Faith

Imagine yourself driving, its dark and your on a country road. There are two reasons why you are in a hurry; one it has been along day and you are struggling to keep yourself from becoming drowsy and two if you show up too late who knows if you will be able to get inside the gate. The music is loud, to keep you awake and your speed is a little over the limit. There is something in the road: two legs. The first thought is why is that person standing in the road. The animal turns around and you see its eyes and its true size. Your only have one lane , you swerve and then you are spinning. About three complete times you spin, almost making it to the complete left side of the road and then there are head lights, the first ones you have seen in a while and they are coming towards you. It appears they are headed straight at you. All you can do is stare and hope. Slowly you watch as your spin and there path cross and you feel the hit.


In life things happen that we do not count on. There are two choices in these situations, the first is fear the second is faith. You can not posses them both for they are opposites; where one is the other can not be. 


I got out of the car to look at the damage, one by one until there were five the other car emptied. Is everyone ok I asked? Not a scratch on anyone. The front of their car was a mess, I asked was any of this here before? Hopefully. Their answer was a no, this all had just happened. I don’t know anything about cars but I know that theirs was totaled. They had hit me in the back corner on my drivers side. Forcing their car under my bumper resulting in scratches, a few bends, and a broken out tail light on my end while the front of their car was completely unrecognizable and dripping fluid. Now that you understand my choice of fear I will explain the choice of faith. If that car would not have hit me, I would have continued my spin off the other side of the road and flipped into the ditch that was there. If they would have hit me a couple inches up they could have hit my gas tank, a couple feet and they would have hit my door. As I waited there calm and collective I called my mom and then I had to hang up so I could call 911. We Didn’t know where we were, just that it was outside of Kamas. People kept asking if we needed help and we kept telling them the cops were on their way. One car didn’t ask, they pulled over and parked and as they walked towards me I noticed them.  As they came closer I recognized my best friend and her father. An hour away from home somehow they were in the right place at my right time there in the dark of the night. Yes I was shaken up and yes I did have fear at times. But I can tell you  my fear was gone in that moment. There are so many miracles that happened in my life on Wednesday night that confirm my savior was right there beside me in that car.


We all know or should, what the basic first principle in the of the gospel is: Faith. For goodness sakes Joseph Smith called our beliefs the articles of faith. Faith is to hope for things which are not always immediately seen, but which are undoubtedly true.  The bible dictionary tells us; miracles do not produce  faith. That faith comes by righteousness  but miracles often confirm ones faith. Now some could argue that miracles are just what we want to see so we let ourselves see them. This is false. in 2 Nephi 26:13 we read “And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith. “

The bible dictionary continues All faith must be based upon correct knowledge or it can not produce the desired results. What is this correct knowledge? In my perspective it is knowing who you are and who loves you. That we are children of God and that he loves us more then we could ever possibly imagine and also our savior who loved us so much to give his life and no man hath greater love then this, then a man who would lay down his life for his friends.  After this true knowledge come the true blessings of miracles. D&C 123:16-17 says

16 You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves.

17 Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

and


Life has trials and tribulations. Some by choice but others which are unanticipated, that we have no control over. A Broken heart, a car accident, the death of a loved one. Faith is not knowing what the future is but who it is that holds it. Faith is not a virtue that we can just say we believe. Faith is more then a passive belief. You express your faith through action--by the way you live. Further in the Bible dictionary we learn, Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle in the gospel and is more then belief, since true faith always moves its possessor to some kind of physical and mental action; it carries an assurance of the fulfillment of the things hoped for. True to the faith says  faith is a principle of action and power. Moroni 7:33 “If ye shall have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me” Whenever you work toward a worthy goal , you exercise faith. You show your hope for something you can not yet see.


Faith is equal to trust. Having faith in Jesus Christ means relying on Him--trusting in his infinite power, intelligence, and love. It includes believing his teachings which comes by obeying them. It means believing that even though you do not understand all things, he does. Remember that because he has experienced all your pains, afflictions and infirmities, Alma 7:11-12.

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

and he did it before you even knew about them. He knows how to help you rise above your daily difficulties



In D&C 6:36 are the words ”Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.” Be of good cheer; for he has overcome the world. My challenge to you, is let faith in him overcome your life.