Believing Christ

“Faith and fear cannot coexist. One gives way to the other. The simple fact is we all need to constantly build faith and overcome sources of destructive disbelief” (Elder Pearson).

I promise that your life will be better in every way when you begin your journey down the path of faith in Jesus Christ. 

“Faith is to hope for things which are not seen, but which are true (Heb. 11:1; Alma 32:21), and must be centered in Jesus Christ to produce salvation.”  There are many things in the gospel that we need to develop faith in, but most importantly we must have our faith centered on the Savior. 

Preach My Gospel tells us that “having faith in Christ includes having a firm belief that He is the Only Begotten Son of God AND the Savior and Redeemer of the world” (pg 61). 

Savior.  Do we know and believe what that title means?  This is the aspect of faith that I want to address.  Many of us believe in Jesus Christ but do we believe Him?  I can say I have faith in Christ but just as important do I believe that He will actually do what He promised He would do?

Stephen Robinson beautifully writes in his book “Believing Christ” about this important understanding of having faith in Christ:   

“Not only must we believe that he is who he says he is, we must also believe that he can do what he says he can do.  We must only believe in Christ, we must also believe Christ when he says he can clean us up and make us celestial.  He says that through his atoning blood, all mankind may be saved – and “all mankind” must logically include you and me.  So until we accept the real possibility of our own exaltation in the kingdom of God, we do not yet have faith in Christ; we do not yet believe” (pg. 10).

I have forever been changed by this understanding.  The summer after Emmett died, as you may recall from my last post, was a very difficult time for me.  I needed to be free of fear.  The book previously mention, “Believing Christ” was recommended by a counselor that I had been meeting with.  After meeting with him and using this new resource in my gospel study I was able to find a new light that has lead me down a path of happiness.  As I came to understand and allow the power of Christ’s atonement in my life I felt the burdens I had been carrying lift off my shoulders.  I became a new person!  As I used my faith in Christ to guide me to believe in His merciful power I was able to be free. 

I had to start practicing right away.  I knew that if I only took this new knowledge and thanked Heavenly Father for helping me to understand that that wouldn’t be enough.  I needed to act and apply it my life every single day. 

“Faith without works is dead."  This is a vital part in believing Christ.  We need to act.  We are commanded to act.  We were just told today by Elder Hales in the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference that “there is no greater or more powerful lesson to learn than that of obedience.”  We need to heed the Lord’s commandment to have faith because if we don’t it will hinder our acceptance of all other aspects of this great gospel.  Elder Pearson taught, “If we desire more faith, we must be more obedient. When we teach our children by example or precept to be casual or situational in obeying God’s commandments, we prevent them from receiving this vital spiritual gift. Faith requires an attitude of exact obedience, even in the small, simple things.”  

Stephen Robinson continues, “If we believe only in Christ without believing Christ, then we are like people sitting in cold, dark houses surrounded by unused lamps and heater, people who believe in electricity but who never throw the switch to turn on the power.  People like this often pretend to themselves and to others that merely believing in electricity makes them warm and gives them light, but they still shiver in the dark unless they turn on the power.  Though the appliances may all work and the wiring may be in good order, until we accept the power itself, beyond merely believing in the theory of power, we cannot enjoy the warmth and the light.  This is why genuine faith in Christ – active acceptance of his power and not just passive belief in his identity – is and must be the very first principle of the gospel.  No matter how much of the gospel one learns or even believes as a theory, until we accept the reality of our own salvation, we have not yet turned on the power” (pg 12). 

We must make the decision today to believe Christ and take action in the right path.  “When we have faith in Christ, we accept and apply His Atonement and His teachings” (Preach My Gospel, page 61, emphasis added).  When we are faced with these moments, moments where we need to choose which direction we want our lives to go in, we can literally have our lives changed.  As you study about faith and apply its principles remember this counsel by Elder Pearson:

 “We do have a choice. We get what we focus on consistently. Because there is an opposition in all things, there are forces that erode our faith. Some are the result of Satan’s direct influence. But for others, we have no one but ourselves to blame. These stem from personal tendencies, attitudes, and habits we can learn to change. I will refer to these influences as the “Six Destructive Ds.”

First is doubt. Doubt is not a principle of the gospel. It does not come from the Light of Christ or the influence of the Holy Ghost. Doubt is a negative emotion related to fear. It comes from a lack of confidence in one’s self or abilities. It is inconsistent with our divine identity as children of God.

Doubt leads to discouragement. Discouragement comes from missed expectations. Chronic discouragement leads to lower expectations, decreased effort, weakened desire, and greater difficulty feeling and following the Spirit (see Preach My Gospel [2004], 10). Discouragement and despair are the very antithesis of faith.

Discouragement leads to distraction, a lack of focus. Distraction eliminates the very focus the eye of faith requires. Discouragement and distraction are two of Satan’s most effective tools, but they are also bad habits.

Distraction leads to a lack of diligence, a reduced commitment to remain true and faithful and to carry on through despite hardship and disappointment. Disappointment is an inevitable part of life, but it need not lead to doubt, discouragement, distraction, or lack of diligence.

If not reversed, this path ultimately leads to disobedience, which undermines the very basis of faith. So often the result is disbelief, the conscious or unconscious refusal to believe.

The scriptures describe disbelief as the state of having chosen to harden one’s heart. It is to be past feeling.

These Six Destructive Ds—doubt, discouragement, distraction, lack of diligence, disobedience, and disbelief—all erode and destroy our faith. We can choose to avoid and overcome them” (Elder Pearson). 

 If you find that any of those “Destructive Ds” are creeping their way into your heart - stop them!  They will not help you in your quest to finding more faith in your Savior.  Remember, President Hinkley said, “Always question.  Never doubt.”  Having questions about this gospel or any of its principles does not mean that you don’t have faith.  In fact, asking those questions, especially if you are getting on your knees and asking God about them, is showing great faith!  We will not get answers if we do not ask.  Find the courage to commence battle with the fears, trials, and heartaches in your life.  You will be blessed with “hidden treasures of knowledge” and light as you use your faith in Christ to seek out those truths. 

Remember it is important to believe in Christ but it is empowering to believe Him.  He has personally promised you that He can make you a perfect and celestial being.  Believe Him. 

Additional Resources

lds.org definition of faith:  https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/faith

Preach My Gospel:  https://www.lds.org/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service/lesson-3-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng

"Faith without works is dead"  James 2:20 https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/james/2.20?lang=eng

Talks

Elder Pearson "Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ"  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/faith-in-the-lord-jesus-christ?lang=eng&query=faith

Elder Russel M Nelson "Face the Future with Faith" https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/face-the-future-with-faith?lang=eng

Elder Edgley "Faith -- The Choice is Yours" https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/faith-the-choice-is-yours?lang=eng&query=faith

President Gordon B Hinkley "The Miracle of Faith" https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2001/04/the-miracle-of-faith?lang=eng&query=faith

Books

Stephen E Robison "Believing Christ" 

Elder Tad R Callister "The Infinite Atonement" 

Videos

Elder Richard G Scott "The Transforming Power of Faith and Character" https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2010-10-2080-elder-richard-g-scott?lang=eng