In
Matthew 17, the Savior teaches that if we have “faith as a grain of a mustard
seed,” we can move mountains. Also, in many places in the scriptures, we are
taught that if we ask in faith, we shall receive. Christ healed people
according to their faith. Throughout my life, I have always read these famous scriptures,
and I always thought, “If I have faith, I will receive.” Also, there have been
experiences in my life when I have felt that my faith has failed me. I have
thought, “Well I had faith that I would get the job, but I didn’t get it.”
Because of these experiences, I began to question whether I actually understood
the concept of faith. Moroni, quoting Jesus Christ, says in Moroni 7:33: “If ye
will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient
in me.” When I read this scripture, I gained a whole new perspective of faith.
Faith does not mean that we will receive everything we desire, but it does give
us power to act.
While serving my mission in
Argentina, I was sent to a poor little town. Most of the people lived outside
of town, on orchards. My companion and I walked countless miles to different
orchards trying to find people to teach. One day, we were blessed to find two
kids, Luis and Natalia, who were very interested in the Gospel. They embraced
the Gospel, and began attending church. They desired to be baptized. Each time
we went to teach them, we walked about four miles to arrive, and four to
return. On one P-Day, all the missionaries in the zone got together to play
basketball. After months of playing soccer exclusively, I was excited to play.
Within minutes, I jumped, and landed awkwardly. Immediately, my foot swelled up
and I could barely walk. I was forced to go to the doctor, where they informed
me that the ligaments and tendons in my foot were damaged. I would have to wear
a big boot up to my knee for four weeks. When I received the news, I
immediately thought of Luis and Natalia, who were one week away from their
baptism. I questioned whether I would be
able to keep walking all the way out to their house to help them finish
preparing for baptism. They were seeking permission from their parents to join
the church, and I wanted to magnify my calling and help them. Their parents did
not give their permission at first. I prayed and prayed, desiring the physical
strength to be able to walk, and the spiritual strength to be able to help them
overcome their challenges. With the Lord’s help, I was able to walk those eight
miles each day to go visit them, as well as to fulfill the other commitments
that we had with other people. Luis and Natalia were able to get baptized on
the scheduled date.
When I read this scripture in
Moroni, I was able to recognize for the first time the power of my faith in
this situation. I didn’t receive the blessing I desired just because I had
faith. I don’t think the Lord works that way. As the scripture says, He gives
us power “to do” anything that is “expedient in Him.” We still have to act; our
faith does not move mountains while we sit on the couch and watch. But, I know
that in this instance, the Lord gave me the strength that I needed in order to
do what was needed.
I know that this is an important
principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we have faith in Jesus Christ, He
will give us the power to go out and do whatever he asks of us.
No comments:
Post a Comment