A Little Gospel Thought of the Week:

The Prophet Joseph Smith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints defined the first principle of the gospel as “faith in the Lord Jesus Christ”. (Articles Of Faith 1) It is that defining phrase “in the Lord Jesus Christ” that we sometimes forget. Too often we offer our prayer and then wait to see whether our request will be granted, as though approval would provide needed evidence of His existence. That is not faith! Faith is, quite simply, a confidence in the Lord. In the Prophet Mormon’s words, it is “a firm mind in every form of godliness” (Moroni 7:30) In class this semester we read about the three Hebrew magistrates and how they expressed trust that the Lord would deliver them from the fiery furnace, “but if not,” they said to the king, “we will not serve thy gods” (Daniel 3:18). Not three but four men were seen in the midst of the flames, and “the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” (Daniel 3:25).

It is common in this day and age to say that seeing is believing. The way of the Lord is best defined by a different maxim: Believing is seeing. Faith in the Lord is the premise, not the conclusion.  I know He lives; therefore, I trust Him to bless me according to His divine will and wisdom.

In the book of Daniel chapter three, it is the story of  Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon who created a golden image and told his people that they must worship this idol and if they do not, then they will be cast into the fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were set over the affairs of Babylon, but because they were Jews, they worshiped a different God and would not worship the kings Idol. They (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego) had faith in the Lord and knew that he would bless them according to their faith. They knew that they could trust God—even if things didn’t turn out the way they hoped. They knew that faith is more than a mental assent, more than an acknowledgment that God lives. Faith is total trust in Him. Faith is believing that although we do not understand all things, He (God) does. Faith is knowing that although our power is limited, His is not. Faith in Jesus Christ consists of complete reliance on Him.

After reading the Old Testament completely through, sad to say, for the first time; I started to realized how much the Lord has played a part in my individual life. Daily I go throughout my mundane day and forget to notice what the Lord has done for me. He is always with me; He helps me, leads me, guides me and prompts me to do what is right.

God blesses us in many ways. I had a Church calling that required me to attend a meeting this morning at 6:30am. After the meeting, I was in a hurry to return home to complete my final written exams. Being the good citizen that I am, seeing hardly any cars about so early in the morning, I was driving almost ten over the speed limit.  The light turned yellow, frustrated that I had to stop, I slowed down and then began to wait at the red light. I soon noticed a police vehicle to the right of me. If I had not had a red light or I had sped up during the yellow light, I am sure that I would have been pulled over and received a ticket for speeding. The Lord blessed me and let me off the hook this time. I drove the speed limit the rest of the way home!

By reading the Old Testament I’ve been more open to myself and keeping tabs to make sure that I don’t fall into a pattern of being blessed by God and then take it for granted to a point that the Lord needs to be strict and help me to humble myself once more over and over again.  Where much is given, much is required. I’ve learned that I need to do my part to be worthy of receiving the blessings of God.

“For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.” (John 16:27-28)