The Transforming Power of Faith and Character

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

The Transforming Power of Faith and Character, by Richard G. Scott
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles


What is character? One may define it as moral or ethical strength, but how is it developed? More on that later.

Elder Scott reminds that "the exercise of faith is vital to Father in Heaven's plan of happiness." But what kind of faith is it important to exercise? As a young boy, I remember that every lesson on faith mentioned one of three things: seeds, lightbulbs, or sunrises.

It's important to note that faith that saves is not faith in a seed. . .


. . . nor is it faith in lightbulbs. . .


. . .and it's not even faith in sunrises.


Elder Scott echoed what I've since tried to emphasize every time I teach a lesson on faith: "True faith, faith unto salvation, is centered on the Lord Jesus Christ."


All this talk of faith may raise a question: Why does the title mention both faith and character?

In my previous post (link), I asked about looking to God for answers and only finding silence. I used Abraham, Noah, and Joseph Smith as examples, and suggested that it was their faith that sustained them in silence. Elder Scott continued on this theme:

Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. That causes your faith to increase and your character to grow. . . Faith and character are intimately related.

If faith is a "principle of action and of power," as Joseph Smith taught, then how is it related to the moral and ethical strength we call character?

Your exercise of faith in true principles builds character; fortified character expands your capacity to exercise more faith. As a result, your capacity and confidence to conquer the trials of life is enhanced. The more your character is fortified, the more enabled you are to benefit from exercising the power of faith. You will discover how faith and character interact to strengthen one another. Character is woven patiently from threads of applied principle, doctrine, and obedience.

I enjoyed this chain of faith and character.


Considering that we have faith in Jesus Christ and want to become like Him, and that we wish to have stronger character to face with courage the myriad challenges that will come our way, the way to find this success is given in a single sentence by Elder Scott:

We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day.

It seems, then, that if we want to be pillars of faith and righteous character, then we should each day exercise faith, which will, in time, develop us into individuals of the character we desire!

Will it be easy? Of course not; however, Elder Scott has some concluding words of encouragement:

If you have determined to live righteously, don’t become discouraged. Life may seem difficult now, but hold on tightly to that iron rod of truth. You are making better progress than you realize. Your struggles are defining character, discipline, and confidence in the promises of your Father in Heaven and the Savior as you consistently obey Their commandments.

Never Leave Him

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Never Leave Him, by Neil L. Andersen
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles


Have you experienced times of trial when you looked up to God for help and found only silence? Left feeling alone, what did you do? You may think of Joseph Smith and his similar experience in Liberty Jail where he prayed, "O God, where art thou?" (D&C 121:1) In his time of trial, he learned that he wasn't alone after all.


But there was still that time of trial.

As I rode home from work today, I listened to a Radiolab episode podcast titled, "In Silence" (link). This is an exploration of times of silence that Abraham and Noah may have experienced when they were asked to do hard things. The questions raised were interesting, but I was left unsatisfied because I know the answers and the presenter didn't! He was asking why these prophets would be willing to do what they did, but he asked from a standpoint of one who doesn't understand and appreciate the roles that prophets play/played; the faith component was definitely lacking (for a start to an answer, see Heb 11:7, 17-19).


What do we know that others may find troubling in these times of silence? Elder Andersen has an answer:

The Lord has not left us alone in our quest to return to Him. . . As we follow the Savior, without question there will be challenges that confront us. Approached with faith, these refining experiences bring a deeper conversion of the Savior’s reality.

Despite the promise that we aren't left alone, we aren't guaranteed that the road will be easy. In fact, Elder Andersen warned of "two words [that] signal danger ahead: the words are offended and ashamed." He then gave counsel to choose not to be offended or ashamed, citing encouraging examples from history.

The idea that we actually have a choice if we'll be offended or ashamed likely sounds strange to many others in the world. "As disciples of Christ, we stand apart from the world." We've been given much by way of knowledge and understanding. Elder Andersen recited some questions that may sound humorous if we forget the times we asked similar questions:

Some ask, “Do I have to be so different from others?” “Can’t I be a disciple of Christ without thinking so much about my behavior?” “Can’t I love Christ without keeping the law of chastity?” “Can’t I love Him and do what I want on Sunday?” Jesus gave a simple answer: “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

In discussing our differences from others—even those of other faiths who love Christ—it's important to remember what we've been given, and what is required of us:

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having a witness of His reality not only from the Bible but also from the Book of Mormon; knowing His priesthood has been restored to the earth; having made sacred covenants to follow Him and received the gift of the Holy Ghost; having been endowed with power in His holy temple; and being part of preparing for His glorious return to the earth, we cannot compare what we are to be with those who have not yet received these truths. “Unto whom much is given much is required” (D&C 82:3).

NOTE: The scripture quoted uses the word required, not expected (despite its frequent misquoting).

When we examine the lives of the great ones who have gone before (think of Abraham and Noah from earlier), we realize that while much was ultimately required of them, they had been given much (they were prophets, after all), and they performed beautifully.

Was it easy for them? No. Was it worth it for them? Yes!

While things likewise won't always be easy for us, it will be worth it, and we can find comfort in knowing that "the Lord has not left us alone in our quest to return to Him."

Temple Mirrors of Eternity

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Temple Mirrors of Eternity: A Testimony of Family, by Gerrit W. Gong
Of the Seventy


Strawberry ice cream. Every time I see or think of strawberry ice cream I'm reminded of my grandfather; he was a big fan of ice cream (as am I). Elder Gong spoke of his grandfather and how he would tickle his boyhood imagination with sayings like "Blackberries when red are green." Here's a picture that may help (I had to think on this before I understood what it meant):


In relating the story of a young couple being sealed in the temple, Elder Gong reminisced on the mirrors found in the sealing rooms of our temples. Mirrors are placed on opposite walls; "together the temple mirrors reflect back and forth images that stretch seemingly into eternity."


These are the temple mirrors of eternity, which is the title of his talk. The visual illustration of eternity afforded by the temple mirrors reminds of many things, including the eternal nature of families, stretching in long, unbroken chains. Elder Gong mentioned First Dragon Gong—not only a person with a great middle name, but his 32-times-great-grandfather! My family history isn't up-to-date that far back. Reminiscing on his family history, he said:

In temple mirrors of eternity, I could not see a beginning or end of generations.

With this long family chain in mind, Elder Gong imagined family connections and family relationships in two directions. He thought of himself and the titles associated with the end of hte chain: son, grandson, great-grandson, and so on. From the other direction, he thought of the chain extending from himself: father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and so on.

I liked this way of picturing family history. I think that too often I consider myself as the end of the line—the product of the many who have gone before. While this is right in some ways, it adds a new dimension and responsibility to consider the generations that may extend beyond (and from) me. In this pedigree image, I purposely put the middle couple (father and mother) in the center. I thought of my wife and myself, both the products of many excellent examples, and both striving to likewise teach our children that they might be better than we have been.


I like the temple mirrors of eternity, and that seeing through them, we "find ourselves home, pure and clean, [with] our family generations sealed by priesthood authority in love."

Our Very Survival

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Our Very Survival, by Kevin R. Duncan
Of the Seventy


Elder Duncan's talk was given in the Saturday afternoon session of conference. Like Elder Costa (link), Elder Duncan used the word prophet many times (33 to be exact). To help our children pay attention to what is said during conference, they have packets of conference-related activities, but even more, they listen for a specific word each session. This word, which they choose themselves beforehand, if heard, entitles them to a piece of candy. They happened to choose "prophet" for this session, and they were enrapt in his talk. In fact, because they paid attention, our candy dish ran out of candy corns!


Elder Duncan reminded of the trials that the early pioneer settlers in the Salt Lake Valley faced their first winter after arriving there the previous year. Faced with difficulty and what looked like a barren desert, some of these pioneers were tempted to leave the proximity of the prophet and seek fortune in California where a few of their fellow pioneers had recently discovered gold (this was the beginning of the famous California gold rush; in fact, my children are watching a film outlining the efforts of the Mormon Battalion—including the gold discovery—as I'm typing this).


What would you do? Would you stay with the prophet of God, or try your luck panning for gold?

Despite their difficulties that winter, those who stayed and followed the prophet prospered:

The Saints prospered. The winter of 1848 was a great catalyst for the Lord to teach His people a valuable lesson. They learned—as we all must learn—that the only sure and secure road to protection in this life comes through trusting in and obeying the counsel from the prophets of God.

What legacy did these early saints leave for us? The film my children are watching is titled, "A Legacy More Precious than Gold." While we may not face the same challenges as those early pioneers, we do have a decision to make:

This world is full of so many self-help books, so many self-proclaimed experts, so many theorists, educators, and philosophers who have advice and counsel to give on any and all subjects. . . While some information has merit, as members of the Church we have access to the source of pure truth, even God Himself. We would do well to search out answers to our problems and questions by investigating what the Lord has revealed through His prophets.

Like Elder Costa, Elder Duncan quoted from President Benson's devotional, "Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet." In addition to listing the fourteen points, he reminded that "our [very] salvation hangs on" following the prophet.

Will we seek our fortune away from the counsel of prophets, or will we find a greater reward now and in the future by heeding their words and striving to do the will of God? Those early saints made the choice to stay and build His Kingdom and build His holy house.


I'm grateful for the righteous examples of those who have gone before. They teach us to follow the living prophets and give heed to their inspired words. Elder Duncan likewise testified that "there is no safer way to approach life, find answers to our problems, gain peace and happiness in this world, and protect our very salvation than by obeying their words."

Faith—the Choice Is Yours

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Faith—the Choice Is Yours, by Bishop Richard C. Edgley
First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric


In the talk preceding Bishop Edgley's, Elder Cook gave the feeling that embracing faith is on the outs among some people (link). Bishop Edgley shared a similar feeling, but ended placing the outcome in our hands:

The reality of the Savior, His atoning sacrifice, and its universal application for all of us is challenged and often dismissed as a myth or the baseless hope of a weak and uneducated mind. . . This might be the reality of our world, but we can still choose how we react to it.

The preferred reaction is to choose faith! (As I put this logo together, my daughter asked if we were going to open a store. . . a faith store, my son guessed.)

Choose faith over doubt, choose faith over fear, choose faith over the unknown and the unseen, and choose faith over pessimism.

We know that faith is the first principle of the gospel (see Articles of Faith 1:4), and we often hear the following scripture quoted regarding faith: "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove” (Matthew 17:20), but I think it's important to clarify two things that may frequently be shared in a Sunday School setting:

1. The comparison of faith to a mustard seed is not "faith the size of a mustard seed"—it's the faith OF a mustard seed. A small seed can become a great plant (compare Luke 13:19).
2. The ability to move mountains may not require a shovel. Almost every time the moving of mountains is mentioned, someone will say, "Sure, you can move mountains, but it might be a shovelful at a time." Yes; faith is a principle of action, but there is no indication that the brother of Jared used a shovel (or any other earthly tool) to move the mount Zerin (see Ether 12:30).
   

Have you moved mountains? Have you ever seen anyone who has?

Bishop Edgley gives three examples of ways he has seen mountains move—I had never considered these before and really like them (I threw comic representations together, I liked them so much):

I have never witnessed the removal of an actual mountain. But because of faith I have seen a mountain of doubt and despair removed and replaced with hope and optimism.

Because of faith I have personally witnessed a mountain of sin replaced with repentance and forgiveness.

And because of faith I have personally witnessed a mountain of pain replaced with peace, hope, and gratitude.

Yes, I have seen mountains removed.

Before his talk, I would have said that I've never seen mountains removed. I'm grateful for the reminder of those who have moved real mountains, and for the reminder of the other mountains that I have seen removed in my own life.