Doubts, doubters and deceivers class Feb 4

Scriptures:

1 Ne 2:9-16

Mosiah 26:3

1Ne 3:5-7, 28-31

1 Ne 4:2-4,6,15

1 Ne 7:8-14

1 Ne 15:7-11

D&C 6:14

1 Ne 15:10-11

1 Ne 16:1-4

God knows something we don’t .  Pres Uchtdorf  Living the gospel Joyfully RS Gen Conf Oct 2014

If you truly believe this, in your hearts---if you truly believe the great mission of our Heavenly Father is to exalt and glorify His children and that He knows best how to do it---doesn’t it make sense to embrace and follow His commandments, even the ones that appear difficult? 

One reason Satan encourages murmuring is to prevent us from following living prophets, inspired leaders, and parents. Elder H. Ross Workman of the Seventy explained that “murmuring consists of three steps, each leading to the next in a descending path to disobedience.” First, when people murmur they begin to question. They question “first in their own minds and then [plant] questions in the minds of others.” Second, those who murmur begin to “rationalize and excuse themselves from doing what they [have] been instructed to do. … Thus, they [make] an excuse for disobedience.” Their excuses lead to the third step: “Slothfulness in following the commandment.”

“The Lord has spoken against this attitude in our day: ‘But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned’ (D&C 58:29). …

“I invite you to focus on the commandment from living prophets that bothers you the most. Do you question whether the commandment is applicable to you? Do you find ready excuses why you cannot now comply with the commandment? Do you feel frustrated or irritated with those who remind you of the commandment? Are you slothful in keeping it? Beware of the deception of the adversary. Beware of murmuring” (in Conference Report, Oct. 2001, 104–6; or Ensign, Nov. 2001, 85–86).

Pres Uchtdorf says,  It’s natural to have questions—the acorn of honest inquiry has often sprouted and matured into a great oak of understanding. There are few members of the Church who, at one time or another, have not wrestled with serious or sensitive questions. Oct 2013 

Neal A Maxwell stated: It is (my) opinion that all the scriptures, including the Book of Mormon, will remain in the realm of  faith. Science wil not be able to prove or disprove holy wit. However, enough plausible evidence will come forth to prevent scoffers from having a field day, but not enough to remove the requirement of faith.”  Plain and Precious Things 1983 Deseret Book 

Elder Holland Oct 2013 conference 

When those moments ( of doubt)  surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes. The size of your faith or the degree of your knowledge is not the issue—it is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do have and the truth you already know.

     

When problems come and questions arise, do not start your quest for faith by saying how much you do not have, leading as it were with your “unbelief.

I am not asking you to pretend to faith you do not have. I am asking you to be true to the faith you do have. Sometimes we act as if an honest declaration of doubt is a higher manifestation of moral courage than is an honest declaration of faith. It is not! So let us all remember the clear message of this scriptural account: Be as candid about your questions as you need to be; life is full of them on one subject or another. But if you and your family want to be healed, don’t let those questions stand in the way of faith working its miracle.

Brothers and sisters, this is a divine work in process, with the manifestations and blessings of it abounding in every direction, so please don’t hyperventilate if from time to time issues arise that need to be examined, understood, and resolved. They do and they will. In this Church, what we know will always trump what we do not know. And remember, in this world, everyone is to walk by faith.

The Fruits of Faith

Look Up, My Soul – The Divine Promise of Hope, Book by Gerald N. Lund

Story of man and tithing - pp. 30 – 38

Answers to our Prayers

Bible Dictionary: “Prayer”

Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them.

Effects and Fruits of Faith

Lectures on Faith  Seven:  19. All things which pertain to life and godliness are the effects of faith.  20. When faith comes, it brings its train of attendants with it - apostles, prophets, Evangelists, pastors, teachers, gifts, wisdom, knowledge, miracles, healings, tongues, interpretation of tongues, etc. All these appear when faith appears on the earth and disappear when it disappears from the earth. For these are the effects of faith and always have attended and always will attend it. For where faith is, there will the knowledge of God be, also, with all things which pertain thereto: revelations, visions, and dreams, as well as every other necessary thing, so the possessors of faith may be perfected and obtain salvation.

Faith is Power

Bible Dictionary: “Faith”  (2^nd paragraph)

Faith is a principle of action and of power, and by it one can command the elements, heal the sick, and influence any number of circumstances when occasion warrants (Jacob 4:4–7). Even more important, by faith one obtains a remission of sins and eventually can stand in the presence of God.

(4^th paragraph)

Although faith is a gift, it must be cultured and sought after until it grows from a tiny seed to a great tree. The effects of true faith in Jesus Christ include: 

(1) an actual knowledge that the course of life one is pursuing is acceptable to the Lord (see Heb. 11:4); 

(2) a reception of the blessings of the Lord that are available to man in this life; and (3) an assurance of personal salvation in the world to come. 

These things involve individual and personal testimony, guidance, revelation, and spiritual knowledge. Where there is true faith there are miracles, visions, dreams, healings, and all the gifts of God that He gives to His saints.

Lectures on Faith

Six:  2. It is essential for any person to have an actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing is according to the will of God to enable him to have that confidence in God without which no person can obtain eternal life. 4. Such was and always will be the situation of the Saints of God. Unless they have an actual knowledge that the course they are pursuing is according to the will of God, they will grow weary in their minds and faint. 7. Let us here observe that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation. For from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things. It is through this sacrifice, and this only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy eternal life. And it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God. 

Elder Neal A. Maxwell said: “… the submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. The many other things we “give,” brothers and sisters, are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us. However, when you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give!  Consecration thus constitutes the only unconditional surrender which is also a total victory!”  

      (“Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father”, October 1995 General Conference)

Talks and Articles

Elder John K. Carmack, “Lord, Increase Our Faith,” Ensign, Mar. 2002, pg. 57

“Prayer: The Soul’s Sincere Desire”  article in Ensign, August 2002