The Faith of an Imperfect Man

"The Apostle Paul taught that "faith is the substance [assurance] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Alma made a similar statement: "If ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true" (Alma 32:21). Faith is a principle of action and power. Whenever we work toward a worthy goal, we exercise faith. We show our hope for something that we cannot yet see."

-Gospel Topics "Faith"

"And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."

-Ether 12:6

Faith, we all want it and we all need it. Why then is it so challenging to hold onto it? I think the answer lies in Moroni's words from the book of Ether. We do not receive a witness until after the trial of our faith. That is precisely what I have been dealing with for some time now. I have felt my faith tested and tried by the challenges that endlessly seem to crash upon me like waves crashing upon a rocky shoreline. So what do I have faith in, what do I hope for without seeing? I have faith that Jesus Christ is real, that he lives and loves me personally. I have faith that even a sinner who is so pitiful as me can be saved through the atonement of Christ. I have faith that when I hit my knees there is a loving Father who is watching and listening to me personally. I have faith that one day I can truly be like that loving Father of mine. I have faith that a young boy named Joseph Smith really did see God the Father and His Son in a grove of trees on a spring morning in the year 1820. I have faith in so many other things, but what is faith without action. So I am left to go to work and show to myself and my God the evidence of my faith, in spite of the fact that I have not seen some great vision or heard the voice of an angel speaking to me. I have faith that one day I will dwell in the presence of God and Angels and then I will no longer have faith because at that day I will know as I am known and see as I am seen and all will then be sure knowledge.

To The End

"I am asking this morning that we put ourselves in the place of James and John, put ourselves in the place of seemingly committed, believing, faithful Latter-day Saints, and ask ourselves, "If we are Christ's and he is ours, are we willing to stand firm forever? Are we in this church for keeps, for the duration, until it's over? Are we in it through the bitter cup, the bloody baptism, and all?" And please understand that I am not asking if you can simply endure your years at BYU or serve out your term as gospel doctrine teacher. I am asking questions of a far deeper and more fundamental sort. I am asking about the purity of your heart. How cherished are our covenants? Have we--perhaps beginning our life in the Church as a result of parental insistence or geographic happenstance--have we yet thought about a life that is ultimately to be tempted and tried and purified by fire? Have we cared about our convictions enough and are we regularly reinforcing them in a way that will help us do the right thing at the right time for the right reason, especially when it is unpopular or unprofitable or nearly unbearable to do so?"

-Elder Jeffery R. Holland

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of god and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

-2 Nephi 31:20

Some days I get a little too casual with my membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I forget what I have known since I made the decision so many years ago to join with the saints and be baptized. This church is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me and I must be vigilant to not take it for granted. It is easy to forget why I am on this special path when the shafts in the whirlwind are raging. It is no one's responsibility but my own to stay on the path and live the gospel to the end. That is the commitment I have made to myself and to God. It is to the end. So today I re-affirm the commitment to myself that I will live the gospel I know to be true "to the end"; that I will do a little better and give a little more. I pray that I can succeed in this and do what I have promised.

A Way To Get Some Spiritual Thoughts Out There

This is the new blog of mine to be able to get thoughts about some spiritual things out there for everyone to read... I am going to try to have a new thought posted daily.

2 Nephi 33:11

"And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye-for Christ will show unto you, with power and glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness."