The Gift of Faith

"Choose faith over doubt, choose faith over fear, choose faith over the unknown and the unseen, and choose faith over pessimism".  Bishop Richard C. Edgley

"When you have come to the edge of all light that you know

and are about to drop off into the darkness of the unknown,

Faith is knowing one of two things will happen: 

There will be something solid to stand on

or you will be taught how to fly". 

Many of the things that I believe in, are challenged and often dismissed in today's world.  The reality of the Savior, His atonment, the gospel, the commandments, obedience, and service are all critized and ridiculed.  As I look around at the messages that the world has for us today, I worry about what my children are faced with.  I worry about their testimonies in the world that we currenly live in.  I worry that the confusing, doubt and fear will be too much for them to deal with.  I worry that it is too much even for many in my generation. 

I have learned, that although is might be the way of our world today, we can still choose how we react to it. When our beliefs are challenged, we can develop and strengthen our knowledge of God.  We can learn His will for us.  We can come to know Him.  This is our opportunity to choose.
Because of all the conflicts around us today, I have made a choice.  It is a choice of peace and protection.  It is a choice of faith. Even in the midst of adversity,  I can choose to believe and live my life just a little better.  I have a very good friend who is a professed atheist.  He does not believe in God at all.  He has often told me that he doesn't understand how someone as smart as I am can fall for organized religion.  I used to get in many "discussions" with him over all of this.  Finally, one day, the answer was given to me.  I looked at him and said, "Friend, if you are right and I am wrong, if there really is no God, no life after death, no eternity, than who have I hurt with my life?  What decisions have I made that would matter?  If you are right and I am wrong, there will be no regrets, so it won't matter how I chose to live my life.  On the other hand, if I am right and you are wrong, you will have some explaining to do when I see you again". 

Faith requires each of us to "act as if" we have knowledge.  We have to act "as if" we know that it is possible.  I love the fact that the Savior said, “Come unto me” (Matthew 11:28) and “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7). These are action verbs; come, knock, seek, find. They are choices that we each have to make.  So, I have decided to choose faith.  I will choose faith over fear, doubt, and unbelief. 
Because of faith, I have personally witnessed pain replaced with peace; sin replaced with repentace; grief replaced with joy; and trials replaced with hope. 

• Because of my faith, I can work through the trials of my life with peace and assurance that He is in control and knows what I need. 
• Because of my faith, I can turn my doubts and fears into hope for a better tomorrow.  
• Because of my faith, I can be obedient in the things I do not understand. 
• Because of my faith, I can choose to live the principles that I know are true.  No matter how hard they sometimes are.  
• Because of my faith, I can know that I have a loving Heavenly Father who wants me to return to Him. 

 We each of the opportunity to choose how we will live, what we will do, and who we will follow. 

As for me, I choose faith.   

 

 The Faith of A Child

- Author unknown-

 

The father, a well digger,

Strong was he,

And as loving and kind

As a father could be.

And Mary his daughter,

Just five years old,

Was very much dearer

Than millions in gold.

 

To Mary her father

Was big, grand and nice,

So each had a treasure,

Beyond any price.

One day to the well,

Little Mary was sent

To take daddy’s lunch,

How gladly she went.

 

But when she looked down,

Not a thing could be seen.

The well, like a pocket,

Was dark as could be.

The father saw Mary

And heard her voice, too,

But made not a sound,

Just to see what she’d do.

 

She dropped to her knees,

The dear little soul,

And called down, “Oh, Daddy,

Are you down this hole?”

“Why, yes Mary darling,

I’m here at your feet,

Just drop my lunch

For I’m ready to eat.

 

Just let it go easy,

I’ll catch it all right.”

She did and she saw

It fall out of sight.

“Why Mary,” said father,

“There’s enough here for two,

Now this is the thing

I would like you to do.

 

You jump down here to me

And we’ll eat it together,

Down here in the cool

and away from the weather.”

“Oh, daddy, I’m afraid,

I can’t see you at all,

Be sure now you catch me

And don’t let me fall.”

 

‘Twas just for a moment

She wavered in doubt,

Then closing her dear

Little eyes she jumped out.

In the darkness, yes,

That was the test,

She trusted in faith

To her father’s request.

 

And both were so happy

He kissed her and smiled

Because of the sweet

Trusting faith of his child.

“Oh, sweet little Mary,

You put me to shame,

How often my Father

Has called me the same,

 

But because it was dark

I turned back in doubt.

Refusing the call,

Though his arms were stretched out