(January 15, 2014)
How are we to build our faith, when each and every circumstance can be taken in multiple ways. Look, for example, with the family of Lehi arriving at Bountiful. This was a wonderful land and a wonderful place. Were they led by God or were they guided by chance? As far as Laman and Lemuel knew, there was no evidence to determine that in either direction. So, when the time came to build a ship, Laman and Lemuel withheld their labor because they did not believe.
So often, we are in a position of not being able to derive certainty of interpretation of the things around us. Is this a blessing, or is it the result of my own efforts? Is this trial to teach me something, or is it the result of someone else taking advantage of my attempts to be righteous? There is, as is the case for Laman and Lemuel, no intellectual way to find certainty in the face of such situations.
As I learn and struggle, I am becoming more and more convinced that faith is an intentional act. It is a resolution to believe – a gift of God, to be certain, but also a resolution to approach a situation that can be interpreted in multiple ways with the view that is consistent with our understanding of God and His plan for us. This is, in some ways, very uncomfortable – we want to have certainty in our lives, especially when it comes to the issues that are the most important to us. But we are commanded to choose, and in order to do so there must be a trial of our faith.
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