Let Your Faith Show
Elder Russell M. Nelson
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
When we speak of faith-the faith that will move mountains-we are not speaking of faith in general, but of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can be bolstered as we learn about Him, and live our religion. The doctrine of Jesus Christ was designed by the Lord to help increase our faith. In today’s vernacular, however, the word religion can mean different things to different people.
The word religion literally means “to ligate again,” or “to tie back” to God. The question we might ask ourselves is, are we securely tied to God, so that our faith shows? Or are we actually tied to something else? For example, I have overheard conversations on Monday mornings about professional athletic games that took place on the preceding Sunday. For some of these avid fans, I have wondered if their “religion” would “tie them back” only to some kind of bouncing ball.
We might each ask ourselves, where is our faith? Is it in a team? Is it in a brand? Is it in a celebrity? Even the best teams can fail. Celebrities can fade. There is only One in whom your faith is always safe, and that is in the Lord Jesus Christ. And you need to let your faith show!
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Spiritual truth cannot be ignored-especially divine commandments. Keeping divine commandments brings blessings, every time! Breaking divine commandments brings a loss of blessings, every time!
Problems abound because the world is populated by imperfect people. Their objectives and desires are heavily influenced by their faith, or lack of it. Many put other priorities ahead of God. Some challenge the relevance of religion in modern life. As in every age, so today there are those who mock of decry the free exercise of religion. Some even blame religion for any number of the world’s ills. Admittedly there have been times when atrocities have been committed in the name of religion. But living the Lord’s pure religion, which means striving to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ, is a way of life and a daily commitment that will provide divine guidance. As you practice your religion, you are exercising your faith. You are letting your faith show.
“I Have Given you an Example”
Elder Richard G. Scott
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Both Grandmother Whittle and Jeanene loved me enough to share their conviction that the ordinances of the gospel and serving Father in Heaven would bless my life. Neither of them coerced me or made me feel bad about the person I was. They simply loved me and loved Father in Heaven. Both knew He could do more with my life that I could do on my own. Each courageously helped me in loving ways to find the path of great happiness.
How can each of us become such a significant influence? We must be sure to sincerely love those we want to righteously help so they can begin to develop confidence in God’s love. For so many in the world, the first challenge in accepting the gospel is to develop faith in a Father in Heaven who loves them perfectly. It is easier to develop that faith when they have friends of family members who love them in a similar way.
Giving them confidence in your love can help them to develop faith in God’s love. Then through you loving, thoughtful communication their lives will be blessed by your sharing lessons you have learned, experiences you have had, and principles you have followed to find solutions to you own struggles. Show your sincere interest in their well-being then share your testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
You can help in ways that are grounded in principle and doctrine. Encourage those you love to seek to understand what the Lord would have them do. One way to do this is to ask them questions that make them think and then to allow them sufficient time-whether hours, days, months, or more-to ponder and seek to work out the answers for themselves. You may need to help them know how to pray and how to recognize the answers to their prayers. Help them to know the scriptures are a vital source of to receiving and recognized those answers. In that way you will help them prepare for future opportunities and challenges.
“If ye Love Me, Keep My Commandments”
Elder Robert D. Hales
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
As we live the gospel, we progress in our understanding of obedience. At times we may be tempted to practice what I call “natural man’s obedience,” in which we disobediently reject God’s law in favor of our own wisdom and desires. Because this is widely practiced by so many, this perversion of obedience diminishes God’s standards in our culture and in our laws.
At times members may participate in “selective obedience,” claiming to love and honor God while picking and choosing which of His commandments and teachings-and the teachings and counsel of His prophets-we will fully follow.
Some obey selectively because they cannot perceive all the reasons for a commandment, just as children do not always understand the reason for their parents’ rules. But we always know the reason we follow the prophets, for this is the Church of Jesus Christ, and it is the Savior who directs His prophets in all dispensations.
As our understanding of obedience deepens, we recognize the essential role of agency. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed three times to His Father in Heaven, saying, “O, my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” God would not override the Savior’s agency yet he mercifully sent an Angel to strengthen His Beloved Son. The Savior met another test on Golgotha where he could have called upon legions of angels to take Him down from the cross, but He made His own choice to obediently endure to the end and complete His atoning sacrifice, even though it meant great suffering and death.
Spiritually mature obedience is “the Savior’s obedience.” It is motivated by true love of Heavenly Father and His Son. When we willingly obey, as our Savior did, we cherish the words of our Heavenly Father: “This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we look forward to hearing, upon entering our Heavenly Father’s presence, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant:…enter…into the joy of thy lord.
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Let’s Not Take the Wrong Way
Elder Claudio D. Zivic
Of the Seventy
Several years ago, I went to Arches National Park with my wife, our daughter, Evelin, and a family friend. One of the most famous arches there is called Delicate Arch. We decided to walk about 1.5 miles (2km), climbing the mountain in order to reach the arch.
We started off on our pathway with great enthusiasm, but after walking a short stretch, they needed to rest. Because of my desire to get there, I decided to continue alone. Without paying attention to the path I ought to take, I followed a man in front of me, who seemed to be moving forward with great surety. The pathway became more and more difficult, and I had to jump from one rock to another. Because of the difficulty, I was sure the women in my group would never make it. Suddenly I saw Delicate Arch but, to my great surprise, I saw that it was in an area inaccessible to me.
With great frustration, I decided to go back. I waited impatiently until we met up again. My immediate question was, “Did you reach Delicate Arch?” They happily told me that they had. They explained that they had followed the signs showing the way and with care and effort, they had reached their destination.
Unfortunately, I had taken the wrong way. What a great lesson I learned that day!
How often do we make a mistake about the right way, letting ourselves be led along by the trends of the world? We need to continually ask ourselves if we are being doers of the words of Jesus Christ.
A marvelous teaching is found in the book of John:
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”
What do you Think?
Elder W. Craig Zwick
Of the Seventy
What does the phrase “no corrupt communication” mean to you? We all regularly experience highly charged feelings of anger-our own and others’. We have seen unchecked anger erupt in public places. We have experienced it as a sort of emotional “electrical short” at sporting events, in the political arena and even in our own homes.
Children sometimes speak to beloved parents with tongues as sharp as blades. Spouses, who have shared some of life’s richest and most tender experiences, lose vision and patience with each other and raise their voices. Each of us, though covenant children of a loving Heavenly Father, have regretted jumping headlong from the high seat of self-righteous judgment. We have spoken with disrespect and abrasive words before we understood a situation from another’s perspective. We have all had the opportunity to learn how destructive words can take a situation from hazardous to fatal.
A recent letter from the First Presidency states clearly: “The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to love and treat all people with kindness and civility-even when we disagree” (First Presidency letter, 9 January 2014: Same-Sex Marriage). What a masterful reminder that we can and should participate in continuing civil dialogue, especially when we view the world from differing perspectives.
In proverbs, Solomon counsels: “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). A “soft answer” consists of a reasoned response-disciplined words from a humble heart. It does not mean we never speak directly or that we compromise doctrinal truth. Words that may be firm in information can be soft in spirit.
Roots and Branches
Elder Quentin L. Cook
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
After the Prophet’s martyrdom, the Saints completed the Nauvoo Temple, and the sealing power was used to bless thousands of faithful members before the exodus to the mountain west. Thirty years later, at the completion of the St. George Temple, President Brigham Young noted the eternal significance of saving ordinances finally being available for both the living and the dead.
This is simply stated by President Wilford Woodruff, “There is hardly any principle the Lord has revealed that I have rejoiced more in than the redemption of our dead; that we will have our fathers, our mothers, our wives and our children with us in the family organization, in the morning of the first resurrection and in the celestial kingdom. These are grand principles. They are worth every sacrifice.”
What a great time to be alive. This is the last dispensation, and we can feel the hastening of the work of salvation in every area where a saving ordinance is involved. We now have temples across much of the world to provide these saving ordinances. Attending the temple for spiritual renewal, peace, safety, and direction in our lives is also a great blessing.
Less than a year after President Thomas S. Monson was called as an apostle, he dedicated the Los Angeles Temple Genealogical Library. He spoke of deceased ancestors…”waiting for the day when you and I will do the research which is necessary to clear the way, —[and] likewise go into the house of God and perform that work…[that they] cannot perform.”
When then Elder Monson delivered those dedicatory remarks on June 20, 1964, there were only 12 operating temples. During the period President Monson has served in the senior councils of the Church, 130 of our 142 operating temples have had their initial dedication. It is nothing short of miraculous to see the hastening of the work of salvation in our day. 28 more temples have been announced and are in various stages of completion. 85% of the Church members now live within 200 miles of a temple.
