THE STRENGTH OF FAITH

 

Stop Doubting and Believe by Mindi Oaten

True faith can never show its strength in the absence of resistance. Resistance comes when nothing is going right, when your pain is at its highest level, when fulfilment of God’s promises is slow in coming, when your friends sew doubts in your mind, when God seems far away and you feel abandoned…..

Resistance comes when your trust in God needs to be tested. I discovered that you can have faith in God and His existence and even in a multitude of proofs of His love but you can still waver in your trust of Him. For fifty years since I joined the Church, I thrived in my faith in God  and then my health was taken away and the real test came. The resistance manifested itself through trust. I had to ask myself many times if I trusted in everything I believed about Him.

In Lecture 3 of Lectures On Faith, Joseph Smith said that “three things are necessary in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation”: 1. The idea that He actually exists; 2. A correct idea of His character, perfections, and attributes; and 3. An actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing is according to His will.

Some years ago I decided to follow up on this advice and studied the Book of Mormon that year looking for the Saviour’s attributes and traits within its pages. I wanted to know Him. I wrote what I came across in the margins of the book. When I had finished I flicked through the book and I found two particular attributes on just about every page. They told me that the Saviour was merciful and that He always fulfils His promises.

Trusting the mercy has been an easy one but fulfilment of promises is much harder, for two reasons…..1. we do not know HOW  He will fulfil His promise as our ways are not God’s ways (Isaiah 55:8) and 2. We do not know WHEN the fulfilment will come as the Lord works on a different time schedule for ‘all is as one day with God and time only is measured unto men’ (Alma 40:8).

When the promised something is not happening, especially when you are in dire need, the resistance steps in whispering doubts. I have been there, I know. Instead of stepping up my faith in the face of resistance, my faith has wavered through questions such as: do I really know Him? Do I really trust Him? Does He really love me? Does he want the best for me? Well, yes that last one could go either way. He always wants the best for you and you might not know how that best is going to play out in the fulfilment of his promise. Another consideration is that His priority is our eternal ‘best’ opposed to the ‘best’ here and now.

I have a testimony that the strength of our faith indeed brings about rewards from heaven. When I was going through my divorce some years ago, I was in terrible emotional pain. It felt like it was going to rip my chest open. That was the time I delved into the scriptures and studied about the Atonement because I was convinced that only God could take that pain away.

For weeks I prayed ‘through my faith in Jesus Christ and the power of the Atonement’ for a healing of my broken heart. Every time I experienced a wave of pain throughout the day, I would utter the same prayer calling upon the power of the Atonement to heal me. Never once did I think it could not happen or that it would not happen. My faith was infallible despite the unrelenting pain.  I persisted and persisted and after some weeks the pain was gone. All my negative emotions towards my ex-husband disappeared and I was able to embrace him and his new life and move on with mine.

Some years ago I was going through a difficult time and as I was studying the scriptures one day, looking for answers, into my mind came a voice which said: “You were fearless in your pre-mortality.”  I was rather stunned and answered: “It was easy then. Here it is harder because I have to walk by faith.” The voice came back: “Nevertheless, this is what is needful. This is why you are here. You cannot become gods without faith which creates reality.”

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST

 

When Mormon said: “Behold I am Mormon, and I am a disciple of Jesus Christ” (3 Nephi 5:12,13), he really meant it. The sincerity of this statement is evident in the book of his making. Mormon considered the greatest treasure that was in his keeping to be the records with which he was entrusted when just a youth (Mormon 1:1-3). He not only kept the records but made sure they meant something. The thought that went into the compilation of them into one concise record that we know as the Book of Mormon is staggering.

Mormon’s greatest motivation was to preserve the prophecies of Christ and the knowledge of the power of His redemption (Words of Mormon 1:4,8). Some years ago, I resolved to read the Book of Mormon with intent to discover Christ's characteristics as per Joseph Smith's instruction in Lecture Third of Lectures on Faith. As I discovered these characteristics I wrote them in the margins of the book. When I had completed the task I discovered two things on just about every page. One was that Christ was merciful, which I already knew, but the other one was that He always fulfills his promises. At the time it meant to me that He was reliable. Upon further reflection though I could see that this was Mormon's writing strategy. I think this was one way that Mormon found to testify of Christ. He saw an opportunity. 

Mormon ensured that every prophecy and promise in the Book of Mormon was tied to its fulfillment and he testified of this with such phrases as 'all this was done that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled' and 'God is powerful to the fulfilling of all his words' (Mosiah 21:4; Alma 37:16; 50:19; Mormon 1:19; Helaman 4:21; Ether 15:3; Words of Mormon 1:4; 3 Nephi 1:13,20; Mosiah 21:4; Alma). What an undertaking that must have been for him! This strategy proves in a unique way that the Book of Mormon is his book and that he was the author.  It would have been impossible for anyone else to chronicle such numerous promises and their fulfillments let alone an uneducated man like Joseph Smith. Mormon knew the history of his people well because of many records that were in his keeping for many years. And he knew God who led his fathers to their land of promise.

His undertaking to compile the records and write one book containing so many prophecies and doings of his people would have been mammoth. I am in awe of people who can research and write a concise piece of work containing all their findings. Mormon to me is such a writer but with a difference. Because of the nature of his written work, he was aided and guided significantly by the spirit of God. This he testified to when he said: “And I do this for a wise purpose……according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me….” (Words of Mormon 1:7)

When the account of our life’s work is found in the Book of Life, will it stand as a testimony of our discipleship of Jesus Christ? Will our lives speak of Him and testify of Him and bring others to the foot of His throne???

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Book of Life by Chris Brazelton)

AN INDIVIDUAL GOD

 

There is a woman spoken of in the Old Testament that is not highly considered or regarded. Her name is Hagar and her life story rends my heart.  The Genesis account of the Old Testament simply states that she was Egyptian and that she was Sarah's maid but one other source gives more insight into her life. It claims that Hagar was one of the daughters of Pharaoh and that she was given to Sarah when she and Abraham left Egypt to continue their journey to Canaan (Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews, 1:223). Considering the riches that Pharaoh showered Abraham and Sarah with as they left Egypt (Genesis 12:16), this claim seems very plausible. In this context, Hagar's life of hardship begins at this point in history. 

Under Sarah's tutelage, Hagar grew into spiritual maturity as she forsook the religious idols of her home and came to know the God of Israel. Imagine, however, a young girl of royal birth, sent away from her home to be the property of total strangers, therefore a slave. But there was more. According to Bible scholars and modern-day revelation (D&C 132:34), it was the law for a woman who could not provide children for her husband after ten years of marriage, to give him another wife to ensure continuation of his family line. Sarah decided that Abraham's next wife would be Hagar. I doubt if Hagar had much choice in the matter, being in the situation she was in. I imagine Hagar was fairly young since she fell pregnant straight away, whereas Abraham was 86 years old (Genesis 16:16).

The Old Testament records that Hagar became insolent towards Sarah once she knew she was pregnant (Genesis 16:4). Inexcusable I know, but maybe for once she felt she was worth something more than being a maid. She was now a wife of a rich man and she was going to be a mother, but....she was only a second wife with no rights and her child would by law belong to Sarah. She was a concubine. Imagine being of such lowly station for one of royal birth.  When she couldn't take Sarah's correction of her behaviour, Hagar fled in search of freedom. How hurt and misunderstood she must have felt….

Sarah was the wife of the covenant and honoured by God for her righteousness but Jehovah is a protector of women and He knew Hagar and her life. When the angel of the Lord found her in the wilderness he told her, "the Lord hath heard thy affliction" (Genesis 16:11); that she will not be overlooked by Him and that her posterity will not be able to be numbered for multitude (Genesis 16:10). In other words, "I will make it up to you Hagar for the life you are required to live". Hagar was astonished and in response called the Lord, "Thou God seest me" (v 13). What an incredible difference that must have made to one woman who felt insignificant and 'unseen'. God who sees all, had regard for her and held her in the palm of His hand. This must have been what made her return to Sarah bearable.

What a triangle of trial this situation was for Sarah, Hagar and Abraham. We all know how things turned out for Sarah and Abraham but we don't know anything about Hagar's life once she parted company with Abraham. Did she spend the rest of her days alone and husbandless? One thing I do believe: Hagar was a good woman. Various ancient sources claim that Abraham provided well for Ishmael and his mother when it was time for them to leave and that he stayed in close contact with them, visiting Ishmael often. Ishmael and Isaac also remained close as Genesis records they buried their father together (Genesis 25:9). This is how I know Hagar was a good woman. There was no hatred or animosity between Ishmael and Isaac. The credit for that must go not only to Sarah but also to Hagar who didn't teach her son to hate even though he was not the heir.

When Abraham was ninety-nine years old and Ishmael thirteen, the Lord appeared to Abraham and told him Sarah will bear him a son of the covenant. Abraham's first thought was of his love for Ishmael. He fell on his face and asked the Lord to consider him to be the heir (Genesis 17:18). The Lord denied the request but replied, "I have heard thee" (v20). Once again, "I see you....I see the difficulties you have to live with....I will make it up to you". He said He would give Ishmael twelve sons and he would be part of the promise of endless posterity that He had made to Abraham (v 20).

Even though we are many, we are individual entities to the Saviour. He is an ‘individual God’. The God of heaven sees all. He sees all our difficulties, He understands all our feelings, He feels all our heartaches. And He makes up for those things we suffer and endure. He lightens the burdens of those who seek Him and would have Him be their God.  May you, who are in the waiting room waiting for relief of your burdens, receive an increase of faith in the God of Abraham.....the God who fulfils His promises through grace and mercy, now and forever.  

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: LDS ART - WOMEN OF FAITH, Artist Unknown)

A RIGHTEOUS BRANCH

 

 

The ongoing difficulties of the Jewish nation which we are even now witnessing brings to mind the reason a certain Israelite family escaped the destruction of Jerusalem in 597 B.C. when the diaspora began. Lehi explained to his son Joseph the promise that the Lord made to his progenitor, Joseph of Egypt, that He would, in their day, ‘raise up a righteous branch unto the house of Israel’ (2 Nephi 3:5). And so the promised land they were led to across the waters in 600 B.C. meant a new beginning. How utterly tragic then that just over a thousand years later, a sole survivor of that very ‘righteous branch’ wandered the land of America with a heart wrenching explanation: "Behold.....I am alone. My father hath been slain in battle, and all my kinsfolk, and I have no friends nor whither to go...therefore I will write and hide up the records in the earth; and whither I go it mattereth not." (Mormon 8:4,5).

But the Lord was not finished with the House of Israel and so He gave another promise to Joseph of Egypt, that He would raise up ‘a choice seer’ in the latter days who ‘will be like unto Moses’ and who will bring to light the words of them who were destroyed and who will speak ‘out of the ground’ (2 Nephi 3:7; 26:16,17). Enter Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.

We all know that the Book of Mormon is the important second witness of Jesus Christ but it also speaks of something else equally important. Another purpose of the Book of Mormon is to bring to our remembrance the covenant which Jehovah has made with the House of Israel (2 Nephi 3:7, 12). This says two things to me: 1. the Lord will never give up on us and; 2. He will never break His covenant with us, even though we break our covenants with Him (Deuteronomy 4:31). This is the promise He has made to the House of Israel that will stand forever.

If you study the Book of Mormon closely, two things will become very obvious to you: 1. the merciful nature of the God we worship and 2. He always, always fulfils His promises. Mormon ensured that every prophecy and promise in the Book of Mormon was tied to its fulfillment and he testified of this with such phrases as 'all this was done that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled' (Mosiah 21:4) and 'God is powerful to the fulfilling of all his words' (Alma 37:16). This was his technique and his tool through which he testified of Christ. This strategy proves in a unique way that the Book of Mormon is an authentic record written by Mormon himself for it would have been impossible for anyone else to chronicle such numerous promises and their fulfillments let alone an uneducated man like Joseph Smith. Mormon, on the other hand, knew the history of his people well because of many records that were in his keeping for many years.

One last thought: Christ is the vine and we are the branches (John 15:5). If we will be the righteous branch of the House of Israel, we need to abide in the vine for without Him we can be nothing (v 4,5). How wonderful is the God of Israel!!! How exquisite the bond He has with His people! I have often thought His tolerance and mercy towards us is excessive but one day a thought came to me that He could have never subjected himself to such an unjust death if He was any other way. This is who He is….Christ the Lord, the Hope of Israel, the Rock of Our Salvation, the lover of our souls……

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Coming to Save You by Laura Wilson)