FAITH TO EXALTATION
Life is hard. But it is easy to sum it up: Number One: We need to obtain a body. That was not hard. Number Two: We need to obtain a family. The up-line was not hard.[We have to work on the down-line, but those unable to do so in this life are promised they will have the opportunity in the next.] Number Three: We need to receive the ordinances of salvation and exaltation. That is not too hard: we just need to make a decision and to live worthy: Church activity, tithing, word of wisdom, chastity, and a few others. Number Four: Four is the hard one! It is not endure to the end—though it is what makes it possible to endure to the end. Number four is faith. Everything else is faith, and faith is hard. Do your burdens seem too much to bear? Unless you brought them on yourself, God must trust you a great deal! He has allowed them for growth of your faith, and prophets have promised that in the next life we shall understand the need for every one of them. Paul, understanding this, said, “I glory in adversity!”
Lectures on Faith teaches that all things in heaven and on earth are the effects of faith, and nothing else; that we are saved to the extent we gain faith; and that when faith is perfected we will be like God. All life is intended as an opportunity for us to grow in faith. I am confident that if you ask the Bishop how his faith has grown through service in the Church, it would be similar to a discussion with one whose faith has grown by building a sound and honest business or one whose faith has grown by serving his country in war. Not just religion, but work, relationships, challenges, adversity, accident, illness—everything in life—is an opportunity to develop faith. And it is hard. Exaltation is too great a gift and too great an attainment—it cannot come easy. It is our choice to use our challenges to live by faith, or to faithlessly cheat or give up, and we will be held accountable. Solomon asked for wisdom; I would ask for faith.
If there is a key to faith, it is between your ears. Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage, and we are but players…” That may be true, but it is certain that our mind is a stage, and our thoughts are players. David O. McKay said, “Tell me what a man thinks about when he doesn’t have to think, and I’ll tell you what he is”. What do you think about? Important or trivial? Good or bad? Ann Rule, who studied serial killers, learned they spent ten years thinking evil thoughts before they committed their first crime. You inevitably become what you think, and you think your way to heaven or to hell. Thinking faithful thoughts is crucial!
Lectures on Faith teaches there are three steps to faith:
First: Faith is a principle of Belief. Mark Twain quipped that faith is “believin’ what you know ain’t so!” That would amount to blind faith, and there is no such thing as blind faith. Brigham Young said there is no faith without evidence, and the stronger the evidence, the stronger the faith. Heb11 says “Faith is…the evidence of things not seen”. But James 2 points out that “even the devils believe”. In fact, they not only believe, they know, since they were in the pre-mortal existence. A man possessed of a devil cried out to Jesus, “I know thee who thou art: The Holy One of God!” So faith is more than belief—more even than knowledge. I think faith as a principle of belief is, ultimately, a choice to believe and trust God, based on the evidence we have of him. In all things, without recourse, are you willing to trust him?
Second: Faith is a principle of Action. Joseph Smith said it is the principle of all action, temporal as well as spiritual. James 2, says, “Ye say ye have faith but have not works? Show me your faith without works; I will show you my faith by my works”. Even when you struggle to believe in faith, because of adversity or overwhelming difficulty, if you will strive to act in faith, results will come: “After the trial come the blessings”. As Churchill said in his last speech: “Never give up! Never, never give up! Never, never, never!” If you will follow that principle, God will support you, and you will be amazed at the outcome!
Japanese industry provides a good example. After World War II their industry was destroyed, and “Made in Japan” meant junk. But they persisted, with small but steady improvement, and today they are noted for the best technology and the best quality in the world. It took a mere fifty years to reach that goal. In our lives we can pursue incremental improvement—line upon line, as we act in faith and continue to grow in faith. Start small, on relatively easy things, wherever you are at, and work steadily forward.
Joseph Smith said that, to be exalted, we must be “tested to the very limit”, and that if God could have devised a greater test for Abraham, for example, he would have. Abraham’s faith was great. God came to him in a dream and told him to sacrifice his son—the son for whom he had waited a hundred years, and who was his hope for the endless posterity God had promised him. Abraham did not attribute it to a nightmare from too late a dinner, or argue, or even request a delay: He “arose early in the morning” and, taking his son, traveled to the mount of sacrifice. Some have conjectured that it was the very mount where our Father offered his Son as a sacrifice 2000 years later. Only as he was raising the knife was Abraham stopped—his faith and obedience had been proven. Are you willing to sacrifice all for the Lord?
Third: Faith is a principle of Power. Lectures on Faith says all power is faith; Heb11 tells us it is the power by which God works. How much faith do you have? There is a simple test: How much that is impossible, or virtually so, have you accomplished? It is good that we have too much to do, and tasks beyond our capability! It forces us to exercise faith, seek God, receive the power of faith, and grow in that power. After all, that is the purpose of life. As mortals, we have no power in ourselves but, as we strive in faith, we receive power from God in a kind of partnership with our faith. We are accountable, both to seek it and for how we use it.
As we struggle and face fear, we may be reminded of one of the most poignant stories of the Bible, in Mk 9. A young man came to Jesus to ask his blessing for a son who suffered terribly. Jesus asked, “Canst thou believe? All things are possible to him that believeth”. The man cried, “Lord, I believe! Help thou mine unbelief.” How often we feel that way! Can you believe? In your struggles, God will bless your faith, if you seek him, give him all you have, and never, never give up.
In one of my deepest trials I prayed, “God, I cannot go on another day. There is nothing I can do; it is hopeless”. I heard a voice say, “That’s right—you’ve got to learn to trust me!” I said, “All right, Sir, I’ll keep working”. With two others, it took three and a half years, but finally it was all done. I know we did not do it, and could not do it, but acting in faith—even when I struggled to believe in faith—allowed God to provide the power.
The Articles of Faith says the first principle of the Gospel is faith, but a specific kind of faith: Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The same three steps of faith are applicable:
First: We need to Believe in faith. Since faith requires evidence, where is that evidence to be obtained? It is good to read the scriptures, but Jesus said search the scriptures. That requires real effort to understand them, using the Topical Guide, Bible Dictionary, and other sources to really appreciate and understand the principles taught. Then, seek the Spirit for confirmation of the truth, through the signs listed in Gal 5, including peace, joy, love, and faith, that you experience deep in your soul. There are many ways the world has of determining truth, but all are subject to error. The only certainty comes through the witness of the Spirit.
Most of my life I have had a particular concern about my relationship with God. Then, at a time when I had been fussing about it, the First Counselor spoke in testimony meeting. As he spoke, I had an overwhelming witness that the problem was only my lack of understanding—there was really no issue at all! I knew that concern was gone forever. But there is more to the story. The next Sunday I talked with the First Counselor about my insight, and gratefully thanked him for it. He told me he woke up in the middle of the night before, knowing there was something of which he needed to bear testimony, as someone needed a particular message. As he pondered, he realized what that message was, and as he spoke he realized it was me to whom he was speaking. I know God loves me—his witness is certain. Through one means or another, he will try to reach us as we seek him.
Have you sought experiences that strengthen your faith, as a principle of belief, and make your testimony unshakable? Throughout your life, have you had many of them? Do you remember them? Have you written them? Rereading them, in times of weakness, can strengthen your testimony and your faith, and can be a witness to your children that you know and love the truth of the Gospel.
Second: We need to Act in faith; to choose to believe Jesus, and to trust and obeyhim. Joseph Smith said, “I make it my rule, when God commands, I obey”. And, when we fail, we need to repent and try again. Jesse DuPlantis has an aphorism: “Admit it, Quit it, Forget it.” That pretty well covers it! If the sin is serious it needs to be admitted to the Bishop, and any steps taken he requires. As the scriptures say, however, “Though thy sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow”… “and I the Lord remember them no more”. Joseph Smith said he would rather see someone at the gates of Hell, turning toward Heaven, than at the gates of Heaven, turning toward Hell.
Third: We can receive Power through faith. As faith grows, power will come from the Lord, through his Atonement and by his grace, to move all the mountains of sin and weakness and adversity in our life, to overcome physical and spiritual death, and to heal all our pain. He has all power and he is perfect. If we give him all we have, as Robinson points out in his analogy, his infinite perfection, added to whatever we can give him—provided we give him all we have—whether it be little or much—equals infinite perfection. Eventually, as Moroni said, we become “perfect in Christ”.
Joseph Smith said, “Happiness is the design and object of our existence, and will be the end thereof if we pursue the path that leads to it”. That path is faith. With all the struggles of life, the Doctrine & Covenants promises, “Thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever”. After all the struggles of life, will not that be wonderful! Paul said: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man the things God hath prepared for those that love him”. Do you believe it? Do you believe it infaith? To the point you are willing to act, unequivocally and invariably, to obey him and seek the power of his faith?