President Nelson recently taught: “Why do we need such resilient faith? Because difficult days are ahead. Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. Each of us will be tested.” He also mentioned “persecution” “betrayal” and actions that seem “unfair” (Ensign, April 2020).
We need faith like Jacob. Faith that can’t be “shaken”.
How did Jacob’s faith become so resilient? He had experienced “many revelations,” “seen angels,” and “heard the voice of the Lord.”
Interesting. President Nelson has asked us to seek for increased revelation and to hear the voice of the Lord (#Hear Him).
Sometimes people want a BIG answer from God that the church is true. But He often gives answers over time, “line upon line.” As parents, we must help their children realize that big answers are often the sum of all the little answers; “by small and simple things, are great things come to pass” (Alma 37:6).
I remember as a teen, I wanted a personal confirmation that the Book of Mormon was true. I determined that I would read every night and pray fervently for an answer. After months of this, I had a special experience. One night after I read, I knelt and asked the question once again. I was overcome with the Spirit. But the message he brought wasn’t what I expected. He put the thought into my mind that I already knew it was true. He reminded me that every time I had read, I had felt the spirit, I felt closer to God, and I had increased faith. My answer was a sum of my many experiences.
When I was praying to know if I should marry Paul, I had a similar experience. I had yearned for an answer strong enough to help me make the decision once and for all. One day in the temple, I read Jacob 4:6 “having all these witnesses, we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken.” The Spirit taught me that I had received many witnesses from God, each time I had felt peace about “us”. I could combine those experiences and have my big answer. I began to feel hope, and an unshaken determination to marry him.
So, how can we develop an unshaken faith? Remember the MANY spiritual experiences you’ve had in the past. Seek and recognize many NEW spiritual experiences, through personal revelation. Seek to “Hear Him” on a regular basis.
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