On Faith

Reading the scriptures as quickly as you do with this project, you notice some of the ideas that are repeated in the Book of Mormon more easily. For example, the book is a testament of Jesus Christ. Reading these first fourteen pages one thing that stood out to me today was the faith of Nephi and his family.

The scriptures teach us that faith is a "hope for things which are not seen, which are true." (Alma 32:21)  This hope is a strong belief. We are told that in order for this faith to have any effect, this strong belief must be accompanied by action. (See: James 2:17) This is why it is not good enough to just believe that we must do something, we must actually do it. "There are times when we have to step into the darkness in faith, confident that God will place ground beneath our feet once we do." (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Why of Priesthood Service", Ensign, May 2012)

These first few chapters are full of examples of faith and the blessings that come from faith. The first chapter has the promise that those who exercise faith are chosen and that the Lord grants "tender mercies" these chosen ones. The next chapter has them exercising faith in choosing to leave their homes based out their faith that what they were doing was the will of the Lord. They then return to Jerusalem based on their faith. When asked to return Nephi states his faith that the Lord will provide a way. The next several days has Nephi encouraging his brothers to be faithful in spite of the setbacks they were encountering in doing what the Lord commanded them to do. These chapters also contain an example of the faith of Lehi in the Lord enough to send his children back to Jerusalem where they could have died.

For me, this example of faith is encouraging to trust in the Lord to do what he says. That in spite of the challenges that we encounter in trying to do what is right we should not give up on our faith when we encounter setbacks. Instead we should continue in faith that we are doing what the Lord would have us do. If we do, the Lord will provide a way for us to accomplish what he would have us do.