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In the Face of Doubt

In all my learning over the years, I have always been one to ask questions. You can ask my mom. I had

figured basic algebra out in first grade because I didn't like the way I was supposed to do them with little counters. But whether it has been in elementary math or in my love for politics, I have always grown the most when I ask questions that make me push deeper and deeper.

This pattern has continued in my study of the gospel. It's tricky, because as important as my first grade math classwork was, eternal life wasn't in play. Sometimes, my questions have really troubled me. I have given countless hours of study and pondering to issues that, in the end, frankly don't end up mattering. After reading another blog this morning (I am Mormon, and I Have Questions), I thought I would share some of what I have learned in dealing with my own questions, and how I've managed to keep these questions from turning into doubts.

First, we must recognize that these questions - and even doubts that stem from questions - are normal. Even more than normal, they can be quite useful! Peter taught that we should meet trials of faith with rejoicing, because they are "much more precious than of gold that perisheth" (1 Peter 1:6-7). In the same vein, Paul plead with the saints to "cast not away therefore your confidence" and have patience, because "endur[ing] a great fight of afflictions" has happened since the day those to whom he was speaking declared their allegiance to the Savior (Hebrews 10: 32, 35-36). Difficulties and trials are not signs that your faith is amiss!

Satan's main goal against us to make us miserable (2 Nephi 2:27), and unfortunately for us, he is very good at doing so. A mission has opened my eyes to what trials are like. I have seen people and families go through things I knew happened, but had never witnessed actually happening. My trials, in some ways thankfully, have never been so physical, so real. My trials have always been aimed at my investigative, I-need-to-understand-EVERYTHING side. Elder Paul V. Johsnon said something that I love, though:

"At times it may seem that our trials are focused on areas of our lives and parts of our souls with which we seem least able to cope. Since personal growth is

Christ Carries the Weight to Heaven

Too often, we look at sin as a simple setback. It's as if we can "Two steps forward, one step back" our way into heaven. When we look at it that way, repentance and forgiveness aren't much more than drawing the "Advance to go" Chance card in Monopoly, simply allowing us to get back to when we were perfect.

The bottom line is that no mortal has reached the standard of perfection demanded of Jesus of Nazareth in the Sermon on the Mount:

"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48).

That level of perfection does not come in an instant. It is not constantly attained each time we ask for forgiveness. It comes as a result of effort on our part, and our cooperation and agreement to the terms of the grace, justice, and mercy of God.

To illustrate the point I'm trying to make in a much more clear way, imagine your ship just went down, and you see an island off in the far distance. Naturally, you are going to swim with all your energy to get there. Perhaps if you are in the right condition, you could actually have the energy to make it!

Yet, for some reason, every now and then, you take a weight and tie it to the end of a rope; the other end of the rope is tied to you. Your swimming is going to get tougher and tougher, and is going to be utterly impossible. Try as you might, the weight is just going to be far too much, and you will be exhausted well before you can make it that ever-so-appealing island, where you can finally stay and rest.

That is what sin does to us. It weighs us down. It makes our progress all but impossible. Any progress we

In Him is No Darkness at All

Preach My Gospel, our guide as missionaries for the Lord, is full of absolutes. In the first chapter, which
discusses our purpose as missionaries, it lists a number of them:

• "The gospel of Jesus Christ as restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith will bless their families, meet their spiritual needs, and help them fulfill their deepest desires."
• "Only the gospel will save the world from the calamity of its own self-destruction."
• "Those who exercise faith in Christ, repent of their sins, and are baptized in Christ’s name can be sanctified by the Holy Ghost. If they endure to the end, they will stand spotless before Christ at the last day and will enter into the rest of the Lord. Christ will hold them guiltless before the Father. He will be their Mediator and Advocate."

Therein lies the beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It takes out the doubt. Are we still human, with human stress? Absolutely. But the difference is that we have answers.

Paul described this sense of serenity as being "illuminated... which hath great recompence of reward" (Hebrews 10:32, 35).

Illuminated. I love that word. When we are walking with the Savior, following in His footsteps, we can see more clearly. Moroni encouraged us to "Come

The Power of a Single Testimony

Early on in James' Epistle, he bears testimony of the power of personal revelation. He exhorts the then-
mostly Jewish church, saying:

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5)

Really, he was just bearing his testimony that God answers prayers. If you need help understanding something, God will help you figure it out. Coming from the half-brother of the Savior, that is powerful. He surely knew of the reality of a loving, listening Heavenly Father.

What I don't think James knew, was the eternal impact that one testimony would have. Nearly 1,800 years later, a young boy, lacking wisdom, would come across that scripture and change the world forever.

Joseph Smith was raised in a family that looked to the Bible for constant guidance. While his family was split on which church to join, religious life and adhering to the word of God was very important to them. Joseph, though, was left unsatisfied. Knowing that God wasn't the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), and that there was "one Lord, [and] one faith" (Ephesians 4:5), he simply wanted to know which church was truly