way to descape,
that ye may be able to ebear
it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
§
Do
I exercise my faith by not putting myself in a position where I know I’ll be
tempted?
§
Do
I exercise my faith when faced with a temptation by looking for the way out
that God has promised us?
All of those things are great, of
course they can only be done through the atonement of Jesus Christ. But what
about when we are facing difficult decisions in our life?
·
Do
I believe that the Spirit can guide me with important decisions in my life?
o
The
scriptures say to “Trust in the LORD with all thine bheart; and lean not unto thine cown dunderstanding.
In all thy ways aacknowledge
him, and he shall bdirect
thy cpaths.” (Proverbs
3:5-6)
§ Do I exercise my
faith by obeying the spirit with exactness? Do I exercise my faith by turning
to him often in prayer? Do I acknowledge him in all things?
And
what about all the problems with the economic issues we’re facing.
·
Do
I believe that God will bless me and my family so that we may provide for our
needs?
o How many times
in the Book of Mormon did the Lord say: This is a land of promise, if you keep
my commandments you shall prosper in the land.
§ Do I exercise my
faith by living worthy of the promise?
§ Do I exercise my
faith by seeking earnestly for employment and doing my best at my job?
§ Do I exercise my
faith by living thrifty and staying out of debt?
I’d
like to finish with one that I believe many of us are facing. We try to live by
faith, but still, somehow fear worms its way into our lives.
·
Do
I live without fear?
o Take no thought,
the morrow will take care of itself.
o Perfect love
casteth out all fear.
o Doubt not, but
be believing
o Fear ye not,
stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD
§ Do I exercise my
faith by trusting God and putting the future in His hands?
§ Do I exercise
faith in the plan of salvation, knowing that all things shall be for our good
and that this life isn’t the end.
§ Do I cast my
burden of fear on the Lord?
Brothers
and sisters, what is your burden? What pulls you down, and causes hardship in
your life? What keeps you from the Savior. I testify that if you turn to him,
and cast your burden at his feet, that He will take your burden that you may be
light.
We've got the promises of the Lord. If we live worthily, we have the power to call down the powers of heaven in our behalf, to fulfill the promises of the Lord. I truly believe He wants to bless us more than we want to be blessed.
Now:
·
Just
because we have faith, does that mean that we’ll never suffer?
o Joseph Smith himself
was told that his sufferings would give him experience and be for his good. And
if he endured it well, he would be exalted.
o The purpose of
faith isn’t to relieve all discomfort. We can’t expect our faith to rid our
lives of all trials and troubles.
§ We can expect
our faith to give us insight and hope. To keep us focused on our mission in
life. And to turn us to the Savior.
§ Our faith can
help us to learn from our experiences, to even thank our Heavenly Father for
our trials, knowing that they’ll make us better people.
I love faith. Faith enables hope
and brings peace in a troubled world. It gives me direction. Christ truly said:
aIf ye have faith ye can
do all things which are expedient unto me.” And Paul, in Phillipians said: “I
can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” It is my hope that we
all might turn to Him more often each day.
I believe Jesus Christ. I believe that all things are possible through Him.
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