Dear Reader,
It has been quite awhile since we have hit on something significant on this blog. It has been a busy time with school starting and getting back into the swing of things after a summer filled with nothing but work and hanging out with friends. However, I feel the need to discuss something that has been lacking in my life lately. Most of the following points might be repetitive to some of you, having grown up in highly religious families/communities. In other words, this post is mostly for me. Faith is like a little seed; if planted, it will grow.
Ok, so the first question that everyone always asks when introducing Faith is usually, "What is Faith?" followed usually by some definition about a hope of things not seen but are true. I'll be honest, Faith is not something I can explain very well. People always talk about knowing that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true and that they have so much Faith in God and his plan. I have a hard time understanding that. Don't get me wrong. As I have said before, I know God lives and I know that his priesthood authority is on the earth within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know this because I have read the Book of Mormon and have received a witness that it is a true and living book that is proof of the restoration of priesthood authority.
But what about my faith?
Notice I haven't given my definition of Faith yet. I can quote several different sources on what it is and how we can build it. My personal favorite is the 32nd chapter in the book of Alma:
"And now as I said concerning faith—afaith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye bhope for things which are cnot seen, which are true." (Alma 32:21).
Paul says something similar in his epistle to the Hebrews:
"Nowa faith is the b substance of things c hoped for, the d evidenceof things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)
What is Faith to me? I have no idea.
Faith has always been this vague concept in my mind that something good will come, no matter what. Maybe that is a little skewed, but it makes sense in my head. The other part of it that makes the most sense is the idea that Faith without works is dead (See James 2:17). In other words, in order to have Faith in something, a person has to be willing to work toward that certain something. For example, to have Faith that you will end up with a good job, you have to work through college or trade school to learn the skills necessary to be hired for that job. Is that Faith?
All I know is this: God lives and loves each one of us. I don't really understand why, but I know he does. I also know that Christ performed what we call the Atonement so that we can become better people. Do you have Faith that is true? I'm trying to figure out how it works, too.
It has been quite awhile since we have hit on something significant on this blog. It has been a busy time with school starting and getting back into the swing of things after a summer filled with nothing but work and hanging out with friends. However, I feel the need to discuss something that has been lacking in my life lately. Most of the following points might be repetitive to some of you, having grown up in highly religious families/communities. In other words, this post is mostly for me. Faith is like a little seed; if planted, it will grow.
Ok, so the first question that everyone always asks when introducing Faith is usually, "What is Faith?" followed usually by some definition about a hope of things not seen but are true. I'll be honest, Faith is not something I can explain very well. People always talk about knowing that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true and that they have so much Faith in God and his plan. I have a hard time understanding that. Don't get me wrong. As I have said before, I know God lives and I know that his priesthood authority is on the earth within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know this because I have read the Book of Mormon and have received a witness that it is a true and living book that is proof of the restoration of priesthood authority.
But what about my faith?
Notice I haven't given my definition of Faith yet. I can quote several different sources on what it is and how we can build it. My personal favorite is the 32nd chapter in the book of Alma:
"And now as I said concerning faith—afaith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye bhope for things which are cnot seen, which are true." (Alma 32:21).
Paul says something similar in his epistle to the Hebrews:
"Now
What is Faith to me? I have no idea.
Faith has always been this vague concept in my mind that something good will come, no matter what. Maybe that is a little skewed, but it makes sense in my head. The other part of it that makes the most sense is the idea that Faith without works is dead (See James 2:17). In other words, in order to have Faith in something, a person has to be willing to work toward that certain something. For example, to have Faith that you will end up with a good job, you have to work through college or trade school to learn the skills necessary to be hired for that job. Is that Faith?
All I know is this: God lives and loves each one of us. I don't really understand why, but I know he does. I also know that Christ performed what we call the Atonement so that we can become better people. Do you have Faith that is true? I'm trying to figure out how it works, too.
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