Faith is Not by Chance, but by Choice

You really should just listen to this talk. It is super good, and it is going to be hard to find anything to add to it!

Faith Is Not by Chance, but by Choice - Neil L. Andersen

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." James 2:26

So many of us would love to have faith without having to work for it. It would be nice to say that something isn't true just because it does not sit gracefully and easily in our minds. But that is not how truth works.

Wanting to be a millionaire does not make me millionaire. I will not become an Olympic athlete by sitting on the couch at home thinking about how nice it would be to win a gold medal. Owning a fancy kitchen doesn't make me a talented baker. All of these goals require work. Being a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ requires work. Faith does not fall into our laps.

It is as Elder Andersen said, "Faith does not fall upon us by chance or stay with us by birthright."...

"Faith in Jesus Christ is a gift from heaven that comes as we choose to believe and as we seek it and hold on to it"

I really enjoyed the story Elder Andersen told of a young Brazilian. Mostly it was cool to see a local story since the young boy is now a grown-up man who also happens to be a stake president here in Recife. I also enjoyed the lesson learned that the young boy learned from Samuel.

"And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." 1 Samuel 15:22

Obedience to the Lord's commandments increases our faith. There are so many ways I could sacrifice, but only sacrificing the way the Lord asks can bring me the eternal blessing that I seek.

You really should listen to the talk, it really doesn't take long, and it is inspiring. He talks about managing doubts and having faith the the face of trials.

Here is a quote I really liked.

"Immersing oneself in persistent doubt, fueled by answers from the faithless and the unfaithful, weakens one’s faith in Jesus Christ and the Restoration" - Neil L. Andersen

I know that Jesus Christ is our savior, and I love him dearly. I still struggle sometimes to be diligent in my studies, but I know that as I choose to better my studies and actions, my faith will grow. The same goes for you.

With love,
Erin

Chapter 4: Help from on High

There is a God in heaven.
He is our father.
He has power over the seas and the land.
He has power over feeling and action.
He is more than a king, and more than a president.

If he so desired,
With a little movement in his pinky toe
he could sink ships or shake stars.
He is an all-powerful, all-knowing, amazing individual

and he chooses to hear us
when we humbly kneel and whisper his name.
He chooses to comfort us and guide us
when we listen to the Holy Spirit

When prayer is the most powerful gift our father has given us,
why do we hesitate to use it?

I know my father lives and loves too. The spirit whispers this to me and tells me it is true. - Hymn 302

This week's lesson from "Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Howard W. Hunter" is on Chapter 4.
I always love the featured quotes.

"Perhaps no promise in life is more reassuring than that promise of divine assistance and spiritual guidance in times of need"

The chapter begins telling a couple stories from President Hunter's life.
In the second story, he tells of when he was a bishop and someone came to him with bitterness toward another member. He told this member to go home and pray for this other member every day for two weeks and then come back. After two weeks "All the venom was gone and all the bitterness was gone,” President Hunter later recalled. “This is the way it is when we pray for one another." The man agreed to help the other member, and I am sure that the hate or bitterness he had was transformed into productive love. 

"The Lord promised that if we would be humble in … times of need and turn to him for aid, we would ‘be made strong, and [be] blessed from on high’” (D&C 1:28). 

I am a struggler. My boyfriend is an optimist, the type that makes everything look easy. I am his opposite. I make everything harder than it needs to be. I overthink it and worry too much. It's probably why I have such a hard time making decisions. 

Maybe the honest truth is that I do not pray enough. He prays often and I feel his sincerity. He kneels properly and intently, and when he prays out loud I can hear that he is patient and thoughtful. I am learning from his example. 

When I was on my mission I once heard a challenge to get up early everyday just to pray. As you may know we are already required to get up at 6:30 every morning. One transfer I decided to get up at 6:00 every mourning so I could pray alone in the peace and quiet. I was already having some dificulties with so many challenges at the time. I was already waking up tired, but I did it, and boy was it worth it. It is the best way to start your day. It seemed like the challenges made it easier to pray without falling back asleep, but I did not neglect a good amount of gratitude in each prayer. Sometimes I only prayed in gratitude and it seemed to make all the difference.

“Be of good cheer,” the Lord says, “for I will lead you along.” (D&C 78:18.) “I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy.” (D&C 11:13.)

In the second section of the chapter, President Hunter talks about Joseph Smith. He retells a part of the story that led Joseph Smith to pray in the grove. He then continues,
 

"But my purpose … is not to outline the first moments of the Restoration, though it is one of the most sacred stories in the scriptures. I wish, rather, simply to emphasize the impressive degree of spiritual sensitivity demonstrated by this very young and untutored boy."

Do you ever feel under-qualified to receive spiritual revelation or comfort from our father in heaven?

We do not need worldly studies, or to reach an age of wisdom as prerequisites to holy learning. There are no limitations to who may pray.

"How remarkable … that this lad would turn profoundly to the scriptures and then to private prayer, perhaps the two greatest sources of spiritual insight and spiritual impression that are available universally to mankind." (Pres. Hunter)

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5.)

Although any one can pray at any time, understanding an answer can require spiritual preparation.

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor. 2:14.)

Many say that what they miss the most from their mission is the spirit. How can that be when we are still entitled to access to it? We were baptized members of Christ's church. We received the gift of the Holy Ghost. Shouldn't we still feel his presence if we are worthy? Yet, I know exactly how they feel.

When you are on a mission, all of your time is the lord's. You spend a good amount of time studying the scriptures EVERY DAY, and you are constantly thinking of others. You become much more spiritually trained. You are able to feel the spirit's pull with much more strength and much more consistency. 

Then when you get home, the world starts creeping back into your life and attention. Media. Work. Study. Friends. Personal ambitions and goals. Some things good and important and some things wasteful take over and scripture study slips into the back of your mind and serving others becomes less of a priority. 

In section four of the chapter, President Hunter says,

"Our modern times seem to suggest that prayerful devotion and reverence for holiness is unreasonable or undesirable, or both. And yet, skeptical “modern” men have need for prayer."

Do you ever feel silly to pray? I know I regrettably do. Sometimes I have awkward moments in restaurants, maybe I am with someone, or alone, and I want to pray and I get hesitant and embarrassed. Most of the times I remember, I pray, but I feel sorry that I feel so embarrassed. I should not feel embarrassed. I should be happy to be a shining example to those around me. Maybe someone will see and be inspired to so a prayer of their own. I don't know if it will affect someone else, but I know it will affect me. 

"If there is any element in human life on which we have a record of miraculous success and inestimable worth to the human soul, it is prayerful, reverential, devout communication with our Heavenly Father." (President Hunter)

Do not feel embarrassed to speak with our almightly heavenly father. It is an important investment of your time. Do not feel intimidated by those around you. 

"Men and women in many circles are clever, interesting, or brilliant, but they lack one crucial element in a complete life. They do not look up...Their talk is witty, but not wise...they have come too far down the scale of dignity who display their own limited powers and then find it necessary to blaspheme those unlimited powers that come from above." (Pres. Hunter)

As President Hunter explains with some help from Joseph Smith in section 5, developing spiritual maturity takes time. 

"Developing spirituality and attuning ourselves to the highest influences of godliness is not an easy matter. It takes time and frequently involves a struggle. It will not happen by chance, but is accomplished only through deliberate effort and by calling upon God and keeping his commandments." (President Hunter)

What actions must you take to develop a stronger sense of spirituality? What goals will you make starting today that will attune you to influences from the spirit?

Spiritual growth comes one step at a time. God does not expect us to be perfected in a moment. Sometimes life is a roller coaster. Trials and attitudes go up and down. Financial situations may go up a down. Relationships with family members and friends can go up and down. Do not let your spiritual progress go up an down. It may happen. I know that it happens to me, but do your best to grow spiritually with every experience. Try not to let down-swells from other parts of your life affect your spirituality. The best way to do that is by keeping the little things constant. Pray always. Study the gospel everyday. 

“Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great. Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.” (D&C 64:33–34.)

I love what President Hunter said about this quote: 

 

"All of us can be willing and obedient. If the Lord had said the perfect shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days, I suppose some of us would be discouraged and give up. …" (Pres. Hunter)

Be thou humble in thy weakness and the Lord thy God shall lead thee, shall lead thy by the hand and give thee answer to thy prayers. - Hymn 130 

Thank you for studying this chapter with me. I hope you can use it during your week to grow and inspire others. Don't be afraid to grow spiritually and seek the Lord through Prayer. 

“Let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds” (D&C 43:34).

With love,

Erin

 

Lesson 42 "Pure Religion" James

For today's post read I prepared for this weeks sunday school class. I read James and wanted to post some scriptures that stuck out to me.

1:5-6 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”

1:8 “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

1:12 blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

1:19 “wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”

1:22-24 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.””

1:27 “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

2:5 “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?”

2:17-18 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith , and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by me works.”

2:26 “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

3:2-5 “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle to whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey is; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listesth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!”

3:8 “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

3:10 Out of the same mouth preceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. “

3:17-18 “But the wisdom that is from above id first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up”

4:14 “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

4:17 “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

5:20 “Let him know, that he which conveteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”