Five Steps to Increase in Faith

 I generally talk about two things. Growth and Love. Those, for me, are the most important topics, and the most interesting.  How can we get better; better priesthood holders, fathers, husbands, and on and on.  And, how can we get better at the skill of Love. 

As I was listening to General Conference a few weeks ago, I was greatly impressed with President Nelson's address, Christ is Risen, where he called on each of us to "start today to increase your faith." And he went on to offer five suggestions, or daily disciplines that will help us to develop our faith and trust in Him.

First, study, become an engaged learner. The more we know about our Saviour, His Atonement, and God's plan for us, the fuller our faith and trust can be. I would encourage you to become a daily scripture student!  Try desperately to build this discipline, it is one of the most important things you can do. Even if it is the hardest thing you will ever do, the daily sacrifice you make of your time to study His word will be repaid in faith, strength and His protection.

Second, choose to believe in Jesus Christ. Belief is not something that happens to us, it is not something that you build up over time. Belief is a choice, it is something you use your agency to do.  I am reminded of Elder Uchtdorf's call years ago, to "doubt your doubts" first, but choose to believe.  

 Third, act in faith. There are so many good things we can do.  Our gospel lives are filled with so many interesting and fulfilling activities.  And I know that all of you do so much good it is humbling to me to consider. Yet, perhaps what President Nelson is asking us is to be more mindful of what and why we are doing the things we do.  

Fourth, partake of ordinances worthily.  Doing so provides us with relief, strength, and protection.  I would also openly ask each of us to consider where we fall short and strive to make the necessary steps and repent of our sins.

Fifth, ask the Lord, in Christ's name, for help.  If you don't ask, you can't expect anything.  Try stepping up your game, so to speak, try and find ways to make your prayers more sincere, honest, and meaningful. Make them longer, more specific, more anything, really, whatever you need to add to this, do it!!

I am grateful for our prophet, for our Lord Jesus Christ and all He does for me and mine.  I pray that each of us can get incredibly better and therefore be better servants for Him.

How long does it take?

 Years ago, during my first stint as an Elder's Quorum President, (first of three!!), I had a counselor, who I'll call Darryl.  Darryl was a great guy; energetic, friendly, and his father was my stake president when I served mission.  We had the responsibility of confirming a man as the second counselor in our presidency.

So we knelt down in a room in the church building and said a prayer asking for confirmation.  As we got up, I asked, "Well?"

"It doesn't happen that fast." Was Darryl's reply.

I've thought hard and long about this little conversation we had. To be honest, I'm still not sure who was right or wrong that day ( maybe we were both right?....or both wrong? ). Significantly though, most speakers in General Conference talk about being patient in the face of the Lord's timing.  That you may ask, but the Lord responds as and when He deigns it. 

In response to the call to patience, I give you some collected passages from talks given by Elder Boyd K Packer.  Here are some of my favourites.

From Oct 1979, Prayers and Answers

"Answers to prayers come in a quiet way. The scriptures describe that voice of inspiration as a still, small voice.  If you really try, you can learn to respond to that voice.”

“You can know the things you need to know instantly! Learn to receive inspiration.”

From April 1975, An Appeal

“There is a sacred process by which pure intelligence may be conveyed into our minds and we can come to know instantly things that otherwise would take a long period of time to acquire. He can speak inspiration into our minds, especially when we are humble and seeking.”

“In the eyes of the Lord, everyone may be a winner. Now it is true that we must earn it; but if there is competition in His work, it is not with another soul—it’s with our own former selves.  I do not say that it is easy. I am not talking about appearing to change. I am talking about changing. I do not say it is easy. I say it is possible and quickly possible.”

From April 1997, Washed Clean

“The study of behaviour is greatly improved when linked to standards and to values. Practical values, useful in everyday life, are found in the scriptures and the doctrines they reveal.”

“You need not know everything before the power of the Atonement will work for you. Have faith in Christ; it begins to work the day you ask!”

Elder Packer uses words like 'instantly' and 'quickly' to describe spiritual processes that we typically think take longer amounts of time. Can we believe that the Lord will answer our pleas quickly? 

Lastly, consider Alma the Younger.  He was a very, very bad guy.  Take a moment to consider what he was doing.  He was actively working to destroy the Church.  And in three days he was forgiven and became a most awesome Church leader.  Three days!  How long do you and I let our past sins and mistakes haunt us? How long do you feel it takes to repent?

Yes we should wait patiently on the Lord, but we should exercise faith and look for Him to act quickly on our behalf too.

Conference Questions

 This past week as I've read Conference talks, I took time to copy down the questions our leaders asked of us back in October. Usually, the speakers would answer the question with a scripture or a story. I felt that this week it might prove beneficial for us to consider some of the questions asked independently of the answers given during Conference.  

I'd ask you to take time this week to seriously consider the questions you and I were asked just a few short months ago.

Elder Bednar

"What have we learned during these recent months of lifestyle adjustments and restrictions?"

"What do we need to improve in our lives spiritually, physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually?"

Pres Oaks

"How do we keep these divine commandments [to love God and man] in a world where we are also subject to the laws of man?"

"...how do we do this—especially how do we learn to love our adversaries and our enemies?"

Elder Christofferson

"What are the fundamentals that sustain a flourishing society, one that promotes happiness, progress, peace, and well-being among its members?"

Elder Gong

"How else can we refresh, inspire, and edify the human spirit?"

Elder Uchtdorf

"How many times in the early years of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did the Saints despair and wonder if God had forgotten them?"

"Do you think He is any less concerned about you today?"

Pres Oaks

"How did it happen for the pioneers?" 

"How will it happen to women of God today?"

Pres Nelson

"Have you grown closer to the Lord, or do you feel further away from Him?"

"And how have current events made you feel about the future?"

"How are we to deal with both the somber prophecies and the glorious pronouncements about our day?"

"If preparation is our key to embracing this dispensation and our future with faith, how can we best prepare?"

Elder Soares

"Can you imagine, my brothers and sisters, what would happen if we were to derive strength and courage from the Savior and say, “No” and “Get thee hence” to unvirtuous thoughts that very first moment they come into our minds?"

"What would be the impact on the desires of our hearts?"

"How would our resulting actions keep us close to the Savior and allow the continued influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives?"

Elder Anderson

"How are we to respond to our changing world?"

"What more are we to do?"

"If a renewed study of the Savior helped prepare President Nelson, could it not help prepare us as well?"

"If the world is going to speak less of Him, who is going to speak more of Him?"

"Are there images of the Savior in our homes?"

Pres Nelson

"...to whom will we be led when we plead to find those who are willing to let God prevail in their lives?"

"Are you willing to let God prevail in your life?"

"Are you willing to let God be the most important influence in your life?"

"Will you allow His words, His commandments, and His covenants to influence what you do each day?"

"Will you allow His voice to take priority over any other?"

"Are you willing to let whatever He needs you to do take precedence over every other ambition?"

"Are you willing to have your will swallowed up in His?"

"...how does the Lord feel about people who will let God prevail?"

"And what is the Lord willing to do for Israel?"

Elder Stevenson

"...how do we heal, endure, and move forward when things seem so broken?"

Elder Renlund

"Am I doing enough?"

"What else should I be doing?

Becoming A Better Servant

There are instances in the scriptures where we as saints are compared to soldiers going to war. In a memorable passage, the Apostle Paul encourages the saints to put on the armour of God. The same counsel was also given in modern day to the Prophet Joseph Smith. For me the armour represents the spiritual preparation necessary to begin acquiring the Christ-like attributes listed in the passages.

Now, most of us wouldn't have experience with the preparation a soldier might go through.  On the other hand, most of us might have played a bit of sports now and then. (Some more than others!). We can then, look at the preparation it takes to get really good at a sport.  Using these modern day "soldiers", perhaps we can see how to become better at our spiritual preparation.

During an Aaronic Priesthood interview, I asked a young Zack McKenna what it would take to become a world class footballer.  He thought about it for a moment and then said, "All my coaches all say, Practice."

"Yeah, that's certainly right.", then I asked, "In the lead up to a match, how long would you say you spent in practice?"

Zack thought a bit more, then said, "I don't know how long, but I do try and get 10,000 touches."

I thought this was an amazing answer, absolutely stunning. "That's pretty cool, Zack.  So, in any given game, how many touches do you think you get?"

"I'd say about 300."

If you examine the practice discipline of any world class athlete, you'd probably find something like Zack's ratio of time spent in practice to time spent in performance. (I'd imagine the ratio would be even more extreme....) This is the little secret of expertise our modern day would have us ignore.  To become really good, like truly good, requires a tremendous and gigantic amount of energy, effort and time.  In addition, the nature of practice goes from general to finesse; at first your efforts might be ungainly and crude, but over time you become more proficient and your practice time is then spent fine-tuning all the little details.

Now think about what your spiritual practice routines are.  I'd ask you to take a good look at the time you spend in preparation, time spent becoming a better priesthood holder.  Are you really giving it enough energy, time, and attention required to become really, truly good?

Each of us can give sooooooo much more than we currently are.  I'm looking for spiritual Michael Jordans!!

So, lets start somewhere easy.  Can you begin working on your prayers?  Elder Bednar said that prayer is a form of spiritual work. So, can you...

1. Spend significantly more time in prayer?
2. Seriously examine how to improve your prayers?
3. Be more focused, attentive and meaningful during the time spent in prayer?
4. Listen, listen and then listen some more during prayers?
5. Consider integrating some method to capture yours thoughts and impressions that come as a result of prayer?

By focusing on an individual spiritual skill, you and I will see improvement in our service, ministry and life.

Awake and Arise!!!

 I take tremendous comfort in the parable of The Prodigal Son. As you know, the prodigal son takes his inheritance and spoils his time and wealth away. In consequence of this, he is soon destitute and forced to labour in awful circumstances. Of significance to me is that the moment the prodigal "came to himself", his father was there; the prodigal's father raced to embrace him.

It is my heartfelt belief that no matter where we are, what awful circumstances we find ourselves in, or how badly we have sinned, the moment we turn to Him and come to our senses, that God is immediately there. He is swift to the rescue!!

This parable is about overcoming the awful mistakes we make in life. Yet, there is another way of considering this parable. Think for a moment about the actions you could take; the good things you might do if you had the courage or discipline for it. These missed opportunities hold each of us back from fulfilling God's plan for us. I believe it is in the life we might lead that sets apart our average life from the valiant life.

What we learn from the parable is that once we determine we want to live a valiant Christ-like life, that God is immediately there, ready to support us, ready to lend His loving power. Just as He frankly forgave the Prodigal for his sins, He too will quickly forgive us for the regular shortcomings in our daily service. Those missed opportunities, those failures, can be overcome, with His help.

What does this mean for us? It means...

--If you haven't made daily scripture a habit, you can....if you start today!

--If you find ministering difficult, or impossible to figure out, you can!! If you start now.

--If you want to be more loving, patient, kind and forgiving at home....you can if you start today!!!

I'm asking you to seriously consider stepping up your discipleship to the valiant life. I'm asking you to actually get better, to be a better priesthood holder, father and husband! Start now.

Know Where You Are

 Used to be if you wanted to get somewhere you hadn't ever been, you'd need a paper map. The disconcerting thing about paper maps though, is that if you didn't know where you were, a map is both useless and confusing.  If you don't know where you are, no map will help.

We often compare the scriptures and the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a map. This map helps us to know the way to go--the way to live--which enables us to work towards returning to live with our Heavenly Father. Yet, the know-where-you-are problem still exists with this map too.

Finding where you are at, right now, is that process of self-examination that all of us must undertake during our journey home. Fortunately for us, we have several self-exam "worksheets" (if you will) given in scripture.  

First, Alma chapter 5. If you recall, Alma had given up his political position to focus solely on his role as High Priest. In this sermon, he asks many questions to direct the people's minds to examine their lives in an effort to reclaim them.  Here are some of the questions Alma asks the Nephites, and by extension, us.

1. Have you sufficiently retained in remembrance the captivity of your fathers?
2. Have you sufficiently retained in remembrance his mercy and long-suffering towards them?
3. Have ye spiritually been born of God?
4. Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?
5. Do you exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you?
6. If ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?

Second, if you have been to the temple and taken out sacred covenants there, do you run through the recommend question at times?

Third, in Doctrine & Covenants section 121, we have an amazing list of virtues and practices that are required for the priesthood holder.  Each item can serve as a point of self-examination.  They are:

"No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by..."

• persuasion
• long-suffering
• gentleness
• meekness
• love unfeigned
• kindness
• pure knowledge
• charity
• virtuous thoughts

These are just three examples of personal, in-depth, questions and topics we can use to examine where we stand and know where we are.  Without knowing this, it matters not what map you use.  So please, take this opportunity to figure out where you are, and then begin your journey home.

(Bonus: If you really want to find out where you are at spiritually, like seriously want to know, ask your wife.)

Your Heavenly Father Expects You To Grow

I believe that our Heaven Father expects us to strive to become like Him and His Son, Jesus Christ. As such He sent us here to learn, struggle and grow. Further it is only as we struggle that we build the strength, faith and discipline necessary for our salvation and the salvation of those we love.  Additionally, as priesthood holders, we are under sacred covenant to progress, to become better, more powerful servants in His hands.

As such, I feel it important that we strive to identify not only our weaknesses, but our strengths. To repent of those things we need, and build upon what we are good at.  This requires an honest personal evaluation, and then the courage to move forward. As Eldred G Smith said in General Conference, April 1954, "As long as we are not perfect, we are in need of repentance, for all improvement comes as a result of repentance. Each should take daily inventory of himself and try to do better each day. Repentance is a daily affair."

From Marvin J Ashton, General Conference, April 1984, stated, “Set your goals—without goals you cannot measure your progress. But don’t become frustrated because there are no obvious victories. Remind yourself that striving can be more important than arriving. If you are striving for excellence—if you are trying your best day by day with the wisest use of your time and energy to reach realistic goals—you are a success.”

And last, from President Kimball, General Conference, April 1976, “Accept the reality that personal improvement on the part of each priesthood holder is expected by our Father in heaven. We should be growing and we should be developing constantly. If we do, others will sense the seriousness of our discipleship and can then more easily forgive us our frailties which we sometimes show in the way in which we lead and manage.”

“It is most appropriate for Aaronic Priesthood youth, as well as Melchizedek Priesthood men, to quietly, and with determination, set some serious personal goals in which they will seek to improve by selecting certain things that they will accomplish within a specified period of time. Even if the priesthood holders of our Heavenly Father are headed in the right direction, if they are men without momentum they will have too little influence. You are the leaven on which the world depends; you must use your powers to stop a drifting and aimless world.” 

Please take this early month of 2021 to seriously consider your path, determine to change as necessary, and work towards a significantly better you.