Sunday Inspirations August 10, 2008

How Important is Your Faith?

This was the thought brought expressly and forcefully to my mind today as our Sunday School teacher taught us from Alma chapters 40-42 in the Book of Mormon (another testament of Jesus Christ).

In the previous chapters Alma had been counseling two of his sons, who had been righteous men, helping their father to further the work of the Lord. Alma's third son, Corianton, had been swayed by worldly ways, and choose a path of immorality. Alma took this son of his, and began to tell him of the great Plan of Salvation, which he also refers to as the plan of happiness, of redemption, of restoration, and of mercy.

I won't go into the Plan of Salvation here, but feel free to click the link provided if you'd like to learn a little more.

What struck me hard was the moment our teacher pointed out that Alma told Corianton he didn't know all there was to know about the Plan. The details were not given to him. He was not an encyclopedia to be opened up and have every single fact given to all. Yet he did not deny his faith that every part of the Plan the Lord granted him to know was true. He didn't need to know everything to comprehend the truth of what had been given him.

Our teacher gave an example of a friend of hers who was vastly interested in how the world was first created. He searched and searched, but was never able to come up with a satisfying answer. His faith wavered. The more he looked, the less satisfied he became, and he eventually stopped believing in God altogether. All because he could not rely on faith.

This example echoed in the words and choices of a friend of mine. A little over a year ago she e-mailed me, telling me she no longer believed in the truthfulness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed the Mormon Church). She told me if it was just the Book of Mormon we were talking about, there was no problem. She fully believed in the sacredness of the book. It was Joseph Smith, some of his actions, and some of the revelations he was given that she had so much trouble with.

She could not believe he was called of God. She refused to believe that the answers to these troubles she so desperately sought were all she would ever get. Didn't she deserve to know they whys and wherefores of every single detail so there would no longer be any doubt?

I'm certain these thoughts ring true for many of us out there, but we're forgetting something important, just as Corianton did all those years ago: we don't have to know every single detail in order to have faith, and it is faith that builds our testimonies. Faith is a strong motivator, it is an active power in our lives. It's what inspires us to new levels, to greater knowledge, but we have to act upon it first.

For some giving up our questions and relying strictly on the Lord to know the answers, even if He doesn't decide to share those answers with us, is the hardest thing in the world to do. Is it possible? Of course. But it takes practice. I can also say, because I've been there myself, that it is completely worth it.