Tuesday, March 26, 2019

This is NOT going to work!

It seems to me that the Savior’s Apostles exercised a lot of faith to even start to pass out the 5 loaves and 2 fishes to such a large group of people. They must have had some thoughts such as these: This is not going to work, it will never be enough to feed everyone. It would be unfair or rude to feed only a few and then run out. Why bother? In fact the scriptures say that they did have such a thought. (John 6:9) But they had seen many miracles performed by the Savior so I guess that’s why they believed enough to do what He told them to do.
What miracles have we seen? Have we seen enough to grow our faith to the point that we will do what the Savior says even if it doesn’t make sense to our finite brains?
Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

Monday, March 25, 2019

The Lord “invites us to come to Him with our sincere questions.”

I was inspired by this. It is from the March 2019 Ensign, pp 68-69:


"When we are troubled by uncertainty, the Savior counsels us to avoid doubt. He said, “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:36). And Moroni wrote, “Doubt not, but be believing” (Mormon 9:27).

"We should remember that “the term question is not synonymous with the term doubt.” Doubt assumes the very worst about ourselves and others. When we doubt, we fear that someone is trying to cheat or deceive us. To doubt that Jesus is the Christ implies that He and those who have borne witness of Him are confused, misguided, or lying. To doubt the Book of Mormon, one must assume the worst about Joseph Smith and everyone who gave so much to bring it forth. To doubt our ability to repent and change implies that Christ cannot do what He claims, that His power is somehow limited.

"Although the Lord discourages doubt, He invites us to come to Him with our sincere questions. “Ask, and it shall be given you,” He taught (Matthew 7:7).

"We can replace doubts with sincere questions, such as “Is Jesus the Christ?” “Is the Book of Mormon true?” “Did Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appear to Joseph Smith?” “Does Christ lead this Church today?” or “Can I be forgiven of my sins?” Sincere questions like these can soften our hearts as we show our trust in the Lord and look to Him for answers.

"We may also discover that some of our questions aren’t so important or don’t really need immediate answers. Tad R. Callister, Sunday School General President, stated: “I can live with some human imperfections, even among prophets of God--that is to be expected in mortal beings. I can live with some alleged scientific findings contrary to the Book of Mormon; time will correct those. And I can live with some seeming historical anomalies; they are minor in the total landscape of truth. But I cannot live without the doctrinal truths and ordinances restored by Joseph Smith, I cannot live without the priesthood of God to bless my family, and I cannot live without knowing my wife and children are sealed to me for eternity.”