Christ's Infinite Grace

Have you ever laid in bed at the end of a long day and just reflected? Have you ever experienced feelings of remorse or regret for something you wish had never happened, feelings of guilt for a temptation you succumbed to or intentionally chose, feelings of confusion, sorrow, or rage because of someone else's actions, or feelings of hopelessness for dreams that have shattered or loved ones you've lost?

After a time you may fall asleep, but in the morning the weight is still there, heavy on your heart. You try to smile and face the day, slowly putting one foot in front of the other. You struggle day after day searching for a brief moment of relief from the weight in your chest or the memories you wish you could undo. Where can you turn to feel the hope and peace that have long since disappeared?

Throughout my life I have had many experiences where I have felt lost and had difficulties and struggles that no one had any idea I was going through. At times I felt like I had hit rock bottom and the heavens were closed. There are other times when I have done things I knew would drive away the spirit, but did them anyway. All of us have regrets, sorrow, and heartaches that we wish we could change.

But, as we all know, sometimes when we are in the middle of our trials we can lose sight of hope and the promise of good things to come. Life is not fair, and it is hard. Bad things happen to good people. We all make mistakes, sometimes the same mistakes over and over again. Where do we turn for answers? For hope? For peace when we are struggling just to make it through the end of the day, or even the hour?

Several years ago I was sitting on my bed. It was 10:00 in the morning and I was pretty much worn out, tired, and exhausted. I had no idea how I was going to make it through the rest of the day. I pulled out my scriptures and read in 2 Nephi, 

“For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do" (2 Nephi 25:23).

My heart ached and I wanted to cry. “All we can do” seemed like such a burden. I turned to my Father in Heaven in prayer and said, “What if I’ve done all I can do for today?” 

As I waited, a peaceful feeling came over me. I knew He understood my capacity and limitations and that He understood that I really had done all I could that day.

Joseph Smith taught, 

“Our Father in heaven is more boundless in his mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive” (Joseph Smith, History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843]).

He loves us, in spite of our weaknesses and shortcomings. He has known us, His spirit children, for millions and millions of years. He knows what He is doing. He is not a junior God. He has created “worlds without number” and this world we live on is merely one of so many.

He has been where we are. He knows how hard life can be. He also knows what it will take to make it back to Him.

In Jesus the Christ we read, 

“The Eternal Father well understood the diverse natures and varied capacities of His spirit-offspring; and His infinite foreknowledge made plain to Him, even in the beginning, that in the school of life some of His children would succeed and others would fail; some would be faithful, others false; some would choose the good, others the evil; some would seek the way of life while others would elect to follow the road to destruction. He further foresaw that death would enter the world, and that the possession of bodies by His children would be of but brief individual duration. He saw that His commandments would be disobeyed and His law violated; and that men, shut out from His presence and left to themselves, would sink rather than rise, would retrogress rather than advance, and would be lost to the heavens” (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, Deseret Book Company, 1990).

Our Father in Heaven knew we would make wrong choices and that is precisely why we are here! Life is about making mistakes, big and small. It is not about doing everything perfectly. We came to earth to learn by our own experience, to see what kind of choices we will make, and ultimately to find out what kind of person we want to be. 

President Dallin H. Oaks taught,

“The revealed doctrine of the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that all the children of God—with exceptions too limited to consider here—will ultimately inherit one of three kingdoms of glory, even the least of which 'surpasses all understanding.' After a period [of time] all will be resurrected and proceed to the Final Judgment of the Lord Jesus Christ. There, our loving Savior,…will send all the children of God to one of these kingdoms of glory according to the desires manifested through their choices” (Dallin H. Oaks, "Kingdoms of Glory", General Conference, October 2023).

The plan of our Heavenly Father was based on agency, the ability to choose. In the pre-mortal world we had agency. The war in heaven started because “Satan rebelled against [God], and sought to destroy the agency of man.”

I love the perspective that Elder D. Todd Christofferson gives about this. He said,

“This was not simply a case of Jesus supporting the Father’s plan and Lucifer proposing a slight modification. Lucifer’s proposal would have destroyed the plan by eliminating our opportunity to act independently. Lucifer’s plan was founded on coercion, making all the other sons and daughters of God—all of us—essentially his puppets….

“And let us remember, Satan was not volunteering to be our savior. He was not interested in suffering or dying for anyone. He wasn’t going to shed any of his blood. He wanted the glory, honor, and power of God without paying any price.…Lucifer was seeking for power without goodness. He supposed that he could be a law unto himself, meaning that the law would be whatever he said it was at any given moment and that he could change his mind at any time. In that way, no one could count on anything, and no one would have the ability to be an independent actor. He would be supreme, and no one else could advance” (D. Todd Christofferson, "A Message at Christmas", BYU Speeches, Dec 12, 2017).

The plan of our Heavenly Father was that Jesus would come down to earth and offer His life as a sacrifice for the demands of justice. Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained, “our Lord voluntarily abased himself, or, rather, emptied himself of all his divine power, or enfeebled himself by relying upon his humanity and not his Godhood, so as to be as other men and thus be tested to the full by all the trials and torments of the flesh” (Tad R. Callister, “The Infinite Atonement”, Deseret Book Publishing, 2000, p 119).

The price that was paid for us to have agency, the ability to make our own choices, cost  the life of His beloved Son and one-third part of all of our Father in Heaven’s spirit children. We had agency before we came to this earth, and it was so important that He allowed our spirit brothers and sisters the to use their agency to make that choice, knowing full well the eternal consequences of their decision.

Sometimes I have wondered why that third part was willing to follow Lucifer when they understood the eternal result of their choices. In response, Elder Robert D. Hales asks us an interesting question, “Do we ever do things that aren’t good for us, knowing full well what the consequences will be?”

In Matthew 25 the Savior teaches the parable of the talents. 

A man traveling to a far country called his servants together, “And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability;” and then he left. To clarify, in this context, "several" is an archaic term that means "individual" or "distinct." It doesn’t mean multiple abilities but instead emphasizes that each person has their own unique ability (Explanation from Duck.AI).

The one with five talents made five more and the one with two made two more. The servant who was given one talent hid it until the master returned. The first two servants were rewarded for their efforts and the last servant was chastised for not even trying. 

The Lord expects from each of us according to our individual and unique abilities. The Lord wants us to try with what we have (even on those days where all we can do is get out of bed), and to keep moving forward, which can be especially challenging on the hard days.

There may be some days where you feel like the widow of Zarephath who had done all she could do, and had nothing more to give. She was living during a famine and was using the last of her food to make a meal for herself and her son and then was planning to slowly die of starvation. In this crucial situation the prophet Elijah came and asked her to give even more. It was a test of her faith. In response to her faith, the Lord took her simple offering, 'an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse' (1 Kings 17:12) and made it enough for her and her family to thrive on until the famine was over.

There was a time in my life when I was overwhelmed with more than I could handle. I had tried to do everything I could do to find help and answers and had nothing more to give, and yet I was still lacking. I asked for a priesthood blessing and in the blessing I was told that the Lord was not going to take away this trial, but that He was aware of me. 

Honestly, my heart sank. I had always relied on priesthood blessings for comfort and had been hoping for that again. Just as with the widow of Zarephath, I had to trust that the Lord had a plan for me.

When we are doing everything we can, but know that we are still falling short, by a long shot, how can we be expected to do more? The simple answer is through the grace of God. He knows our weaknesses. He knows our abilities and limitations.

Orson F. Whitney reminds us, “Our little finite afflictions are but a drop in the ocean, compared with the infinite and unspeakable agony borne by him for our sakes because we were not able to bear it for ourselves”  (Tad R. Callister, “The Infinite Atonement”, Deseret Book Publishing, 2000, p128).

However, it is through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ that we are able to access His grace, his enabling power, his comfort, his help, and His love. 

Brad Wilcox shared a story that helped me understand grace a little better. He said: 

A BYU student once came to me and asked if we could talk. I said, “Of course. How can I help you?” 

She said, “I just don’t get grace.” 

I responded, “What is it that you don’t understand?” 

She said, “I know I need to do my best and then Jesus does the rest, but I can’t even do my best.”

She then went on to tell me all the things she should be doing…that she wasn’t doing.

She continued, “I know that I have to do my part and then Jesus makes up the difference and fills the gap that stands between my part and perfection. But who fills the gap that stands between where I am now and my part?”

She then went on to tell me all the things that she shouldn’t be doing… but she was doing them anyway.

Finally I said, “Jesus doesn’t make up the difference. Jesus makes all the difference. Grace is not about filling gaps. It is about filling us.”

Seeing that she was still confused, I took a piece of paper and drew two dots—one at the top representing God and one at the bottom representing us. I then said, “Go ahead. Draw the line. How much is our part? How much is Christ’s part?”

She went right to the center of the page and began to draw a line. Then, considering what we had been speaking about, she went to the bottom of the page and drew a line just above the bottom dot.

I said, “Wrong.”

She said, “I knew it was higher. I should have just drawn it, because I knew it.”

I said, “No. The truth is, there is no line. Jesus filled the whole space. He paid our debt in full. He didn’t pay it all except for a few coins. He paid it all. It is finished.”

She said, “Right! Like I don’t have to do anything?”

“Oh no,” I said, “you have plenty to do, but it is not to fill that gap. We will all be resurrected. We will all go back to God’s presence. What is left to be determined by our obedience is what kind of body we plan on being resurrected with and how comfortable we plan to be in God’s presence and how long we plan to stay there.”

Brother Wilcox continued, Christ asks us to show faith in Him, repent, make and keep covenants, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. By complying, we are not paying the demands of justice—not even the smallest part. Instead, we are showing appreciation for what Jesus Christ did by using it to live a life like His. Justice requires immediate perfection or a punishment when we fall short. Because Jesus took that punishment, He can offer us the chance for ultimate perfection and help us reach that goal. He can forgive what justice never could (Brad Wilcox, "His Grace is Sufficient", BYU Speeches, July 12, 2011).

I want to share what Tad R. Callister taught about what Jesus Christ went through for us.

“The Savior’s sacrifice required inexhaustible stamina in order to bear the consequences of our sins and weather the temptations of the Evil One. But his suffering must have been more than a resigned submissiveness or a fist-clenching ‘taking of the stripes.’…There was a need to rescue and deliver souls from ‘the chains of hell’….

“The Savior’s redemption was a one-man rescue mission to deliver the prisoners of all ages from death and hell, of which Satan was the ever-so-vigilant guard….

“With merciless fury Satan’s forces must have attacked the Savor on all fronts—frantically, diabolically, seeking a vulnerable spot, ,a weakness, an Achilles’ heel through which they might inflict a ‘mortal’ wound, all in hopes they could halt the impending charge, but it was not to beg. The Savior pressed forward in bold assault until every prisoner was freed from the tenacious tentacles of the Evil On….

“[On the cross] the Savior’s ordeal had reached its climax. The storm of guilt, remorse, embarrassment, shame, and hopelessness that accompanies sin pressed with its full weight and fury upon him. His pure and sensitive soul, which had no blemish, no spot, which had never known sin in any degree, at any time, at any place was now facing evil of cataclysmic proportions. The price for evil in infinite measure was accounted for and paid for. All the senses a man has—intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and psychological…—were monopolized by thew effects that follow evil. the last trace of God’s healing light withdrew, to let the unrestrained effects of evil run their full course. No longer could the Father’s Spirit remain in the presence of infinite evil, now being assumed by the very one who embodied infinite goodness. At that point, the Son of Man, acutely alone in the fullest sense of that term, cried out in a moment of ultimate pathos, ‘My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?’. No one could claim he was spared any consequence of sin. There was no softening of the blow. He descended beneath it all” (Tad R. Callister, “The Infinite Atonement”, Deseret Book Publishing, 2000, p129-130, 143).

Jesus Christ suffered more than we can ever imagine for you,,,and for me, because He loves us.

Now, when you lay in bed at the end of the day take time to reflect of God’s love for you. Rather than wonder if you deserve His sacrifice or His love—and none of us do—take time to ponder what He gave freely because of His love for you. Turn your thoughts from thinking about what you haven’t done and remember what He has done for you, and just celebrate it. Live in the wonder of it.

I testify that He is there. He is always there. He will always be there. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

When Mother's Day [Father's Day] is Hard

This was written for Mother's Day, but is very applicable for those who struggle with Father's Day as well.

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Mother’s Day is an interesting day. There are those who could stand and speak of their amazing angel mothers and the wonderful support that they’ve had from them throughout their lives. 

I am not one of those.

There are others who can speak of motherhood and the blessing it has been in their life and the tremendous love that they have felt for their children. Because of my upbringing I have struggled a lot with motherhood. It has opened my eyes to how inadequate, weak, and human I really am.

Today I felt that I should speak to those who need the hope and healing that can only come through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, especially today for some.

When we are young we have hopes, ideas, and dreams for the future. Many of those include having a family. But not everyone is blessed with a spouse or children in this life. There are many who’s hearts weep with sorrow at shattered or unfulfilled dreams.

There are others who may lose a spouse to death or through divorce, or lose their children to poor choices or unforeseen tragedies.

Life is not easy and it can hurt a lot.

I grew up with a mother who was very angry and I was terrified of her. I never wanted to be that kind of a mother. But when my children were young I saw that anger show up in myself, and it scared me.

Many times in life it is our trials that draw us closer to the Lord — if we will allow them to. Other times we may allow our trials to push us away from the Lord as we try to find answers on our own. Throughout my life I have seen examples of both. 

I have had times where the heavens have felt silent, where I’ve cried because I had no idea what to do, and where I have asked others for help, and for some reason or another couldn’t be there for me. Even in those times where I could have felt completely abandoned I have never doubted that the Lord was there. I have seen too many examples of His hand in my life.

One of my favorite scriptures is Mosiah 4:9, “Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth”

God our Father is real. He knows of our suffering and He hears our prayers.

I remember one day in particular, when my children were small. I had had a rough night. I think all 3 kids rotated getting up during the night; I would get one down and the other would be up — I guess I should have been grateful that they weren’t all up at the same time — but I didn’t get much sleep. In the morning I was getting breakfast ready and was really grouchy. I felt angry at everything and didn’t want my children to have to suffer from my lack of sleep. I remember standing by the kitchen sink and words from the previous general conference came to my mind. Sister Linda K. Burton had said, “all that is unfair about life can be made right through the atonement of Jesus Christ" (Linda K. Burton, "Is Faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ Written in Our Hearts?", General Conference, October 2012).

Right then I felt that life was very unfair and that a horrendous weight was on my shoulders. I really wasn’t sure what to do, but I chose to test her words. I told the kids that I needed a minute and dropped to my knees right there on the kitchen floor. I prayed to my Father in Heaven for help. I told Him that I didn’t know how accessing the power of the atonement of Christ worked, but I asked that if it were possible, that through the atonement of Jesus Christ the negative feelings that I felt could be taken away so that my children wouldn’t have to suffer.

And, do you know what?

They vanished. 

Completely. 

I stood up, ready to take on the day.

That experience was a testimony to me of the healing and enabling power that can come through the atonement of Jesus Christ. It is something that I have used many times, and that power has never failed to bring the comfort that I need when I have asked for it.

One of my favorite scripture stories is found in the New Testament. The disciples are on the Sea of Galilee and the Savior is asleep in the boat. A big storm comes. Okay, so these are fishermen who live on the water so they wouldn’t be afraid of just any storm. This was much bigger than they felt they could handle.

In life we will encounter storms. Really big storms. We may feel that Jesus has forgotten about us and is sleeping in the back of the boat. We may feel afraid and unsure of how to move forward.

The disciples chose to wake Jesus,

“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39).

I remember lying in bed one night listening to a thunderstorm. It was loud. The lightning was flashing and the thunder was booming and I could hear the rain pouring down. I then imagined the Savior on the waters with His disciples and realized that He is someone who had the power to say “peace” and have that storm cease.

That is the power that Jesus Christ has. 

That is the power that is available to us through His atoning sacrifice. That power can heal our hearts. That power can calm our souls. And that power is real.

President Uchtdorf, testified, “There may be some among you who feel darkness encroaching upon you. You may feel burdened by worry, fear, or doubt. To you and to all of us, I repeat a wonderful and certain truth: God’s light is real. It is available to all! It gives life to all things. It has the power to soften the sting of the deepest wound. It can be a healing balm for the loneliness and sickness of our souls. In the furrows of despair, it can plant the seeds of a brighter hope. It can enlighten the deepest valleys of sorrow. It can illuminate the path before us and lead us through the darkest night into the promise of a new dawn” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Hope of God’s Light", General Conference, April 2013).

That is the healing power that is available to each of us through the atonement of Jesus Christ. 

In the New Testament we find the story of Jairus. His daughter is sick and dying and he comes to Jesus asking Him to heal her. On the way to Jairus’ house a woman with an issue of blood reaches out, touches the hem of Jesus’ robe, and is healed. In the midst of this miraculous healing Jairus is informed that his daughter has passed away.

Can you imagine the agony of Jairus, watching someone else enjoy what he had been hoping for, and seeing others celebrating while his hopes are dashed to pieces?

I have a nephew who was struggling with a lot of things and ended up committing suicide in 2021. I know where he is now, and I am comforted by that thought, but sometimes I just miss him. 

When dreams are unfulfilled and hearts are broken we can turn to the Savior. It doesn’t make the bad things go away, but we can find peace in Him.

The Savior, true to form, had not forgotten Jairus. He turned to him and said, “Be not afraid, only believe” (Mark 5:36). Sometimes the miracles we pray for won’t come right away. Sometimes they won’t come in this life. But, if we can trust in the Savior we can find the peace we seek.

The trend of the world today is that anything hard, unfair, or even uncomfortable can be seen as an unnatural tragedy. We know, however, that life is a test, and if we did not have the trials how could we grow?

Elder Richard G. Scott enlightened us with this knowledge: “so that the period of mortal testing and growth would yield its greatest benefit, you were taught and prepared for the circumstances you would personally encounter in mortality” (Richard G. Scott, "Truth Restored", General Conference, October 2005).

There is a girl who now lives in Utah named Meg Johnson. When she was younger she was a dancer. In her late teens or early 20s she came out to Utah to visit Saint George with some friends. She was fascinated by all the red rock and leaped from one rock to another until, as she tells the story, “I accidentally jumped off a cliff.” She fell and landed on the ground below — paralyzed from the neck down.

She is one who is blessed with the gift of dreams. In her book, “When Life Gets Hard, Just Keep Rollin’” she relates one dream in particular that has really impressed me. In her dream she knew that she was in the pre-earth life with a man who was wearing all white. He had a white binder and sat down beside her. He explained that during her life she would be paralyzed. She exclaimed, “I am so excited!” She then explained that she didn’t have any idea what being paralyzed would mean, “but” she said, “if that is what it would take for me to become like my Father in Heaven, I would do anything.”

I have not personally dealt with such a tragedy as she has, but others have. However, I have my own personally curated trials and challenges that will help me in my efforts to become more like my Savior and my Heavenly Parents.

But what about those times when we have worked so hard and tried again and again and have been so diligent and kept being obedient despite the obstacles? What happens when we become so worn out and tired and don’t have the strength to keep going on? Sometimes after expending all of our efforts with nothing seeming to work out, we are ready to be done trying.

I’ve been there multiple times.

In the New Testament we read about Jesus teaching a multitude when a man came to him with his son who had been afflicted since he was young. The father explained of the challenges that the family had dealt with:

“[O]fttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but,” he said, “if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us” (Mark 9:22).

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland shared, “With no other hope remaining, this father asserts what faith he has and pleads with the Savior of the world, ‘If thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.' I can hardly read those words without weeping. The plural pronoun us is obviously used intentionally. This man is saying, in effect, ‘Our whole family is pleading. Our struggle never ceases. We are exhausted. Our son falls into the water. He falls into the fire. He is continually in danger, and we are continually afraid. We don’t know where else to turn. Can you help us? We will be grateful for anything—a partial blessing, a glimmer of hope, some small lifting of the burden carried by this boy’s mother every day of her life.’” (Jeffrey R. Holland, "Lord, I Believe", General Conference, April 2013).

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” (Mark 9:24).

Sometimes when the challenges have gone on for so long and we have lost hope, we have a hard time believing that there might be a light in some distant future where things will work out. In those times we may need to ask for the help to believe.

Joseph Smith taught that, our Father in Heaven is more “boundless in his mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive” (Joseph Smith, History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843]). 

Test out these words and promises and come to know for yourself.

In closing, I want to wish all of you a happy Mother’s Day. For those who have been fortunate enough to have wonderful amazing mothers, be grateful. For those who have the chance in this life to be mothers, be grateful. For those who don’t have either, remember that you have a Father and a Mother in Heaven who both love you dearly and long to have you back home with them again. 

I testify that it is through the prophet Joseph Smith that the plan of our Heavenly Father has been restored to the earth. This plan provided a way through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ to give us the comfort and help that we will need as we struggle throughout our lives. As we turn to our Savior we can find the strength and capacity to continue on through the difficulties we will face.

I know God lives. I know He loves all of us. He really is there.

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

The topic of faith has been on my mind lately, and I started thinking about what it is, how we can develop it, and how we can act in faith. 


What is Faith?
In the scriptures we read that the first principle of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is, "faith in the Lord Jesus Christ" (Article of Faith 1:4).

Other scriptural definitions of faith include:

“I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen” (Ether 12:6).

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

I have also heard of faith being defined as believing in something that we can not see that is true. 

What faith is not is really, really hoping that something will happen, and that through the strength of our will power we can make it happen.

If we substitute the greek translation of substance with “assurance”, and evidence with “proof” in the scripture from Hebrews 11:1, we see that faith is the proof of things which we hope for, that are not seen, with the assurance that they are true (see Hebrews 11:1 footnotes 1b and 1d). The key word I want to point out is "assurance", and that assurance can only come from the Holy Ghost. 

Webster's Thesaurus explains that assurance is "a state of mind in which one is free from doubt" (Merriam-Webster.com: assurance). In my own life I have felt that assurance for brief moments while other times it seems to last longer. We have been counseled to write down spiritual impressions, and it might be because we may sometimes forget the assurance we once felt. Having it written down allows us to go back to it and reaffirm that assurance.


How Do We Develop Our Faith in Jesus Christ?

This brings us to the question of how to develop our faith, and I want to specifically think about faith in Jesus Christ; because that is where the power of faith germinates. As Sheri Dew wrote, “It is our willingness to believe in the Savior…that unleashes His power in our lives” (Sheri L. Dew, “God Wants a Powerful People”, p 178).

However, as with anything else of great worth, there is no shortcut to developing our faith.

Elder Robert D. Hales taught:

"Our society has developed a shortcut mentality. In a day of instant oatmeal, instant messaging, and instant credit, far too many have come to expect instant gratification in everything....The truth is that we cannot receive the greatest blessings Heavenly Father has in store for us without developing the patience and faith to wait....We wait upon the Lord when we walk in faith with a humble expectation that His promises are sure. We also wait upon the Lord when we obey a commandment before completely understanding the rationale behind it....There are no shortcuts to becoming powerful servants of the Lord. We must do it, with the Lord's help, in the practice of prayer and fasting, of scripture study and gospel living" (Robert D. Hales, "Return", p 204-205, 211).

If we look to the story of Nephi, in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, we find many examples of faith. In the first part of the story, while living in Jerusalem, the Lord asks Lehi (Nephi's father) to take his family, leave everything behind except what they will need to survive, and flee into the wilderness (see 1 Nephi 2:2-4). We learn a little later that Nephi may not have been as eager to leave as one might think, especially from the faith-filled stories that fill his record. He shares, "I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers" (1 Nephi 2:16, emphasis added). Nephi might have struggled with this decision, but he turned to the Lord for guidance. He had faith in the Lord, and he showed his faith by his action to follow his father -- uncomplainingly -- into the unknown wilderness.

There was a time in my life where things were very hard. There were several challenges that all seemed to come at once, and they seemed to never end. During this time I felt that the Lord was trying to teach me something, but I didn't know exactly what. I was trying to be patient, but it was really hard. I remember opening my scriptures to where I had been reading about the people of King Limhi, who were in bondage to the Lamanites. The verse that struck me at this time in my life is when King Limhi is speaking to his people and says, 

"But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage" (Mosiah 7:33). 

It was then that I realized that the Lord could deliver me out of the bondage I felt myself in, if I would turn more fully to him and put my trust in him. As I did that, the challenges didn't go away. It still took several years. But looking back now, I see the spiritual growth that I gained from turning to the Lord during those hard times.

We, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have been taught of the increased need for faith in these final days before the Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

In 2011, President Russell M. Nelson prophesied of this need when he said, 

"Why do we need such resilient faith? Because difficult days are ahead. Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. Each of us will be tested. The Apostle Paul warned that in the latter days, those who diligently follow the Lord 'shall suffer persecution'" (Russell M. Nelson, "Face the Future With Faith", General Conference, April 2011).

In 2017, Robert D. Hales counseled, "The constellation of characteristics that result from faith in Christ...are all necessary to our standing strong in these last days" (Robert D. Hales, "Becoming a Disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ, General Conference, April 2017).

In 2018 President Nelson prophesied, "Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost" He then pleads with us to "to increase [our] spiritual capacity to receive revelation" (Russell M. Nelson, "Revelation for the Church. Revelation for our Lives", General Conference, April 2018, emphasis added).

So, how do we increase our capacity to receive revelation? Elder David A. Bednar gives us a clue. "Just as expressing gratitude more often in our prayers enlarges the conduit for revelation, so praying for others with all of the energy of our souls increases our capacity to hear and to heed the voice of the Lord" (David A. Bednar, "Pray Always", General Conference, October 2008, emphasis added). I wonder if this is one of the reasons that the Savior was able to be so close to the spirit. He served others, and prayed for them as well.


Acting in Faith
So, how does one act in faith?

The other morning as I was thinking about faith, this thought came to my mind:

Faith is an assurance, from the Spirit, that something is true, will happen, will turn out okay, or whatever the feeling is. My part is to act on that assurance to allow the Lord to make it happen. With this in mind, it seems that the way we do our part to act on our faith is to look forward to something with hope, and act on that assurance.

There was a time in my life when I found myself needing to find a new apartment, as my roommates were moving out. I had been looking for a while and had found nothing. It was nearing the end of the month when I would need to be out, and I still wasn't sure what to do. About this time I remember driving past a friend's apartment when the impression came to me "you will live there". My friends were moving soon, so I was thrilled at the prospect. Shortly after, I called the landlord, who met me at the apartment. I told him I was interested, and he said, "you are the one I want to have this apartment". It was a perfect fit.

It wasn't until a few weeks later that some of my other friends asked how I was able to get into that apartment. As it turns out, they had been on a waiting list for 6 months!

I have come to learn that acting in faith is a choice, and Elder Neil L. Andersen affirmed. "My dear friends, your faith did not begin at birth, and it will not end at death. Faith is a choice" (Neil L. Andersen, "Faith Is Not By Chance, But By Choice", Ensign, November 2015).

As the Lord tests our faith, however, we might not always have an assurance as we try to move forward in faith. If we read in Ether, Moroni teaches us, "wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." (Ether 12:6).

Faith isn't merely believing, it requires action. Bishop Richard C. Edgley instructs, 

"Because of the conflicts and challenges we face in today’s world, I wish to suggest a single choice—a choice of peace and protection and a choice that is appropriate for all. That choice is faith. Be aware that faith is not a free gift given without thought, desire, or effort. It does not come as the dew falls from heaven. The Savior said, 'Come unto me' and 'Knock, and it shall be [given] you'. These are action verbs—come, knock. They are choices. So I say, choose faith. Choose faith over doubt, choose faith over fear, choose faith over the unknown and the unseen, and choose faith over pessimism" (Richard C. Edgley, "Faith—the Choice Is Yours", General Conference, October 2010).

I love the thought of faith being like a muscle. Something that we must use in order for it to grow. But, in order to increase our faith, I like the words of Elder Juan Pablo Villar, "If we want to increase our faith, then let’s do things that require faith" (Juan Pablo Villar, "Exercising Our Spiritual Muscles", Ensign, April 2019).

And what do we do when there are setbacks? Life is full of setbacks. We have a choice to become discouraged by them, or trust in the goodness of God and believe that "all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good" (Doctrine & Covenants 122:7).

Elder David A. Bednar taught, 

"In many of the uncertainties and challenges we encounter in our lives, God requires us to do our best, to act and not be acted upon, and to trust in Him. We may not see angels, hear heavenly voices, or receive overwhelming spiritual impressions. We frequently may press forward hoping and praying—but without absolute assurance—that we are acting in accordance with God’s will. But as we honor our covenants and keep the commandments, as we strive ever more consistently to do good and to become better, we can walk with the confidence that God will guide our steps" (David A. Bednar, "The Spirit of Revelation", Ensign, April 2011).

When thinking of ways to act on faith I thought of choosing to believe...

• that there is a God in heaven who knows you and loves you more than you can imagine
• You are a child of Heavenly Parents, of royal birth, with a purpose on this earth. 
• Challenges in this life are for a reason; and can help us become like our Heavenly Parents.
• The Lord has a prophet on the earth (and then act on his words) 

Some of the words from our current prophet, Russell M. Nelson, include:

"My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions" (Russell M. Nelson, "The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?", General Conference, October 2017).

"[In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.

"My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. Let this Easter Sunday be a defining moment in your life. Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly" (Russell M. Nelson, " Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives", General Conference, April 2018).

It is our choice. We can choose to act in faith, allow the Spirit to penetrate our hearts, and teach us truth. Or we can choose not to.

Photo Thought: Faith in the Face of Trial

"[I]f now or on some future day, you look around and see that other perhaps less-devoted acquaintances are succeeding in their jobs when you just lost yours; if major illness puts you on your back just at the moment critical tasks of service seem to come calling; if a call to a prominent position goes to someone else…if well-meaning efforts still somehow lead to disaster with a fellow ward member, a neighbor, or an investigator; if news from home brings word of financial setback or mortal tragedy you can do nothing about; or if, day after day, you simply feel like a bland and beaten background player in a gospel drama that really seems made for the happiness of others, just know this: many such things were the lot of Joseph Smith himself at the very moment he was being led to the stage of the single most transcendent thing to happen on this earth since the events of Golgotha and the Garden Tomb nearly 2,000 years earlier.

"'But,' you may say, 'my life and earthly destiny will never be like that of the Prophet Joseph.'

"That probably is true. But it is also true that your lives do matter to God, and your eternal potential and that of every soul you will meet is no less grand and significant than that of the Prophet Joseph himself. Thus, just like our beloved Joseph, you must never give up, give in, or give out when life in general…gets utterly painful, confusing, or dull. Rather, as Paul teaches, you must see that 'all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose'.

“Just as He did with young Joseph Smith, God is shaping and directing you every single day to ends more glorious than you can know!"

(Matthew Holland, "The Path to Palmyra", Ensign, June 2015)

How to Keep On Keeping On

There has been a lot going on in my life lately that has left me with a lot of unknowns; many unanswered questions, unknown paths to take, uncertainty about different, and potentially difficult, decisions, and a feeling that change is on the horizon. I’ve been praying, reading my scriptures, trying to do all the right things to receive guidance and direction, but not feeling the answers as readily as I used to. Did I do something to separate myself from heaven, or is this a test to see what I will do with the knowledge and understanding the Lord has given me? How do I continue moving forward when I don’t have a clear direction on the path I need to take?

In this most recent General Conference Elder L. Whiteny Clayton told a story about a little girl who had to face almost insurmountable challenges. I love how he described the process she followed:

"After the crash, Sailor had a choice. She could have chosen to stay by the airplane in the dark, alone and afraid. But there was a long night ahead, and it was just going to get colder. She chose another way. Sailor climbed up a hill, and there she saw a light on the horizon.

"Gradually, as she made her way through the night toward the light, it grew brighter. Still, there must have been times when she could not see it. Perhaps it went out of view when she was in a ravine or behind trees or bushes, but she pressed on. Whenever she could see the light, Sailor had evidence that she was on the right path. She did not yet know precisely what that light was, but she kept walking toward it based on what she knew, trusting and hoping that she would see it again if she kept moving in the right direction” (L. Whitney Clayton, “Choose to Believe”, Ensign, May 2015).

She chose to act, despite her circumstances. 

In my own life I have found that I feel most frustrated, or spiritually stagnated, when I feel helpless or feel that I don’t have any control over a situation. Escaping that mindset can sometimes be difficult to overcome. Each of us has been blessed with the God given gift of agency. We always have a choice. 

While seeking for guidance I found a quote which gave me some direction. It said, “Doctrines and principles are eternal, unchanging gospel truths that provide direction for our lives” (Book of Mormon: Study Guide for Home-Study Seminary Students, p2).

When I read this it gave me hope. I felt that in my struggles, or spiritual stagnation, or feeling no clear direction or guidance I could seek to find—and more fully live—the doctrines and principles of the gospel. By so doing I would be moving in the right direction until I had a solid foothold again. 

In Sunday School today our teacher spoke about having courage; courage to keep moving forward despite obstacles and challenges; courage to live the gospel despite opposition; courage to make good decisions—the consequences and effects of which will follow us throughout our lives. President Monson taught,

"Scarcely an hour of the day goes by but what we are called upon to make choices of one sort or another. Some are trivial, some more far-reaching. Some will make no difference in the eternal scheme of things, and others will make all the difference…

"[W]e all know where we want to go, and it does matter which way we go, for by choosing our path, we choose our destination.

"Decisions are constantly before us. To make them wisely, courage is needed—the courage to say no, the courage to say yes. Decisions do determine destiny.

"I plead with you to make a determination right here, right now, not to deviate from the path which will lead to our goal: eternal life with our Father in Heaven” (Thomas S. Monson, “The Three Rs of Choice”, Ensign, Nov 2010).

Many times in life we will need to make decisions, without specific guidance from the Lord. Why does that happen and how do we proceed? Elder Richard G. Scott said,

"When we explain a problem and a proposed solution [to the Lord in prayer], sometimes He answers yes, sometimes no. Often He withholds an answer, not for lack of concern, but because He loves us—perfectly. He wants us to apply truths He has given us. For us to grow, we need to trust our ability to make correct decisions” (Richard G. Scott, “Learning to Recognize Answers to Prayer”, Ensign, Nov 1989, emphasis added).

Moving forward into the darkness—or the unknown, waiting to catch a glimpse of the light requires faith. President Gordon B. Hinckley taught, "We take one step at a time. In doing so we reach toward the unknown, but faith lights the way. If we will cultivate that faith, we shall never walk in darkness” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “We Walk by Faith”, Ensign, May 2002).

I love the counsel that the Lord gave Joshua, as he is preparing to lead the children of Israel out of the wilderness and into the promised land. "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:9).

Even during difficult times in life we must always remember that the Lord is ever aware of us. He is watching over us, and those things that we are experiencing "shall be for [our] good” (Doctrine & Covenants 122:7). This life is a test, and at times we may need to walk in darkness. When we feel that way, may we trust that the Lord is ever watchful of us, and that His ever-present hand is in our lives, even if we are unable to see it at times.

Parable of the Sower (Part 1: Physical State of Soil)

Jesus taught a parable that has got me thinking this past week.

“Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

“And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

“Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

“And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

“And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

“But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

“Who hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 13:3-9).

Jesus taught His disciples that the seed is “the word of the kingdom” (Matthew 13:19). I take this to mean the word of the kingdom of God, or the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I have had two trains of thought regarding this parable – both which seem to make sense to me. The first one is looking at the parable from the “physical” state of the soil – where it was already in its varied states when the sower went out to sow. The second one is from a more “spiritual” angle, where the soil started out good, and over time it changed.

“Physical” State of Soil

In thinking about this parable, if it represents those who have the opportunity to hear the word of God why didn’t the sower make sure that all of the seeds landed in good soil (why waste good seed on poor soil)? Why does mortality require that we face thorns and thistles, scorching sun, or stony places? Why didn’t the sower make it so every seed had a chance? Doesn’t he care about where his seeds fall?

If we look at the soil as earth life, and how each of us was placed into different circumstances, we may wonder how life can be “fair”, when some may seem to have it so easy (having things given to them so readily). We may get caught up in all the differences that we find surrounding each of us. However, Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge reminds us:

“Regarding the few things that matter most in life, no one is disadvantaged or privileged. Everyone is on equal footing. This is surprising because there is otherwise so much inequality in life.

“In the end it does not matter how well liked you are or how much money you acquire or how beautiful you may be. The greatest gifts are equally available to everyone” (link to talk).

We are here on earth for a purpose. Nephi taught that, “it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things” (2 Nephi 2:11). We knew that the plan of our Father in Heaven would include trials, challenges, and opposition, to help us grow and develop into the person He knows we can become. We knew we would struggle, but we were willing to come down to earth because we knew our Heavenly Father and wanted more than anything to become as He is. We knew life would be hard, but were willing to accept the challenge despite the difficulties. Elder Marlin K. Jensen Jensen taught,

“There is no formula for guaranteeing happiness every day of our lives; in fact, scripture suggests that God did not intend for every day to be entirely happy. There is eternal design and purpose to be seen in suffering, sadness, and adversity” (link to article).

We are each given the joy, trials, hope, sorrow, and everything else we will need in this life to return to our Father in Heaven (see 2 Nephi 2:27). We are each on a specifically, uniquely individual path. Our circumstances—good or bad—are for our good (see Doctrine & Covenants 122:7).

Sometimes we may think that life would be much easier if everything could work out perfectly for everyone—but that can never be. I love the way Dallan R. Moody phrased it, when he said:

“A plan in which supposedly everything would go right so nobody would be lost was 
already proposed and rejected. The plan of salvation, on the other hand, allows for opposition in all things: sadness and sweetness, wrongdoing and repentance, trial and testimony” (link to talk).

How could we ever learn the godly attribute of patience if we never had to wait? How could we learn to love without loss; find virtue in a world filled with vice; or know joy without sorrow? We can’t. Sometimes we need to pass through the trials of life in order to more fully understand them. Brother Moody also stated,

“From time to time the Lord puts certain truths into our hearts that affect our future destiny. We may not fully understand His 
reason for teaching us these principles at these particular times. Instead, it is often once we have passed through the ensuing experiences that 
clarity comes. We can then look back through life’s lenses and more fully see that God does prepare a way for us to accomplish what He 
commands” (link to talk).

The Lord knew, when He presented the Plan to us, that not everyone would have a chance to have the gospel during their mortal life. He did, however, provide a way that all of His children could enjoy the blessings of the gospel. Through the atonement of His Son the way was opened for all to receive these blessings either in this life or in the life to come. Through the restoration of the gospel, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, we now have temples that dot the earth making saving ordinances available for both the living and the dead.

Through the Atonement we are able to not only receive the blessings and ordinances of the gospel, but also the healing power that comes through the use of its divine power. Elder David A. Bednar taught,

“because of His infinite and eternal sacrifice, [the Savior] has perfect empathy and can extend to us His arm of mercy. He can reach out, touch, succor, heal, and strengthen us to be more than we could ever be and help us to do that which we could never do relying only upon our own power….The unique burdens in each of our lives help us to rely upon the merits, mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah” (link to talk).

We were given the very trials we face because the Lord knew they would bring us closer to Him. We don’t see everything, because we have limited vision, but He does.

I had an interesting experience that helped teach me more about the Lord’s perspective. I took an art class where I learned about “perspective drawing”. This method is a more realistic way of drawing where things that are closer appear larger and things that are farther away appear smaller. As you look at the picture, you will see that far off on the distant horizon is a place where everything seems to come together. This is known as the “vanishing point” (photo taken from here).

Imagine if you will, that you are part of a finished painting. From your vantage point you can see what is in front of you, but not behind, above, or below you (because people in paintings can’t move). You are limited in your vision. The artist, however, can see the complete picture.

After taking that class I looked at things in a new way – I saw everything from my new “perspective” point of view. I saw how I could change the vanishing point of what I saw by changing where I looked. Everything, no matter where I stood, eventually led to some distant point on the horizon.

I started seeing the world in a new light, and gaining a greater understanding for how the Lord sees it. Taking it a little deeper, for example, when I look at a bird I see an animal with feathers, eyes, a beak, and sometimes can watch it fly or hear it sing. The Lord, with an intricate understanding of how the bird was created, has a much deeper understanding of the bird. He not only knows the details of every feather, and shape of the eyes, but every bone, organ, internal and external feature, the mechanics of how they create their song, and everything else about them.

In like manner, when we look at our own life we may see ourselves, our strengths, weaknesses, circumstances, trials, hopes, dreams, joys, sorrows, and everything else that surrounds us. When the Lord looks at us, however, He sees the whole picture. He sees where we are in the canvas, and also the point on the horizon where everything in our lives will come together and we will see ourselves as He sees us. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin taught,

“We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming” (link to talk).

In the end the Lord won’t judge us by our circumstances or situation in life. What He will look at is not where we are or what we may have (or feel we lack), but what we are doing with the life He has given us. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf reminds us,

“The Lord doesn’t care at all if we spend our days working in marble halls or stable stalls. He knows where we are, no matter how humble our circumstances. He will use—in His own way and for His holy purposes—those who incline their hearts to Him.

“God knows that some of the greatest souls who have ever lived are those who will never appear in the chronicles of history. They are the blessed, humble souls who emulate the Savior’s example and spend the days of their lives doing good” (link to talk).

If we feel that life has planted us in undesirable soil, remember that there is a way to be transplanted to the good soil. It comes only in and through the Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We may have plenty of thorns to untangle or stones to move, but if we turn to the Lord we can gain comfort in His promise,

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30.)

About this scripture President Howard W. Hunter stated,

“This marvelous offer of assistance extended by the Son of God himself was not restricted to the Galileans of his day. This call to shoulder his easy yoke and accept his light burden is not limited to bygone generations. It was and is a universal appeal to all people, to all cities and nations, to every man, woman, and child everywhere.

“In our own great times of need we must not leave unrecognized this unfailing answer to the cares and worries of our world. Here is the promise of personal peace and protection. Here is the power to remit sin in all periods of time. We, too, must believe that Jesus Christ possesses the power to ease our burdens and lighten our loads. We, too, must come unto him and there receive rest from our labors” (link to talk).

Let us work to allow the Atonement of Christ to help us move to good ground. Then we can bring forth fruit to help further the work of the Lord's kingdom in these, the last days.

<to be continued...>