To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,
One of the miracles of the Book of Mormon is that the Lord showed Mormon our day so he knew what things in the records he was given would be most helpful to us as we navigate the challenges of our time. (Morm 8:35)
We often have opportunities to visit with members of the church who have lost their way. Often they are recent converts, but sometimes they are life-long members. It is interesting to see that they have allowed the lack of knowledge/answer to one particular question or another become a stumbling block to their ability to believe anything. So they are willing to throw out the 90% they do know in exchange for the 10% they don't know. Rather than assuming there is an answer and it will come in time if they are patient, they demand an answer immediately and claim that if they can't find an answer, they can't believe.
With the vision of our day that Mormon had, he included some valuable message for us to remember. There are two anti-Christ's whose experiences are shared in Jacob and Alma. Both are former believers and make similar demands to those we hear today. First Sherem says to Jacob:
"And it came to pass that he said unto me: Show me a sign by this power of the Holy Ghost..." (Jacob 7:13)
Later Korihor makes similar demands of Alma, but goes further by saying:
"If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words.
"I do not believe that there is a God; and I say also, that ye do not know that there is a God; and except ye show me a sign, I will not believe." (Alma 30:43,48)
In both cases, the demand is for "proof" so, they claim, that they can then believe. What they don't seem to understand is the Doctrine of Christ. Alma teaches the Zoramites in Alma 32 that "And now as I said concerning faith—faith IS NOT to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." (v 21). He then teaches them that knowledge comes through the exercise and nurture of faith and, over time, can become a perfect knowledge. (vs. 22-34) The ironic thing is that once it becomes a perfect knowledge, faith becomes "dormant" and is no longer a need.
In the New Testament we read of one of the twelve apostles (Thomas) who hadn't received the opportunity to see the risen Lord for himself. Feeling sorry for himself he states:
"Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." (Jn 20:25)
Later the Resurrected Savior teaches Thomas an important eternal truth when He finally appears to Thomas and says:
"...Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
"And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
"Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." (Jn 20:27-29)
The Savior values and blesses us for believing and gives us perfect knowledge AFTER the exercise of our faith.
Elders and Sisters, remember these principles. We act because we believe. Consistent actions based on true principles will lead to perfect knowledge eventually. Let's be sure we don't cast aside the things we know when we are confronted with something we don't know. Our hope is that, instead, we can demonstrate the faith of the father of the young man possessed of an evil spirit who pleaded with the Lord to heal his son by saying, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." (Mark 9:24)
This much we know. God lives. He is our literal Heavenly Father. He loves us so much He sent His son to ransom us from the Fall so we could return to His presence. His Kindgom has been restored to the Earth in our day as well as the authority to perform saving ordinances for all of His children. We are on His errand and we will succeed as we act in faith.
Love,
President and Sister Mortensen
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| President Mortensen speaks to a group at Sam Houston University |
