La Prueba de Vuestra Fe

 

On Sunday the Elders Quorum President assigned our investigator, Nicolás, to give the lesson in two weeks. He accepted the invitation without even blinking. His faith is astonishing. After the meeting, he commented that right after his baptism, he is going to teach the class. We are planning his baptism for next Saturday. It looks like the ward is going to put him to work right away. It is incredible to see the determination that comes from recieving an answer from God. 

The other day I was talking to a member who was baptized 40 years ago. He said he investigated the church for 3 years. I asked him what took him so long. He said that there were two reasons. One being his pride, and the other being lack of faith. He didn't really believe that God would answer, and he didn't want to humble himself before God by kneeling down in prayer. However, when he finally chose to act on the little bit of faith that he had (even the desire to believe) he received an answer from God. He had the missionaries teach him all the lessons in one day, and he got baptized the next. 

I know that God speaks to man, because He has spoken to me, and many others that I've seen. But many times the testimony comes after the trial of our faith. I'm reminded of the words of Moroni: "I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." (If you want to read an excellent talk about the trial of your faith, look up a talk by Elder Anderson from the October conference.) 

There are always and will always be trials of our faith. Life is full of trials, because God wants us to progress. He always throws us out of our comfort zone so that our faith will grow. But as we take a step into the dark, trusting that He will lead us, we receive more light. We learn, grow, and progress. 

When we choose to use our agency and act on our faith, even during the toughest trial, we will receive a witness from God. 

"And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen."

Elder Garrett