How Does the Savior See my Faith?
I hope we will all reflect upon and ponder the question Elder Andersen asked us to consider: "How does the Savior see my faith?" Pondering this question will help us see what we lack and inspire us to know what actions we can take in our lives to strengthen our faith.
Faith Misunderstood
It's true that faith is a gift from God; however, many misinterpret this to mean that you're either blessed with faith or you're not. It is a myth that some are born with faith or inherit faith. Those who seek faith will obtain it from the Lord. It is also commonly misunderstood that one faith promoting experience, such as a miraculous healing through a Priesthood blessing, or even a period of time where many faith promoting experiences occur, such as a two-year mission, are sufficient to sustain our faith throughout our lives. Faith has a short shelf life. As Elder Andersen says, "Your faith is either growing stronger or becoming weaker." Recall how Laman and Lemuel experienced many faith-promoting miracles (angels spoke to them!), yet their faith and repentance did not last long or sustain them through their trials.
Faith Is a Choice
Faith is a choice. Elder Andersen says, "The future of your faith is not by chance, but by choice." He continues, "How we live our lives increases or diminishes our faith. Prayer, obedience, honesty, purity of thought and deed, and unselfishness increase faith. Without these, faith diminishes."
Why Choose Faith
This may seem obvious to many, but I will share a few reasons why we should choose faith:
- Faith in Jesus Christ is required to partake of his Atonement and be saved.
- At baptism, we have covenanted (a sacred promise) with God that we would have faith. Additional covenants are made in the temple.
- Faith gives us the power to overcome our trials and continue improving ourselves.
- Both hope and charity require faith.
- Living by faith provides a confidence, peace, and joy not found through any other means.
- Faith can eliminate doubt, fear, and worry from our lives.
How Do I Choose Faith?
As Elder Andersen mentioned, there are many things we can do daily to choose faith. Many overlook these because of their simplicity. Naaman refused to bathe in the Jordan because it seemed to simple to cure him of his leprosy (later chose faith, obeyed, and was healed). How many Jews died from the poisonous serpents in the wilderness because they would not hearken unto Moses and look upon the brazen serpent to be healed? It was just too simple. Will we set aside personal prayer because of its simplicity? Will we forgo scripture study because it seems so simple, plus we've read them before? Will we cease to attend church meetings? Will we fail in our callings and duties or refuse to accept them? Choosing faith means choosing to keep the commandments of the Lord, to obey His chosen leaders, to live lives of integrity and virtue, and to serve those around us. As you can see, it's much more than checking a few boxes; it's choosing a faith-filled lifestyle.
Faith and Questions
Elder Andersen teaches, "Addressing honest questions is an important part of building faith, and we use both our intellect and our feelings." We are encouraged to be inquisitive, ever-learning, and always seeking further truth and light and knowledge. I hope nobody ever feels that they should not ask questions or that honest questions indicate a lack of faith. Joseph Smith would not have had his miraculous experience without humbly posing his honest question to God. Much of the revelation that we can and have (collectively) received has been the direct result of honest questions. In my personal life, I've asked questions of the Lord and of my leaders and benefited greatly by the answers I've received through the Spirit. Even as faith increases through honest questions and the revelation that results, we must not lose faith when answers come slowly or not at all.
Elder Andersen states, "Faith never demands an answer to every question but seeks the assurance and courage to move forward, sometimes acknowledging, 'I don't know everything, but I do know enough to continue on the path of discipleship.'"As we seek answers in faith, we will have the confidence to move forward.
Satan Seeks to Destroy Faith
It goes without saying that the adversary would like to destroy our faith. All around us the world, under his influence, seeks to undermine the faith that we have gained and to prevent us from choosing to strengthen our faith through righteous living. The Internet, and especially Social Media, is full of unbelievers who would sabotage our faith with the philosophies of men, societal trends, difficult questions that tug at our heart strings, and historical facts and fiction that are difficult to distinguish. Never before in the history of the world has anti-Mormon doctrine, largely perpetuated by apostates, been so accessible. Not only is it accessible, but those of us on Social Media often find ourselves inundated with it. This presents us with an crossroad of choice between faith and doubt. Elder Andersen teaches, "Immersing oneself in persistent doubt, fueled by answers from the faithless and the unfaithful, weakens one's faith in Jesus Christ and the Restoration."
The Apostle Paul taught, "...but the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor 2:14). Truth and spiritual light are not received through the endless debates in Social Media incited by the faithless and the unfaithful. Be careful about the subtle influence that "friends" and "thought leaders" in Social Media can have on us and our faith.
New Mediums, Same Old Tactics
The medium may be new but the tactics are as old as time. Satan counterfeits truth by mixing with it spiritually deadly falsehoods. Common today in Social Media are the traps of political correctness and tolerance. Charity, or pure love, is distorted and polluted with ideas such tolerating sin out of love for the sinner or accepting sin in the name of love. Sin is still sin regardless of how it is framed, or whether it is tolerated/encouraged by society, and it is still necessary to separate the sinner from the sin. We can (and must) love those who choose to sin while never condoning or accepting their actions. Doubt and confusion in this regard leave us susceptible to the warning given by Alexander Pope:
“Vice is a monster of so frightful mienOur faith diminishes as we allow ourselves to be surrounded by the doubts perpetuated by the faithless and unfaithful.
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.”
What to Do When Faith Is Challenged?
All of us have moments when our faith may be challenged and when it can be difficult to push aside doubts. Luckily, there are proactive steps we can take to choose faith in these moments.
Prayer
Humbly asking our Heavenly Father in prayer should be our first step. God is a reliable go-to source for comfort, guidance, and spiritual peace, which we receive through the Holy Ghost. The scriptures are full of stories of deliverance, and your loving Father will deliver you from doubt and confusion if you ask. The Lord promised that we can conquer Satan and the servants of Satan if we will "pray always" (D&C 10:5), and the Lord keeps his promises.
Remembering
Another powerful tool is remembering times in our lives when we have felt the witness of the Spirit. Journaling spiritual experiences can provide us with easy access to the memories and feelings we've had. Remember how you gained your testimony and the experiences that have strengthened it. Alma pleaded with the people of Zarahemla to remember: "if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?" (Alma 5:26). When Oliver Cowdery struggled with his faith, the revelation given to him was to remember the peace that the Lord had previously spoken to his mind (D&C 6:22-24).
God's Word
Open the scriptures. In Lehi's vision of the tree of life, it was the people who clung to the iron rod, which symbolises the word of God, that were able to escape the blinding temptations of the world. Elder Andersen shares this invitation, "When was the last time that you read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover? Read it again. It will increase your faith." I would add to that the invitation to again put Moroni's promise (Moroni 10:3-4) to the test by asking God to confirm to your heart and mind the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon as you study it. What greater witness can you receive than from God? And what better way to strengthen your faith and dispel doubt than through receipt of this divine confirmation? It's not a one-time thing - you can receive this spiritual confirmation as many times as you read, ponder, and sincerely ask to know of its truthfulness.
Service
Service is a miracle because it has the power to heal us of so many ailments, including doubt. Through providing meaningful service to others, we step outside of ourselves and focus more on the needs of others than our own. Service fills us with God's love, charity, which promotes faith. Service can change our heart as we are filled with this love.
Conclusion
Elder Andersen teaches that "your faith did not begin at birth, and it will not end at death. Faith is a choice." And in the words of President Monson, "Fear not... the future is as bright as your faith." I pray that we will all choose faith and enjoy the peace and happiness that results therefrom.
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