Faith! A Talk.

I was asked to speak in church on "Faith" using the Ensign article "Seeing the promises afar off" these are my remarks!

Today I would like to touch on a very sacred topic, I hope you don’t mind. I pray that the spirit may be with us so that we can learn together.

From the very beginning I knew my Brooklyn would be a very special girl. On February 7^th 2013  she was diagnosed via ultrasound with a terminal condition. After subsequent testing the diagnosis was confirmed. Because of the complex nature of the condition no intervention could reasonably be enlisted. It was the worst news I had ever received in my life. My heart felt like it would break. Yet, at the same time I remember feeling the distinct impression that “Everything would be okay.”.

One might ask in light of the situation, “How could everything be okay?” In fact, I made mention of that question many times in one of my many prayers to God. It was incomprehensible to me that—somehow--through death everything would turn out okay. Yet the feelings of peace persisted. She would be okay.  

In the book of Mormon there is a story of a man named Enos. Enos was a righteous man and while hunting he was pondering on the goodness of God. And his soul hungered. This description is something I think we all can relate to. At one point in our lives we have felt hunger. It is a very powerful feeling when you are hungry enough. This “spiritual hunger” caused Enos to pray all day long unto God. Pleading for himself and for his people. God Granted his petition. Then he felt moved to pray for the lamanites who were an unrighteous, unrepentant, blood thirsty people. He prayed that they would have the scriptures and that they did not destroy them like they had promised. God told Enos that even if his own people perished the lamanites would receive the word and would be saved.

In enos’s words:

And I, Enos, knew that God ^acould not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.

 7 And I said: Lord, how is it done?

 8 And he said unto me: ^aBecause of thy ^bfaith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee ^cwhole.

Anne C Pingree stated in her talk “Seeing the promises afar off”

“Faith, the spiritual ability to be persuaded of promises that are seen “afar off” but that may not be attained in this life, is a sure measure of those who truly believe. Elder Bruce R. McConkie expressed this truth in these words: “Faith in its full and pure form requires an unshakable assurance and … absolute confidence that [God] will hear our pleas and grant our petitions” in His own due time. Believing that, we too can “stand fast in the faith” today and tomorrow.

When we learned of this news, my soul hungered. I felt a driving force that brought me to my knees to struggle in prayer like Enos did. At first I prayed for a miracle. I prayed for inaccurate test results. I prayed for instantaneous healing. Then I just prayed. Soon after we found out the news Elder Bednar gave a talk for a CES fireside about  recently married couple. 3 weeks later the husband was diagnosed with cancer. Elder Bednar came to give him a blessing and before the blessing he asked him if he had the faith not to be healed. The husband and wife were faithful in accepting the will of the Lord and he was healed.  This resonated with me and I began to seriously consider the fact that my daughter’s condition would be fatal. As I continued to pray, I began to be okay with this. In accepting this diagnosis I was able to look beyond the difficult trial and begin to see the blessings that she would bring to our life. And all along the way the continued assurance that all would be okay.

I love the first book of Nephi, chronicling the journey of Nephi’s family in the wilderness. One particular time I really felt a connection to him was when he is asked to go back to Jerusalem to get the brass plates. Nephi makes three separate attempts to receive the plates, even at the risk of his own life. Nephi describes his trial in this way:

“And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.”

One year I attended girls camp the leaders had a special activity set up. A rope was attached to a tree and wound through the forest. We were blindfolded and told to “grasp the iron rod” and to  “Listen to the holy ghost” amid the other voices trying to tell us what to do. This activity became allegorical for my life and I reflect on it often. When I first began I heard a soft voice tell me “Hold on to the rod and don’t let go until you reach the end.” Suddenly there were many voices shouting, offering me rewards I might have walked away from the “Iron rod for” I was not fooled. I continued following the string for an indeterminate length of time when a voice said, “You’ve done it! You can let go now!” Holding on to the iron rod I felt relieved, I then began to let go, when suddenly I remembered that my instruction was to hold on until I reached the end. I faithfully clasped the “iron rod” and continued on my way despite the other voices telling me to let go. When I finally reached the end I knew it was the end and I received a candybar as my reward. I was grateful I listened to that still small voice.

Richard G Scott said in April of 2003

 “A fundamental purpose of earth life is personal growth and attainment. Consequently, there must be times of trial and quandary to provide opportunity for that development. What child could ever grow to be self-supporting in maturity were all the critical decisions made by parents? So it is with our Heavenly Father. His plan of happiness is conceived so that we will have challenges, even difficulties, where decisions of great importance must be made so that we can grow, develop, and succeed in this mortal probation.  Gratefully, in His perfect love, He has provided a way for us to resolve those challenges while growing in strength and capacity.”

Trials give us the opportunity to choose whether to listen to the other voices or whether to grasp the iron rod and push on toward the tree of life. If we do, our reward is much better than a candybar.

Anne C Pingree told of a trip with her husband to a remote area of their mission in the Ikot Eyo district in Nigeria Africa. The saints knew the appointed day but phones were scarce so no one knew the hour they would arrive. Many saints waited all day to receive a temple recommend. All of the members lived 3,000 miles away from the nearest temple in Johannesburg South Africa. None had received their temple endowment. Of this experience she says,

“When we arrived, I noticed among those waiting in the searing heat were two Relief Society sisters dressed in bold-patterned wrappers, white blouses, and the traditional African head-ties.

Many hours later, after all the interviews were completed, as my husband and I drove back along that sandy jungle trail, we were stunned when we saw these two sisters still walking. We realized they had trekked from their village—a distance of 18 miles round trip—just to obtain a temple recommend they knew they would never have the privilege of using.

These Nigerian Saints believed the counsel of President Howard W. Hunter: “It would please the Lord for every adult member to be worthy of—and to carry—a current temple recommend, even if proximity to a temple does not allow immediate or frequent use of it.”  In her hand, carefully wrapped in a clean handkerchief, each sister carried her precious temple recommend.”

She went on to say, “My husband and I tenderly recalled these sisters and so many other West African Saints on that remarkable day in April 2000 when President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “We announce at this conference that we hope to build a house of the Lord in Aba, Nigeria. Brothers and sisters, I testify that sometimes “miracles…confirm…faith.”

We knew that when we came to earth, this would be a time of testing. And it would be difficult. But it’s okay.

The Lord has said

 “I have decreed in my heart, saith the Lord, that I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy.

“For if ye will not abide in my covenant ye are not worthy of me” (D&C 98:14–15; emphasis added).

The law of sacrifice provides an opportunity for us to prove to the Lord that we love Him more than any other thing. As a result, the course sometimes becomes difficult since this is the process of perfection that prepares us for the celestial kingdom to “dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever” (D&C 76:62).

Our little Brooklyn lived 20 miraculous days beyond birth with much difficulty.  Her whole life was an uphill battle. And yet, in her sweet innocence she never gave up faith, she seemed to be fueled with the fire of the testimony of God. Throughout the duration of our trial I found myself kneeling in fervent prayer to understand his ways “for his ways are higher than our ways”.  He never told me that she would die. I was never told how she would die or why she had to die. And when she passed away it was merciful and beautiful and poignant.

I learned that we can do hard things and it’s okay. There are some children who are not meant to remain on this earth. Some people who are called home, seemingly early. There is a greater calling for them on the other side. I will receive my daughter back one day, for that is God’s promise. I will not miss a single moment with her because she will be mine once more. During the difficult times, however, I must act in faith and remember to see the promises afar off. A glorious reward is waiting for me on the other side. Eternal life, eternal family, eternal happiness with Father in Heaven.

I was asked to bear a child and to return her to her Father in Heaven. There will be many things that we will be asked to do but if we have faith and hold to the iron rod, everything will be for our benefit and learning.

Jesus Christ was asked to bear all things. He suffered excruciating agony so that we would not have to. He asks us only to shoulder our burdens for a short time—with his help. There is not a burden he has not carried, a sorrow he has not wept for. He understand our deepest hurts and our most jubilant victories. He suffered and bled and died because he had a full vision of the promises afar off. He knew that we would receive all the promises of God but that some of the promises we would receive after this life.

The faithful words of the song Nearer my god, to thee, forever will ring in my heart.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me;

Still all my song shall be nearer, my God, to Thee,

There let the way appear steps unto heav'n;

All that Thou sendest me in mercy giv'n;

Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee,

My little Brooklyn has gone on to her mission and we will rejoice when we are reunited. Through the ups and downs of life remember that it is not great feat to give into fears and sorrows. We have the ability to look forward with a perfect brightness of faith. Trust in the Lord for all of the promises he has given have been kept and they will all be kept. I testify to you that our trials do not have to break us, they can be a defining shape of our character. As we rise to the challenge of becoming whom we are capable of being God will bless us. no matter what you are enduring right now…no difficulty is so heavy that the Lord cannot shoulder it with you. He will lift your burden, give you comfort and help you to see the promises afar off. Turn to him, ask in faith. Knock and it shall be given unto you.

There will assuredly come a day when “All that was promised the saints will be given.”

I testify of this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.