My point is this...almost every single thing that we might be able to believe in ultimately has to be accepted on faith. Whether it is something so simple as pressing a keyboard in expectation of a letter appearing on a screen or something as "far out" as believing that Moses really did part the Red Sea for the children of Israel and Jesus really did raise the dead, the fact is that all of us ultimately accept whatever it is we believe on faith. Whatever actions we take are based on some sort of faith.
So what is Faith? "Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things, faith is to hope for things which are not seen, which are true" (Alma 32:21). "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the substance of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1). "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." (Ether 12:6) "Confidence in something or someone. As most often used in the scriptures, faith is confidence and trust in Jesus Christ that lead a person to obey him. Faith must be centered in Jesus Christ in order for it to lead a person to salvation." (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/faith?lang=eng&letter=f)
For example, I believe that Hawaii exists. I have seen it on maps, been taught about it in school, tasted pineapple from Hawaii, and even have cousins who have lived there and have confirmed to me that Hawaii is indeed a reality. However, the fact remains that I have not set foot on and of the islands of Hawaii myself. I haven't seen it with my own two eyes. I accept this simple fact on faith. Because of the "evidences" that I have seen, heard and tasted, I believe that I can say that I know Hawaii exists. I trust the sources I have heard this from sufficiently to say that Hawaii is indeed for real, and has some wonderful things to offer, even though I have never actually been there.
Spiritual knowledge is similar for all of us. Many times we want "proof" that God is real, or "proof" that the events in the Bible really occurred. We want to substantiate and legitimize what we hope is real as we read it in the scriptures and hear it from others. However, if we trust the word of God for what it is, and follow the pattern we see there, we find that spiritual knowledge comes in a very different way from that of secular knowledge.
The Apostle Paul teaches in
multiple portions of his epistles to the Corinthian saints about how
spiritual knowledge is gained. In 1 Corinthians 2:9-14, Paul explains
that,
"...Eye
hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of
man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For
what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is
in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now
we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is
of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of
God.
13 Which
things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but
which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with
spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
From
these verses (and looking at the surrounding verses to help with
context), we understand that Paul is explaining to us that spiritual
knowledge comes differently...through the spirit of God speaking to our
spirit (also referenced in Romans 8:16). In addition, Paul adds in 1
Corinthians 12:3 that "no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the
Holy Ghost."
The bottom line is that
you will not come to a true knowledge of Jesus as the Son of God and the
Savior of all Mankind without a spiritual manifestation. No amount of
intellectual pursuit will gain you as sure of a witness as the Holy
Ghost can!
This begs the question...how
does the Holy Ghost speak to us? Elijah had an experience with God's
spirit in 1 Kings 19:11-12 where we learn that the Holy Ghost speaks in a
"still small voice." A quick example from Luke 24 (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/luke/24?lang=eng
) teaches us well as the resurrected Jesus teaches 2 disciples on the
road to Emmaeus. As Jesus leaves, the disciples confer with one
another, saying, "Did not our hearts burn within us as He talked with us
by the way and opened to us the scriptures?"
If
the "still small voice" and the "burning heart" still leave us a little
confused, Galatians 5:22-23 simplifies it for us: "But the fruit of
the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, meekness,
faith, temperance..." In other words, the truth of God (and ALL truth
comes from God, no matter the source we find it here on earth) will lead
us to these types of thoughts, feelings and states. Ultimately, God's
word is supposed to lead us to "the peace of God, which passeth all
understanding." (Phillipians 4:7)
In
other words, although I may or may not be able to provide physical
evidence or historical analysis to prove that Elijah raised a widow's
son from the dead, that Jesus really did come back to life after 3 days,
that Joseph Smith actually saw God the Father and Jesus Christ, or that
the Book of Mormon really is the word of God as given to some of the
ancient inhabitants of the Americas, I can say that I have had a
peaceful witness from the still small voice of the Holy Ghost that these
things are true, and as real as the nose on your face! That witness is
undeniable and has come multiple times.
Although
intellectual pursuits are intriguing, and finding historical evidences
to "legitimize" our faith gives us the appearance of confidence, the
only thing that will keep our faith is the sure witness of the Holy
Ghost that God will give to all seekers of truth (1 Nephi
10:17-19)...and on the flip side, whatever "evidences" people accept (on
faith) that would destroy your faith are just as likely (if not more so
as you will hopefully see later) to be false as what you choose to
accept on faith.
I know this may
sound like a sort of delusional "pipe dream" to a lot of
people, these things really are real. God really does speak to His
children through the Holy Ghost, and you can test God on His word. You
can go through a "spiritual scientific method" process. Jesus invites
us to do God's will and we will know if the doctrine is from God (John
7:17). I have followed Jesus' teachings and have experienced the
blessings that are promised and know those doctrines to be of God.
James invites us to "ask in faith" (James 1:5) and the Book of Mormon
prophet Moroni teaches us that "by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may
know the truth of all things" (Moroni 10:5). I invite everyone who has
not to search out these spiritual truths themselves and find for
themselves that God promises are true, and that He will speak to us if
we follow His pattern of spiritual learning.
So
next time you read that very compelling article arguing that Jesus
wasn't really divine, or that Joseph Smith was really a criminal, or how
the Book of Abraham can't be true because of certain peoples
interpretations of an Egyptian pap, just remember that ultimately
EVERYTHING is accepted on faith. How does the writer of the internet
article know that Jesus was or wasn't divine? Was he or she there? Did
they personally scientifically verify with DNA tests? No, actually
they accepted ON FAITH something that someone else said, did, wrote or
experienced. Their ridiculing of your faith or mine is no less
hypocritical than me picking my nose while telling my kids not to do
it. Ultimately what we choose to accept as truth is something we choose to accept on faith... no matter what it is!
My
personal experiences have taught me that the gospel of Jesus Christ is
just as real as anything else I have experienced. The joys that have
come to my life as I have learned, understood and applied the teachings
of Christ are as real as the pineapple that I ate from Hawaii, and are
actually even more delicious to me! We have a Heavenly Father who is the
Father of us all, a Savior in Jesus Christ who has paid the penalty for
our sins and can offer His grace to us in any time of need, and God has
established His church on the Earth to help families learn not only how
to find heaven after Earth, but how to find heaven on Earth. I have
seen, felt and heard little pieces of that heaven and know these things
to be true and to be real.
I finish with a thought from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland that I hope that we can take to heart in regard to our faith:
"...you
have more faith than you think you do because of what the Book of
Mormon calls “the greatness of the evidences.”“Ye shall know them by
their fruits,” Jesus said,and the fruit of living the gospel is evident
in the lives of
Latter-day Saints everywhere. As Peter and John said once to an ancient
audience, I say today, “We cannot but speak the things which we have
seen and heard,” and what we have seen and heard is that “a notable miracle hath been done” in the lives of millions of members of this Church. That cannot be denied." https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/lord-i-believe?lang=eng
No comments:
Post a Comment