A GIFT OF GOD

 

“Though within the reach of all who diligently strive to gain it, faith is nevertheless a divine gift. As is fitting for so priceless a pearl, it is given to those only who show by their sincerity that they are worthy of it, and who give promise of abiding by its dictates.

“Although faith is called the first principle of the Gospel of Christ, though it be in fact the foundation of religious life, yet even faith is preceded by sincerity of disposition and humility of soul, whereby the word of God may make an impression upon the heart. No compulsion is used in bringing men to a knowledge of God; yet, as fast as we open our hearts to the influences of righteousness, the faith that leads to life eternal will be given us of our Father.”

-          James E. Talmage, “Articles of Faith” p 107

Elder Talmage goes on to say: “Faith is the secret of ambition, the soul of heroism, the motive power of effort” (ibid p 103). Consider these Old Testament heroes who achieved admirable feats through faith that will live in the annals of history forever (Hebrews 11):

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; (v 5)

By faith Noah, being warned of God, prepared an ark to the saving of his house (v 7)

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac  (v 17)

Through faith Sara herself received strength to conceive seed and was delivered of a child when she was past age (v 11)

By faith Moses forsook Egypt and passed through the Red Sea as by dry land (v 27,29)

By faith the Brother of Jared led a colony of people from the Tower of Babel to a promised land in the western hemisphere, whose faith revealed the yet unborn Christ to him and to whom he spoke face to face (Ether 1-6: D&C 17:1).

These are not simple, ordinary achievements, these are achievements that required extraordinary faith, divine faith, an endowment of godly faith, the Father’s gift of faith…..

This type of faith can only be gifted through our personal righteousness, as indicated by Elder Talmage. In Saviour’s words: “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21). Is there a more glorious promise??? 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Jesus Christ by Biju Mathew)