1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:21,600 Hey there everybody welcome back another podcast of Redeemed Through His Blood this is Scott Durfey 2 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:27,800 joined as always by my good friend. Oh so good to be here with you Scott. David Durfey how are you 3 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:36,200 Dave? Good good enough. Good enough right yeah you know that good enough is exactly right. Because 4 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:45,040 he was good enough. Yeah yeah that's what I think a lot is it because he was good enough. How was 5 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:53,560 your week? It was good you know we've had our our challenges with our suffering son who can't 6 00:00:53,560 --> 00:01:02,440 seem to hold a job or become self-reliant that kind of puts puts us a little bit into a state of 7 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:12,880 worry and fear and you know Scott the greatest the greatest pain that I think we feel in this 8 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:23,040 life is is because of family because of those that you love that you can't control. I mean there's 9 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:32,480 we bring so much pain on ourselves because of our own sins and weakness and mistakes and but you 10 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:40,240 know generally we believe that we can do something about that can't always but we believe we can or 11 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:47,240 that through the Savior and His enabling power that we can overcome it but when it's a child you 12 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:53,720 don't really have much control over anything other than to love them you can only choose to love 13 00:01:53,720 --> 00:02:02,560 them and and hopefully hopefully you receive some sort of a vision or witness that that the Savior 14 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:10,640 has got them and we've had that with this child with this 32 year old son who's a little bit more 15 00:02:10,640 --> 00:02:21,160 like an adolescent than he is a 32 year old but it's so sweet when you get in that state of worry, 16 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:32,480 fear, even depression just it's when you can really cry out to God just and I and I have and we 17 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:41,520 have and and be really humbled Scott I think the thing that I've felt most of all this week is 18 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:49,960 the humility and you know Scott I don't think humility is something you just do on your own. 19 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:54,200 Yeah and it's not something that just happens overnight for a lot of us. 20 00:02:54,200 --> 00:03:02,640 It doesn't it's not something or you just make up your mind to be humble. Humility is is one of 21 00:03:02,640 --> 00:03:09,000 I think the sweetest gifts of the Spirit that that comes from God and my experience was when I 22 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:15,400 really cried out you know for miracles and for changes we all do with our children or others 23 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:23,600 you know who we love which we pray to God to change them please change them and we have faith 24 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:33,200 that he kick that he can or could and but for whatever reason he may not usually doesn't 25 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:46,440 and but in in place of that request such humility comes over came over me this week and has in 26 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:59,880 the past and that humility Scott it really sustains me to know how dependent I am how in many ways 27 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:14,760 how helpless we are and yet in God's grace and mercy how dependent and self-reliant how dependent 28 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:22,840 and reliant we are upon upon Jesus Christ and his atonement that humility also brings great 29 00:04:22,840 --> 00:04:28,720 desires we've talked about gratitude understanding the atonement of Jesus Christ really understanding 30 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:38,160 it really understanding it and being grateful for it leads to such great depths of gratitude 31 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:47,520 which then turn into great desires but humility does that as well and last week we spoke about a 32 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:55,520 lot about faith right and we spoke a lot about Alma chapter 32 and as I've been thinking about 33 00:04:55,520 --> 00:05:05,000 things this week and and what we spoke about last week we kind of maybe just skipped that critical 34 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:13,520 step of humility because the Zoramites in Alma chapter 32 that were the cast out those who were 35 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:24,360 cast out downtrodden came to Alma on the hill of Oneida and and Alma tells them you know it's so 36 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:34,120 great that you're humble now and it really Scott afflictions tribulations that really does it really 37 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:41,440 can add to our humility yeah it can doesn't always doesn't have you know yeah you know people can 38 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:46,520 become bitter and there's a you know we have to create a distinction between humiliation and 39 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:54,160 humility they're not always the same thing yeah right yeah right but in Alma chapter 32 maybe 40 00:05:54,160 --> 00:06:01,320 we should remind our listeners of the these verses which they're probably familiar but this 41 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:09,320 this really precedes faith unless one really needs to know and wants to know and is humble 42 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:20,000 enough and meek enough to seek to know they will probably never know and when I talk about knowing 43 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:26,240 I'm also talking about having faith because I think knowledge and faith are really really 44 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:36,880 synonymous I know that you know Alma gives that that one definition that you know you you don't 45 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:44,200 have faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things and it's not but you can't have faith 46 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:50,920 without some knowledge so knowing and having faith I think are pretty synonymous they go together 47 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:57,760 they're inextricably linked but before we can really have faith and before we plant that seed 48 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:06,400 in our hearts the seed which is the word remember the word is the seed faith is not the seed when 49 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:13,360 we plant the word of God in our hearts and that word we established last week was Jesus Christ 50 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:22,680 and him crucified that's that's in Alma chapter 33 and once you plant that word in your heart 51 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:28,840 whether it whether it grows Scott is really dependent upon the condition of one's heart you 52 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:36,120 know how rich is the soil if you're going to plant it in the heart just like planting any seed the 53 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:42,360 soil has got to be good because if the soil isn't good then it's not going to grow and the soil of 54 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:50,240 our heart I believe that really grows faith is humility when our when our hearts are soft and 55 00:07:50,240 --> 00:08:00,640 our hearts are humble the word of God will always grow and if we plant the word in our heart and 56 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:10,840 it doesn't grow then we we've skipped humility or we have not put enough emphasis on humility and 57 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:16,720 Alma does that right off the bat even before he speaks to them of faith and the power of faith 58 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:22,600 and planting the seed in their hearts he talks to them about humility and I just think those verses 59 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:30,480 are really critical so can we just read those maybe Scott it starts I think in verse 13 14 15 60 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:38,720 right right in there it talks about it would be better if you received the if you were humbled by 61 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:43,200 the word but it's it's good that you've been compelled to be humble yeah I'm actually gonna 62 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:50,160 start in 12 if that's okay okay I say unto you this is so this is Alma chapter 32 verse starting 63 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:56,560 in verse 12 I say unto you it is well that you are cast out of your synagogue why that you may 64 00:08:56,560 --> 00:09:04,040 be humble and that you may learn wisdom for it is necessary that you should learn wisdom for it 65 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:09,200 is because that you are cashed out that you are despised of your brethren because of your exceeding 66 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:17,480 poverty that you are brought to the loneliness of heart for ye are necessarily brought to be humble 67 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:24,200 and now because you are compelled to be humble blessed are ye for a man sometimes if he is 68 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:31,280 compelled to be humble seeketh repentance and now surely whosoever repenteth shall find mercy and he 69 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:38,240 that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved and now as I said unto you 70 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:44,600 that because ye were compelled to be humble you were blessed do you not suppose that they are more 71 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:53,560 blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word hmm that good yeah and that word is 72 00:09:53,560 --> 00:10:01,280 Christ that's right that word is Christ and that is the greatest purest most powerful form of 73 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:09,920 humility when it is based upon Jesus Christ and understanding his atoning sacrifice for us so 74 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:19,040 what happens is that when you cry out for someone else or we cry out for God to change someone else 75 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:30,000 or we we cry out for God to take away our pains and our afflictions and our tribulations my 76 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:39,320 experience Scott is that deep humility comes over me and when I receive that gift and it is a gift 77 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:48,000 of the Spirit I know it is and it is a gift that is directly in my case at least linked to deep 78 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:57,240 prayer I mean crying out prayer I'm not I'm not talking about you know nicely kindly neatly kneeling 79 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:02,040 down the edge of your bed with your your hands folded or your arms folded I'm talking about 80 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:09,880 crying out in some despair when you really cry out to God in some level of despair and need 81 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:20,240 Scott he has always answered me with humility and sometimes a little chastisement which humbles 82 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:28,120 me and I I start you know what happens is when you well I'll just one my experience this past week 83 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:38,600 crying out for a son in some frustration telling my heavenly Father I know he can be changed I know 84 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:47,160 he can be healed I know that he can you know that he he and the you know it's all about God and my 85 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:56,160 son and pretty much what happens by the time that prayer is finished it's about well how about you 86 00:11:56,160 --> 00:12:04,480 David can I change you yeah will you let me change you let's start with you and that's when 87 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:18,400 that deep humility sets in right that oh man I I I'm just I'm so so weak and and then that humility 88 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:27,120 sets in and the gratitude comes and and the desires and you know so he the miracle hasn't 89 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:34,160 happened he my son's the same person has the same problems as the same challenges hasn't found a job 90 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:42,840 this week that creates all kinds of worries and pressures and fears in his parents life you know 91 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:54,160 about his ability to be independent and self-reliant but the the fear it really is is really gone I 92 00:12:54,160 --> 00:13:08,320 mean the worry is not not so great and the humility has led to faith and greater understanding and a 93 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:18,080 desire to control with help from God the things that I can control and in humility comes greater 94 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:27,160 love greater compassion humility is such an important attribute Scott it's right there with 95 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:36,760 gratitude when it comes to bringing desires and change into our life and the way Alma teaches it 96 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:44,880 here and the way it's taught in other scriptures in the in the Bible Book of Mormon and other places 97 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:53,520 many church history examples of this as well is that humility great humility precedes great faith 98 00:13:53,520 --> 00:14:00,280 yeah and healing that great humility definitely precedes healing and all of the other things 99 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:04,840 that come along with that I had had a little experience with that this weekend can I share 100 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:12,920 that with you so I'm sitting in an alcoholics anonymous meeting on Saturday morning and there 101 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:20,160 was a young person not all that young but a person a man that I sponsor and I could do any and 102 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:28,080 he's really struggling he struggled to stay sober he struggled to be able to do anything productive 103 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:33,840 in his life and after the meeting we got together for a little bit and we went for a little ride 104 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:42,040 in my truck and went and got a drink a Diet Coke or whatever and and as we were talking he was just 105 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:48,680 crying he was just beside himself you know here's this big grown man kind of a but you know what 106 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:55,080 not not necessarily a tough guy kind of man but he's definitely just not somebody that this would 107 00:14:55,080 --> 00:15:00,680 not be characteristic of him and so as we're sitting in my truck he just looked at me and he 108 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:10,280 says I just don't think I can ever do this I don't think I can ever do this that's the problem 109 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:18,400 yeah I yeah and so I I just kind of left him with that for a minute and he just went on about 110 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:25,240 how I just this and I just that and you know and I've been there too I hope I don't sound like 111 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:32,520 I'm condescending to this guy because that's just we all want to fix it and that's that's why it was 112 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:38,480 so familiar to me because I didn't just feel that when I first got sober I have felt that several 113 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:44,360 times maybe since then you know as my mind gets clouded or whatever and I and I'm not saying you 114 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:50,560 know that around drinking alcohol but other things in my life and finally you know when he was just 115 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:56,400 exhausted and I think all the tears had run out and he takes a deep breath and he just looks at me 116 00:15:56,400 --> 00:16:05,040 and I said he says Scott I can't do it and I said isn't that wonderful finally it's not up to you 117 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:12,800 how relieving is that to know that you can't in and of yourself do it you have to do the work but 118 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:18,120 it's not up to you to do it it's your higher power that's how we refer to it in our colleagues 119 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:23,800 anonymous for obvious reasons maybe not so obvious reasons to some but there are obvious reasons to 120 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:31,120 those of us who understand that but he once he once he once he kind of embraced that you know 121 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:36,560 it's not up to me it's up to Heavenly Father and through Christ's atonement which we know he's not 122 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:41,560 quite aware of that yet but hopefully but you know that that that brings some relief and that 123 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:49,480 that humility there Dave brings us as you said to gratitude because you think of the relief right 124 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:54,400 you know for a person like me for a person like that who has who has you know been taught all 125 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:59,760 her life just buck up pal you know just pull up your bootstraps just go to work put your head 126 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:03,600 down and go to work you'll be fine and all the putting your head down and go into work and all 127 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:09,520 the bootstrap pulling that we can muster just sometimes doesn't seem to cut it to finally be 128 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:16,160 able to say I can't I give up yeah you know there's the in that surrender the humility that comes 129 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:23,160 in that surrender there's great power through Jesus Christ well with you with that experience 130 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:33,840 Scott you know he wasn't humble by saying I can't do this I mean I don't know him and I don't know 131 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:40,080 the situation so I don't mean to judge here but but for him or for many others just to say I can't 132 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:49,360 do this and to throw in the towel or no or give up or try to end it by taking your life or by 133 00:17:49,360 --> 00:17:57,760 by drinking again yeah just just giving up and in doing it yeah there's no humility in that no 134 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:04,840 the humility comes in I can't he can yes and I'm going to yes that's where the humility lies let 135 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:14,560 God let go let go let God that's that's humility yeah and and tell you said to him isn't that 136 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:21,320 wonderful that you can't do it but with God's help and if he felt the spirit of that or yeah 137 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:30,480 the light in that yeah then it became humility yeah so it's not just knowing how helpless we are 138 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:40,520 there's no humility in that there's true humility has to be that we are we recognize our complete 139 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:51,400 utter total dependence upon God and upon Jesus Christ in his fulfillment well and and you know 140 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:56,640 there's there's as part of the steps of alcoholics anonymous the third step so the first step is is I 141 00:18:56,640 --> 00:19:02,800 just my life's unmanageable and and I and I have no control over my and then that's not really 142 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:06,840 humility in that no and then although that although that's good that's a good confession 143 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:12,720 well and it's a beginning and then the second one is is came to believe that a power greater 144 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:16,400 than myself could restore me to sanity now there's a little bit of faith and hope there but 145 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:21,000 there's still not a lot of humility there yeah but here's where the humility begins and the third 146 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:25,640 step is we make a decision to turn our will in our life over the care of God as we understand him 147 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:31,200 yeah and there's a prayer that you know we use a lot of written prayers and alcoholics anonymous 148 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:37,640 for again obvious reasons I think and I'm just gonna reach it short but it's on page 63 of the 149 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:44,160 big book of alcoholics anonymous it says this is the prayer God I offer myself to thee to build 150 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:51,120 with me and to do with me as thou wilt relieve me of the bondage of self that I may better do 151 00:19:51,120 --> 00:19:57,400 thy will take away my difficulties that victory over them may be bear witness to those I would 152 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:06,400 help of thy power thy love and thy way of life may I do may I do thy will always yeah that's 153 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:11,400 where humility begins well so you use that's that's awesome Scott thanks for sharing that 154 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:17,800 because you can see in those in that prayer and even in step two and three step step two is 155 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:24,120 where humility really begins and step three is really quite a statement of faith because I wanted 156 00:20:24,120 --> 00:20:31,800 to say this too in regards to our podcast last week which we didn't get to is to really define 157 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:40,040 faith faith is not getting what we want it's just it's just wrong to think that if we had enough 158 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:47,320 faith we could have this and this and this or experience that and that and that and that God 159 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:54,480 would you know that's not faith faith is not getting what we want faith is accepting the 160 00:20:54,480 --> 00:21:02,160 will of God and seeking to carry it out and aligning our will with that that's great faith 161 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:12,040 right that's the faith of power faith of power is knowing the will of God and then acting to 162 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:22,160 fulfill it or carry it out right that is the faith of power and it takes great humility in our 163 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:30,880 hearts to be able to plant this the word of God or the will of God in our hearts and watch it 164 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:38,640 watch it grow and become that to that tree that bears that's great fruit so we talked about faith 165 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:47,000 in the general last week Scott the faith of so simple faith believing in things or you know that 166 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:53,760 you can't see and Alma gives that definition and so does Marona in ether chapter 12 by the way 167 00:21:53,760 --> 00:22:02,920 ether chapter 12 is such an amazing chapter on faith Scott I mean you see again the the simple to 168 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:10,400 the divine and the power of faith in chapter 12 he begins by kind of defining it as it's something 169 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:15,560 that we believe in that we can't see but pretty soon in fact in the very end of that chapter he 170 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:24,720 says but I've seen Jesus I mean so he goes from the really simple to the really profound and 171 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:34,440 power of faith which is ultimately seeing which is ultimately knowing which is ultimately speaking 172 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:43,080 and it is done in fact he talks about a prophet named does well who's the prophet that the 173 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:49,080 Mount Zerran or whatever that he Zerran yeah it's Zerran will you read that verse Scott for the 174 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:55,200 brother of Jared said unto the Mount Zerran remove and it was removed and if he had not 175 00:22:55,200 --> 00:23:02,760 have faith it would not have moved wherefore thou workest after men have faith okay so there's 176 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:08,520 a couple things there what verses that that's 30 that's verse 30 in ether chapter 12 in ether 177 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:16,760 12 yeah that he speaks to a mountain and the mountain moves and we we I can't help but think 178 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:23,280 about moving mountains and not think about President Elton's talk on faith where if you 179 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:29,320 have the faith of a mustard seed you can move mountains there's such a great talk that our 180 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:39,440 dear prophet gave so that that is powerful faith to speak and it happens not because the brother 181 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:47,680 of Jared wants it to happen right it's because he knows it's the will of God for whatever reason 182 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:54,640 that that mountain be moved and Scott it may be a physical mountain it may be an emotional 183 00:23:54,640 --> 00:24:00,040 mountain and it most often it may be a spiritual mountain that's right we have so many mountains 184 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:09,560 and barriers in our life that God desires and has a will to move if we would just act 185 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:15,880 in faith and ask in faith and the very last part of that verse says what does it say about 186 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:26,560 after your faith Scott wherefore thou workest after men have faith that he says that twice 187 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:35,760 in in ether chapter 12 that God works after we have faith and again keep in mind what 188 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:43,400 faith is it's not getting what we want he works when we come to know his will and accept 189 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:49,240 it and seek to fulfill it yeah that's when he works that's when you will you will see 190 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:56,760 great miracles in in in our lives is when we understand his will and then we act in 191 00:24:56,760 --> 00:25:07,640 faith and Scott I've given many blessings throughout my life blessings of healing general 192 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:17,320 general priesthood blessings for comfort for peace for strength patriarchal blessings and 193 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:24,600 Scott there is no power in any of those if I'm just if I just say what I want to say 194 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:32,920 that's right or if I just bless them with what I want them to have the real the real 195 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:42,440 faith comes when I know this is the will of God and this is what he wants them to know 196 00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:51,560 or to hear or to see or to feel then then those those can be life changing and I've 197 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:57,080 I've seen miracles I've seen instant healing Scott because of because of faith so so Scott 198 00:25:57,080 --> 00:26:05,760 as a as a young missionary I had this experience where a young couple had been baptized and 199 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:12,400 they had shared the gospel with their friend and we were teaching now teaching her and 200 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:20,400 she had accepted a baptismal date and brother bitters her good friend she was student teaching 201 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:26,600 with him he was a teacher at Fresno high school I think and we had committed her Susan to 202 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:31,600 be baptized and and brother bitters was going to baptize her and about two o'clock in the 203 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:40,400 morning on a Friday night the really the morning of the baptism 2 a.m. in the morning 204 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:49,040 Karen bitters calls me and she on the phone and she says brother elder derpy con is in 205 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:56,520 such great pain I don't think he'll be able to perform the baptism tomorrow well I could 206 00:26:56,520 --> 00:27:02,120 hear him groaning in the background and so they came over and we gave them a blessing 207 00:27:02,120 --> 00:27:06,680 they would they wanted a blessing and they went home and she called me a little bit later 208 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:13,440 and she's a few hours later and she says it's worse and so she said will you give him another 209 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:21,000 blessing oh Scott I had never received a request to give another blessing because the first 210 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:30,120 one didn't work and you know I was all new to this but I was so humble and I had such 211 00:27:30,120 --> 00:27:38,320 great faith really is a young man as a missionary you know how that is and I knew I had about 212 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:43,400 10 minutes before they they would come from their house stars and man I knelt down and 213 00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:50,040 I just begged I really pleaded I had never I don't think quite cried out like I did that 214 00:27:50,040 --> 00:28:02,280 morning and and I begged it to Heavenly Father to know his will and believed express my belief 215 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:10,680 that I knew that he could if he if it was his will if he would and when they came over 216 00:28:10,680 --> 00:28:22,880 and we laid our hands on his head and this time the blessing was much more brief and 217 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:32,240 much more to the point and I would just remember saying something like brother com bitters by 218 00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:38,520 the power of the holy malechess he priesthood and in the name of Jesus Christ I command 219 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:48,040 your arm to be healed was really in his shoulder and I said a few more things and then the 220 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:56,080 prayer is very brief and he said you know when you when you said that I command he said 221 00:28:56,080 --> 00:29:04,800 I felt something pop in my shoulder well at 9 a.m. a few hours later we met at the stake 222 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:13,800 center to perform Susan's baptism and con brother bitters he said that his arm was numb 223 00:29:13,800 --> 00:29:21,400 he had no more pain he had been miraculously healed it was numb but because it was numb 224 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:28,440 he was concerned about it worried about it and after the baptism he went to a doctor 225 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:35,720 and the doctor gets to get an x-ray and said that he had had a bad case of bursitis in 226 00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:44,000 his shoulder I think that's what it was another doctor but that the fluid around the shoulder 227 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:54,440 had popped and that the fluid was was draining into his arm and it pinched a nerve and that's 228 00:29:54,440 --> 00:30:02,400 why his arm was numb and it should go away in 24 hours and it did Scott I knew that I 229 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:12,000 I mean we all knew that we had witnessed a miracle and that I had seen some miracles 230 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:19,360 before my mission but that was really the beginning I guess of seeing you know the faith 231 00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:29,360 knowing the will of God when you know that's what God would say if he were there well the 232 00:30:29,360 --> 00:30:34,520 difference between having faith in ourselves which can be powerful sure faith in ourselves 233 00:30:34,520 --> 00:30:43,480 can be powerful faith you know faith is is a power and you can have faith in wrong things 234 00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:49,040 and bad things can happen if you have faith in wrong things and you can have faith in 235 00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:58,320 yourself and you can do a lot of great things but faith in God and faith in Jesus Christ 236 00:30:58,320 --> 00:31:09,600 will always lead to redemption it will always lead to a spiritual outcome and it will it 237 00:31:09,600 --> 00:31:16,000 will be edifying it will be uplifting it will be enlightening it'll be all those things 238 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:20,680 all those things that we can describe that are spiritual and that's the difference God 239 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:28,600 I think so many people who aren't even believers aren't even Christian can do powerful things 240 00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:35,760 even maybe miracles Scott yeah Satan has power and he can do great things too if people 241 00:31:35,760 --> 00:31:43,920 believe in him knowledge is power there's so much so many things that can be done with 242 00:31:43,920 --> 00:31:51,280 faith in yourself or faith in in even wrong things bad things evil things but faith in 243 00:31:51,280 --> 00:32:01,280 God is knowing his will and then acting to fulfill it and it will always lead to greater 244 00:32:01,280 --> 00:32:07,960 spiritual things and we know that we know that sometimes having faith is even having 245 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:13,640 faith not to be healed right right elder bednar yeah will you share that story well 246 00:32:13,640 --> 00:32:21,600 elder bednar shared story in a in a worldwide devotional for young adults and he tells the 247 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:28,400 story calls him John who'd come home from his mission fulfilled a successful mission 248 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:34,320 became engaged to be married and I think it was three weeks after they were married they 249 00:32:34,320 --> 00:32:44,480 found that he had cancer tumor and that it was like a 70% chance that he wasn't going 250 00:32:44,480 --> 00:32:53,040 to make it so he was having surgery and elder bednar I think had actually met him on his 251 00:32:53,040 --> 00:32:59,160 mission and somehow knew about this and and went to the hospital to give him a blessing 252 00:32:59,160 --> 00:33:06,680 and elder bednar says in the devotional he says I had never asked this question before 253 00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:11,920 I'd never even thought of this question before but before I gave this young man a priesthood 254 00:33:11,920 --> 00:33:19,720 blessing he said to him I just need to ask you a question do you have the faith not to 255 00:33:19,720 --> 00:33:28,320 be healed and this young man said elder bednar I I'm not I'm not really sure what that what 256 00:33:28,320 --> 00:33:37,640 that means I and he had to think about it for a while and after a few moments he confirmed 257 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:44,600 that he did have the faith to accept the will of God whether that was to be healed or not 258 00:33:44,600 --> 00:33:51,160 be healed and elder bednar proceeded to give him a blessing and it was the will of God 259 00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:58,560 that he be healed and he was miraculously was healed but I it's such a great question do 260 00:33:58,560 --> 00:34:09,600 we have the faith not for our son to be changed or healed do we have the faith not to receive 261 00:34:09,600 --> 00:34:18,440 all of those blessings we thought that in our own wisdom wisdom man which is nothing we 262 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:22,760 thought we thought we needed that or we think thought we wanted that or we thought we should 263 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:32,560 have that okay that that's that's different but to know the will of God that's true faith 264 00:34:32,560 --> 00:34:39,800 and that's the faith of power when people can begin to move mountains so I know we've 265 00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:48,040 all had experience with that I hope our listeners will not only maybe think about the miracles 266 00:34:48,040 --> 00:34:54,640 in their life that they've experienced through through faith through true faith but maybe 267 00:34:54,640 --> 00:35:00,240 share with us a few of those and we invite you to share those with us and if you if you 268 00:35:00,240 --> 00:35:07,480 do maybe we'll share a few of those in our next podcast but anyway Scott that's kind 269 00:35:07,480 --> 00:35:14,920 of faith in the general he begins with humility begins with having the heart right planning 270 00:35:14,920 --> 00:35:23,080 that word or seed in our heart and as it begins to grow continue to nourish it continue in 271 00:35:23,080 --> 00:35:31,440 diligence and impatience because we won't always get what we want but God's will will 272 00:35:31,440 --> 00:35:40,720 always be done and sometimes Scott sometimes God actually wills that some things be done 273 00:35:40,720 --> 00:35:49,560 but they won't be done unless we ask or exercise faith in order for those things to be accomplished 274 00:35:49,560 --> 00:35:55,320 I know that's one of my favorite lines in the Bible dictionary right concerning prayer 275 00:35:55,320 --> 00:36:07,160 is that that prayer is God knows what he wants and God knows what will happen but sometimes 276 00:36:07,160 --> 00:36:15,560 things will not happen if we don't pray for them so I just think it's really important 277 00:36:15,560 --> 00:36:22,000 for our all of us individually to know that that God we live far beneath our privileges 278 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:29,880 and God wants so much to bless us and to have see miracles in our life and if you're not 279 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:35,600 seeing miracles right Mormon and Moroni tell us all about that of course there are miracles 280 00:36:35,600 --> 00:36:43,640 and if you're not seeing miracles shame on you in fact your your salvation may be in 281 00:36:43,640 --> 00:36:48,520 question if you're not seeing miracles in your life and then seeing those miracles and 282 00:36:48,520 --> 00:36:54,840 seeing the hand of God in our life Scott creates greater faith and greater gratitude greater 283 00:36:54,840 --> 00:37:01,920 humility and it goes on and on and on as we've talked about so many times before as a cycle 284 00:37:01,920 --> 00:37:10,760 as a helix going up and up and up but in all of this discussion of faith in the general 285 00:37:10,760 --> 00:37:19,480 and I love to speak about faith in our heavenly Father and that's real and most of my prayers 286 00:37:19,480 --> 00:37:28,760 and most blessings that I give are based upon my faith in my heavenly Father doctrine of 287 00:37:28,760 --> 00:37:35,760 Christ states we believe that the first four principles and ordinances of the gospel are 288 00:37:35,760 --> 00:37:49,720 faith not in the general not just in heavenly Father faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that's 289 00:37:49,720 --> 00:37:55,440 the first principle of the gospel that's the first point of doctrine in the doctrine of 290 00:37:55,440 --> 00:38:05,560 Christ is faith in Jesus Christ so let's talk about how can we how can we apply the same 291 00:38:05,560 --> 00:38:11,480 principles that we've talked about in growing faith in our heavenly Father and in the general 292 00:38:11,480 --> 00:38:21,240 how can we apply that to obtaining great powerful faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that it leads 293 00:38:21,240 --> 00:38:30,400 us unto repentance that it leads us unto the power to not only forgive others and ourselves 294 00:38:30,400 --> 00:38:35,160 but to be forgiven that's what we need to talk about now. 295 00:38:35,160 --> 00:38:40,280 There's kind of a prescription for that and I think that over and it's important that 296 00:38:40,280 --> 00:38:45,360 we draw attention to this and kind of pull it all together but I think that we've we've 297 00:38:45,360 --> 00:38:50,560 summarized that or we've talked about that over the last several podcasts you know as 298 00:38:50,560 --> 00:38:54,320 we and we've talked about this a little bit this morning I think even before we started 299 00:38:54,320 --> 00:39:02,720 the podcast but gratitude we get that gratitude that gratitude leads us to desire the desire 300 00:39:02,720 --> 00:39:09,160 gives us the ability to really have impetus in learning about him and knowing him and 301 00:39:09,160 --> 00:39:15,200 loving him and inviting him into our lives and so you know I think that those things 302 00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:18,840 are the beginning and that's where we start with all of this right. 303 00:39:18,840 --> 00:39:25,200 Well and yes Scott absolutely but it also begins with need. 304 00:39:25,200 --> 00:39:26,600 And recognizing that need. 305 00:39:26,600 --> 00:39:33,880 We really need to recognize the need for a Savior and a Redeemer in our life just as 306 00:39:33,880 --> 00:39:39,880 we would recognize the need for a God to perform a miracle or move a mountain or to bless me 307 00:39:39,880 --> 00:39:43,440 through this day or whatever. 308 00:39:43,440 --> 00:39:50,680 We need to understand the need you can't have faith in Jesus Christ if you don't understand 309 00:39:50,680 --> 00:39:58,160 where you stand in relationship to him and if you don't understand the fall of all of 310 00:39:58,160 --> 00:40:03,720 you if we don't understand that we're all sinners that were were fallen that were lost 311 00:40:03,720 --> 00:40:10,840 were carnal central and devilish and if you don't see your own weakness which Moroni talks 312 00:40:10,840 --> 00:40:18,120 a lot about in that actually Ether chapter 12 and God God says to him blessed are you 313 00:40:18,120 --> 00:40:24,360 because you see your weakness if we don't see our weakness in fact I you know Ether 314 00:40:24,360 --> 00:40:32,120 1227 Scott goes along well with this discussion today Ether 1227 one of my favorite scriptures 315 00:40:32,120 --> 00:40:42,040 I think I can quote it and if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness I 316 00:40:42,040 --> 00:40:51,560 give unto men weakness that they might be humble there it is again humble in fact humble 317 00:40:51,560 --> 00:40:57,320 I think is three times in this verse I give unto men weakness that they might be humble 318 00:40:57,320 --> 00:41:06,920 and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me humble humility 319 00:41:06,920 --> 00:41:17,160 for if they humble themselves before me and have faith in me notice the connection between 320 00:41:17,160 --> 00:41:30,800 humility and faith then will I make weak things become strong unto them humility and faith 321 00:41:30,800 --> 00:41:38,080 we need to pray if men come unto me think this is really critical if we go to him if 322 00:41:38,080 --> 00:41:43,800 we can't see our weakness and sins then we need to go to him because he will reveal to 323 00:41:43,800 --> 00:41:50,160 us our weakness and strength in fact Scott it's my experience and I know the experience 324 00:41:50,160 --> 00:42:00,880 of the prophets and all the sisters and brethren in the church who have been so faithful that 325 00:42:00,880 --> 00:42:08,920 the closer you get to Jesus Christ the more you see your weakness the closer you get to 326 00:42:08,920 --> 00:42:17,240 Jesus Christ so if people are feeling weak if they're feeling inadequate if they're feeling 327 00:42:17,240 --> 00:42:24,440 their sins and their need that's a good thing maybe that's a good sign that we're getting 328 00:42:24,440 --> 00:42:32,400 closer because the closer we get the more we see the need but that's we need to we need 329 00:42:32,400 --> 00:42:41,240 to understand our helplessness Scott we need to understand our need for a savior and redeemer 330 00:42:41,240 --> 00:42:49,880 and when we when we see that need we will we will then begin to turn to him when we're 331 00:42:49,880 --> 00:42:57,640 humble when we're humble and hopefully humble because of the word which is Jesus Christ 332 00:42:57,640 --> 00:43:04,720 and when we understand what he has done for us what he offers us we will be humble and 333 00:43:04,720 --> 00:43:14,760 our faith will then be planted in our hearts the word will be planted in our hearts and 334 00:43:14,760 --> 00:43:24,960 by faith it will begin to grow so faith in Jesus Christ begins with seeing our need and 335 00:43:24,960 --> 00:43:32,920 a sense of deep deep humility I think another another thing in regards to developing great 336 00:43:32,920 --> 00:43:38,280 faith in Jesus Christ if we think about the lectures on faith for just a moment and we 337 00:43:38,280 --> 00:43:43,960 think about the three requirements of faith that are given in the lectures on faith it's 338 00:43:43,960 --> 00:43:52,560 said this in the first lecture on faith school of the prophets first the idea that he exists 339 00:43:52,560 --> 00:43:57,920 so it that's faith in the general faith in God but if we turn that to faith in Jesus 340 00:43:57,920 --> 00:44:07,720 Christ it would be the idea that he suffered for me the idea that he redeemed me the idea 341 00:44:07,720 --> 00:44:17,360 that Jesus Christ is my savior and my redeemer that would be where we should start second 342 00:44:17,360 --> 00:44:24,200 faith in the general I think the first lecture on faith states the understanding of their 343 00:44:24,200 --> 00:44:32,200 perfections and attributes and character that's how we obtain faith in a loving heavenly father 344 00:44:32,200 --> 00:44:39,760 is that we understand his character his attributes and perfections but if we turn this to a more 345 00:44:39,760 --> 00:44:48,080 specific faith in Jesus Christ for redemption we need to have faith in his character in 346 00:44:48,080 --> 00:44:56,040 his attributes in his perfections meaning that he really did suffer for all of my sins that 347 00:44:56,040 --> 00:45:03,760 he did suffer for my sicknesses that he did experience all of that and that his character 348 00:45:03,760 --> 00:45:10,920 was that he was sinless that he if we you can't have real faith in Jesus Christ Scott 349 00:45:10,920 --> 00:45:19,840 without having faith in his character and his attributes well how do we obtain that 350 00:45:19,840 --> 00:45:25,680 that faith in his character and his attributes that we obtain that well we we get to know 351 00:45:25,680 --> 00:45:30,560 him you have to study it you have to get to know him and how do we get to know him we 352 00:45:30,560 --> 00:45:35,000 get to know him through the scriptures we get to know him through the the revelations 353 00:45:35,000 --> 00:45:40,120 that come through our prophets and brethren even our own local leaders oftentimes can 354 00:45:40,120 --> 00:45:45,960 help us to get to know him as they're inspired to teach about his character and attributes 355 00:45:45,960 --> 00:45:51,880 Dave I hope that come follow me all of our listeners are experiencing a miracle in their 356 00:45:51,880 --> 00:45:59,120 lives by coming to know Jesus better his character attributes perfections his teachings his parables 357 00:45:59,120 --> 00:46:07,200 all of that as that's really step two we come to know him his character attributes and 358 00:46:07,200 --> 00:46:12,200 perfections yeah let's just let's spend a minute here because coming to know him is 359 00:46:12,200 --> 00:46:18,480 not just reading about a person who's being portrayed to us by words on a page even if 360 00:46:18,480 --> 00:46:25,280 it is scripture and it's not by hearing the words even if it is from prophets and apostles 361 00:46:25,280 --> 00:46:29,200 it's not from that I mean that's that may be the beginning of it that may again be the 362 00:46:29,200 --> 00:46:33,920 seed that's planted so that the word can spring within us the word again being Jesus Christ 363 00:46:33,920 --> 00:46:40,320 himself but how we really get to know him is we we somehow walk with him right I so 364 00:46:40,320 --> 00:46:46,200 and I've used this example before and that's the third steps yeah okay but it but I'll 365 00:46:46,200 --> 00:46:53,960 I'll bet it let me I I I have two grandfathers both of them I was quite close to I know that 366 00:46:53,960 --> 00:46:59,640 my grandpa Fagan in fact when he passed away every time and still maybe to this day and 367 00:46:59,640 --> 00:47:05,880 he passed away many years ago when I smell old spice cologne I think of my grandpa Fagan 368 00:47:05,880 --> 00:47:12,760 it just comes to me and sometimes it sometimes it it in with him it invokes a little emotion 369 00:47:12,760 --> 00:47:18,400 in me I because I knew I know how he would I know how he would have reacted if a horse 370 00:47:18,400 --> 00:47:23,520 did this or that because that's how I just knew him I knew grandpa Durfey the same way 371 00:47:23,520 --> 00:47:28,960 I got to spend a lot of time with grandpa Durfey in a business situation for a couple 372 00:47:28,960 --> 00:47:33,000 of years the last couple of years of my high school experience and right before I went 373 00:47:33,000 --> 00:47:38,280 on my mission and he and I had some wonderful wonderful experiences and then even after 374 00:47:38,280 --> 00:47:44,800 as I was going through some difficult times but I spent time with those men and so because 375 00:47:44,800 --> 00:47:50,160 of that time yeah yeah yeah walking with him getting to know them and so how do we do that 376 00:47:50,160 --> 00:47:55,680 with so so again these three requirements I think that's what I choose to call them these 377 00:47:55,680 --> 00:48:01,920 are three requirements of faith the first is the idea yeah the idea that Jesus Christ 378 00:48:01,920 --> 00:48:08,240 really did exist really did live really did suffer for our sins really did carry out the 379 00:48:08,240 --> 00:48:17,280 atonement right the idea then second the understanding of his character his attributes and perfections 380 00:48:17,280 --> 00:48:23,440 really coming to know him and then three in the lectures on faith it says to know that 381 00:48:23,440 --> 00:48:30,560 the course of life you are pursuing is pleasing to God well this is walking with him this 382 00:48:30,560 --> 00:48:38,200 is following him this is not this is not just learning of him this is seeking to be like 383 00:48:38,200 --> 00:48:47,560 him this is being with him Scott being a true follower of Jesus Christ when we have those 384 00:48:47,560 --> 00:48:57,440 three when we have met those three requirements we will have great faith in the Lord Jesus 385 00:48:57,440 --> 00:49:06,200 Christ faith is a gift it's not something that we just earn it is a gift that comes from 386 00:49:06,200 --> 00:49:13,960 the spirit of the Lord but I testify as we do those three things as we come to believe 387 00:49:13,960 --> 00:49:20,760 that he exists that he lived that he knows us that he loves us and his character attributes 388 00:49:20,760 --> 00:49:28,640 and perfections and then we know that we are seeking to be a true disciple and that we're 389 00:49:28,640 --> 00:49:34,400 following him that we're relying upon him when we have those when we have met those 390 00:49:34,400 --> 00:49:41,560 three requirements Scott then as a gift from the spirit we will have great faith in the 391 00:49:41,560 --> 00:49:50,240 Lord Jesus Christ which will then lead us unto repentance so I I think that in all that 392 00:49:50,240 --> 00:49:57,200 we've talked about in regards to faith in as we've talked about it in the general that 393 00:49:57,200 --> 00:50:06,120 you can apply any of those principles of faith in the general to become specific principles 394 00:50:06,120 --> 00:50:13,440 of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ Scott is what redeems 395 00:50:13,440 --> 00:50:25,280 us and faith in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ Scott is what exalts us and in maybe 396 00:50:25,280 --> 00:50:32,200 our next podcast we will talk a little bit about the difference between faith in Jesus 397 00:50:32,200 --> 00:50:43,120 Christ and faith in the name of Jesus Christ faith in Jesus Christ saves us faith in the 398 00:50:43,120 --> 00:50:53,080 Lord Jesus Christ name in his faith in his name exalts us so let's talk about that next 399 00:50:53,080 --> 00:50:58,760 time and we'll continue our discussion on faith in Jesus Christ and which will lead 400 00:50:58,760 --> 00:51:06,600 us eventually into the principle of of repentance the second point of doctrine in the doctrine 401 00:51:06,600 --> 00:51:11,920 of Christ David it kind of extended an invitation to share some of your experiences how do you 402 00:51:11,920 --> 00:51:19,280 do that you send those to he redeems us at gmail.com and remember that we have transcripts 403 00:51:19,280 --> 00:51:23,000 now attached for all of these things for those of you who are interested in that just in 404 00:51:23,000 --> 00:51:27,960 closing one of my very favorite scriptures is part of the intercessory prayer that Jesus 405 00:51:27,960 --> 00:51:34,240 offers right and he says in this is in John 17 three and this is life eternal that they 406 00:51:34,240 --> 00:51:39,600 might know the the only true God and Jesus Christ who now has sent and I think that you 407 00:51:39,600 --> 00:51:47,560 know that those three steps in the faith really kind of are encapsulated or described quite 408 00:51:47,560 --> 00:51:52,720 well by Jesus his own words right there thanks for being with us everybody we look forward 409 00:51:52,720 --> 00:51:58,000 to being with you next week remember that you we all have been redeemed through his 410 00:51:58,000 --> 00:52:16,480 blood thanks again.