Sunday, March 6, 2011

Faith

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Faith:
a principle of action
through which power is obtained 
from Heaven

I understand that the sun is absolutely amazing. At 864,000 miles wide, composed of gases over 28 million degrees Fahrenheit at the core, it holds our solar system together. I understand that. I understand that the sun is a star, I understand that the earth rotates around the sun. I understand that the sun is our source of light and heat--even our source of life.

I believe that the sun will rise each morning. I have seen it. No matter the season, no matter the day, no matter the state or the country, the sun has come up. While running the beaches of Hawaii, on Arizona mornings, while sinking my feet ever-deeper into the sand of a Fijian shore, and countless times at home, I have watched the sun come up in the same, steady, peaceful way.

But more than I understand these things, more than I believe them, there is one thing that I know. That, regardless of my circumstance, regardless of what I am told, regardless of who and what I face, I will always know to be true. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lives. I know that He gave His life for me, I know that He is my one sure way back to Heaven. I know that He is my Savior, and I know that He knows me.

I know because of faith. Faith was where it began. It began with bedside prayers and tuck-in songs each night. It began with Family Home Evening, it began with weekly church attendance, it began with the scriptures. It began with watching the faithful example of my mother, and it began as I hoped for these things to be true.

And now as I said concerning faith--faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.

It began with a hope. It began with faith. Trusting in the Lord, my faith grew. Relying on Him, it was strengthened. Because of faith, I can "cast on Him my every care" (Sweet Hour of Prayer). Because of faith, I can live my life with my Savior by my side.

Faith begins as a hope, a belief. Then faith grows. It becomes less in your mind, more in your heart, and most in how you choose to live your life. Faith is a continual progression--to be faithful in Jesus Christ is to strive to be like Him in all things. It is to trust Him in all things. It is to "look unto [Him] in every thought" (D&C 6:36). To have faith in Christ is to live for, with, and by Him. It is to give Him your whole self.

If someone tells me that the sun is not actually 864,000 miles wide, but 1,000,000 miles wide, I might believe them. If they told me that the core is not actually 28 million degrees Fahrenheit, but 20 million, I may accept it. But never--never--will I be convinced that Jesus Christ does not live. For I know, and will always know, that He does live. I do not only understand, I do not only hope, I do not only believe, I know. There is nothing in this world, no person on this planet, no force in existence that can sway me--for with every fiber of my being, I know that He lives. I know that He lived, and suffered, and died on earth for each of us. I know that on the third day He rose for us. I know that He lives for us today. 

I understand the basic science of the sun. I believe that it will rise each morning. And I know that the Son has risen, and that, for us, He rises each day. 

I know that He lives.


(Information used on the sun found here.)

1 comment:

  1. "Faith is knowing the sun will rise" Children's song book page 96. I love primary songs!

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