Choose Faith!

What is faith?

Why does it even matter? Why is it SO important that it is the first principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ?

In the Book of Mormon, in Alma 32:21, it says,
"And now as I said concerning faith- faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true."

How can we have faith in things that we can't see, and yet know that they are true?

I don't know a lot of things, but I know the important things. For example, I can't see God, I never have, but I know He is there. I know He answers my prayers. I never met Joseph Smith, but I know he was a prophet. I didn't live during the time of Jesus Christ. I didn't get to touch the prints of the nails in His hands and in His feet. I didn't see Him suffer in the Garden of Gethsemene, but I KNOW that He died for me! I KNOW that He lives! I didn't hear Alma the Younger's conversion story or hear Samuel the Lamanite prophecy of Christ's coming, but I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know that it is a book written by God's prophets, and not just a good story. It is another testament of Jesus Christ.

Is that faith? Absolutely!

Did I always know these things? No way!

The prophet Alma compared the word of God to a seed that must be nurtured by faith:

"27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

29 Now behold, would not this increase your faith?" 

Faith is a choice. Faith is action. Just like Alma said, we need to awake, arouse, experiment, exercise, desire, work, and plant- all of which are action words!

"Yes, faith is a choice, and it must be sought after and developed. Thus, we are responsible for our own faith. We are also responsible for our lack of faith. The choice is yours. So I say, choose faith! Choose faith over doubt, choose faith over fear, choose faith over the unknown and unseen, and choose faith over pessimism. (Faith-The Choice is Yours, Bishop Richard C. Edgely, November 2010)"

Please watch this video about Jesus Christ! 

Book of Mormon Testimonies.

If you haven't read the Book of Mormon, read it! I know that it is true with all of my heart. I love this book.

Jason's Testimony.

I wanted to keep my testimony honest, truthful and detailed. I was raised in the Church by my mom and grandmother. We were always off and on Mormons. We would go for stretches and then stop. My father didn't join til I was 14, so it made it harder for my mom. I wasn't raised with the overwhelming sense that I must and should serve a mission. I met a friend in high school .... OK a girl, and she really got me very active in the Church my junior year in High school. I decided on my own to serve a mission. It wasn't an easy decision but yet my heart was always at ease and comforted in what I decided. My mission defines who I am today in so many ways. I gained the first part of my testimony of the Church on my mission. Kneeling down in someones home the first time you meet them to pray and ask if Joseph Smith was a prophet of God is powerful. One time without my companion knowing I actually was doing the prayer for myself too, with the investigator. Wow!! The spirit was amazing, I knew then my answer.

The mission was great and I gained a foundation of a testimony through it. I came home and married a nonmember and shocked a lot of people. I made some choices after that led me to feel guilty and ashamed, so I allowed myself to fall away from the church. After my kids were born and at an age where they could pray with me, we started nightly prayers together. I was away from the Church for over 12 years.

The second part of my Testimony came after I went back to Church in Southern California. I made a lot of stupid choices in those 12 years. Its funny because the first 21 years of my life I was squeaky clean and innocent, then after the mission....even having a testimony like I did, I mess up. Anyways, I got really sick about 6 months after going back to Church. The kind of sick where you wonder if you will live another day.

One Sunday I was so ill I couldn't attend Church with the kids, so my wife decided to take them. I was blown away but couldn't comprehend the magnitude of her willingness to go. Amanda came home that day and told me the Bishop talked about the importance of reading The Book of Mormon. I was like wow, she went to Church without me and she paid attention...I better open my book of Mormon.

I started reading in the most dark hours of my life, where I was so sick with anxiety, and the medications I was on didn't help either. The Book of Mormon got me through some very tough nights. My testimony grew of the absolute power that resides in the Book of Mormon. I also gained a bigger testimony that I wasn't alone and I had a friend in Christ who was there with me the whole way. I wouldn't have made it out of those times without Him.

In this season when we celebrate His birth, my heart is filled with gratitude towards Him. I would feel like Mr. Kruger in his presence where I just continue to thank him over and over for what He has done for me and my family.

I know this Church is the only true church by which men can truly come to know their Savior and Redeemer. I am truly blessed with that great honor of knowing.

I know Joseph Smith was a prophet, and brought forth The Book of Mormon in our day to be a beacon in dark times.

I know the Atonement is real and have a strong testimony and understanding of it.

I share these things and my Testimony in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

 

A Mormon Message about Prayer.

Heavenly Father ALWAYS answers our prayers. He is very aware of our needs. Pray always! Pray fervently! "Miracles are wrought through prayer."

The Power of Prayer.

During this past week I have had a lot of new changes happen. I have a new companion. I am in a new area. My companion and I are both new to the area, which means we don't exactly know our way around or what's going on for that matter. We are serving in a new branch and working with new leadership. We are driving around trying to meet all our investigators, potentials, formers, and referrals without getting lost. All we have is our trusty map. This is a very new and exciting experience for me, but along with all of this excitement there has been an added amount of stress on my shoulders. This is a big responsibility! Last night, I was discussing all of my excitement, fears, and concerns with my Heavenly Father about this new assignment, and I was hit with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude and love for the power of prayer. It amazed me that even though  I am in a new area and among new people, I didn't feel alone, even though it would be so easy to feel that way. It gives me great comfort and peace to know that I always have a great friend, my Heavenly Father, to talk to- anytime, anywhere, any hour. He is always available.

Prayer is one of the greatest blessings and most powerful tools we have while we are here on earth. Prayer is literally a direct line of communication between our Heavenly Father and us, His children. There is never a busy signal with Him. We can seek His counsel, guidance, and direction daily, and He will listen. That is His promise to us.

In the April 2011 General Conference, Elder Russell M. Nelson, of the quorum of the 12 apostles, said this regarding prayer:

"Your heartfelt pleadings are important to Him.... If we pray with an eternal perspective, we need not wonder if our most tearful and heartfelt pleadings are heard. This promise from the Lord is recorded in section 98 of the Doctrine and Covenants:

2-"Your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord...and are recorded with this seal and testament-the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.

3-"Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name's glory, saith the Lord."

Elder Nelson continues by saying, "The Lord chose His strongest words to reassure us! Seal! Testament! Sworn! Decreed! Immutable covenant! Brothers and sisters, believe Him! God will heed your sincere and heartfelt prayers, and your faith will be strengthened (Face the Future with Faith, April 2011)."

We must remember that "prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings (Bible Dictionary pg. 753)." Our loving Heavenly Father is always anxious and willing to bless us with the things we ask, but we must do our part. "Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them (Bible Dictionary pg. 753)."

This reminds me of a scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 58:26-28:

26-"For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward."

27-"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass must righteousness;"

28-"For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves."

We shouldn't be "commanded in all things." God expects us to do our part. We should get on our knees and pray like everything depends on Him, and then get up and work like everything depends on us. We need to be "anxiously engaged in a good cause." "Often God gives us the power to help answer our own prayers. As we pray for help, we should do all we can to bring about the things we desire (Gospel Principles Manual pg. 38)."

"Our sincere prayers are always answered. Sometimes the answer may be no, because what we have asked for would not be best for us. Sometimes the answer is yes, and we have a warm, comfortable feeling about what we should do (see D&C 9:8-9). Sometimes the answer is "wait a while." Our prayers are always answered at a time and in a way that the Lord knows will help us the most."

"Sometimes the Lord answers our prayers through other people. A good friend, a husband or wife, a parent or other family member, a Church leader, a missionary- any of these individuals may be inspired to perform acts that will answer our prayers (Gospel Principles Manual pg. 37)."

I know that prayer is real and very powerful. I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that He wants us to talk to Him often. He wants to hear about every aspect of our lives because He loves us and wants to bless us, but He can't if we don't let Him into our lives. I would like to close with one last quote from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the quorum of the 12 apostles. He said,

"God is anxiously waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can't if you don't pray, and He can't if you don't dream. In short, He can't if you don't believe (Terror, Triumph, and a Wedding Feast, September 12, 2004)."

Brothers and sisters, pray with faith, believe in His promises, and go to work! He will listen and He will answer you. Prayer works! I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. I know They live, and love each one of us perfectly and personally. This church is true.