In recent days there has been articles in the news about faith. On one hand, there is news that can increase faith, and on the other, news that can challenge faith.
I think each of us needs to get to a place spiritually where our individual faith is such that we’re not shaken by news that challenges our faith.
Suppose that in tomorrows newspaper you read about a favorite General Authority who left the church. Would your faith be shaken to the extent that you too would leave the church?
Our Faith Needs to be Properly Grounded and Rooted
Strong, durable, and lasting faith comes by experiencing the manifestations of the Spirit. There are many ways for the Spirit to manifest itself. The scriptures enumerate the ways the Spirit is manifested to mankind, each follower of Christ needs to have experiences with the Spirit to be properly grounded and rooted in faith. The most basic experience is taught in Moroni 10:4-5.
To unlock the vaults of heaven and obtain great faith requires effort on our part. We’re taught that our faith will be tried and proven while in morality. The key to obtaining great faith is often given in the form of trials and opposition. Those who turn to the Lord with all energy of heart and mind, pleading for divine help will be rewarded, while those who faint will miss the opportunity.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell put it this way:
Petitioning in prayer has taught me, again and again, that the vault of heaven with all its blessings is to be opened only by a combination lock. One tumbler falls when there is faith, a second when there is personal righteousness; the third and final tumbler falls only when what is sought is, in God’s judgment—not ours—right for us. Sometimes we pound on the vault door for something we want very much and wonder why the door does not open. We would be very spoiled children if that vault door opened any more easily than it does. Neal A. Maxwell, “Insights”, New Era, Apr. 1978, 5
With Elder Maxwell’s words in mind, I’ll turn attention to another key to dealing with increasing faith, as well as dealing with challenges to faith.
To avoid deception the Lord’s provided help, but I fear church members are neglecting it, just as Moroni warned.
The best remedy for avoiding deception, according to the Lord, may be surprising to some. Think about it for a moment before you click the following link. See if you can come up with the remedy the Lord provides to help us avoid deception. The scriptures teach “…beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived”…write your answer down before clicking here for the answer.
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