1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:21,120 Well, hey there everybody and welcome back to another episode of Redeem Through His Blood. 2 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:25,120 This is Scott Durfey joined as always by David Durfey. 3 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:31,120 What's up David? Good to see you Scott. Good to be here and talk about these things. 4 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:41,040 We kind of last week talked about faith in Christ and the difference between faith in 5 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:47,680 Christ and faith in the name of Christ. Yeah. Which I think is significant and it's always 6 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:55,600 kind of hard for me to to teach and to help others understand what that all means and why it's so 7 00:00:55,600 --> 00:01:02,160 important or at least so important to me. But I think there's great power in it and I remember 8 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:09,040 teaching it to our students at the Institute and some of them just you could tell you know looking 9 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:14,240 into their eyes and several of them would stay after and and be so grateful for understanding 10 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:21,360 the difference between faith in Christ versus faith in the name of Christ. How one saves us and one 11 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:30,000 exalts us and I hope that we didn't try it's it's simple in my mind but I hope it didn't sound 12 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:38,160 too complicated in our previous podcast and today I would like to if it's okay Scott begin to talk 13 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:44,080 about maybe a little more detail. We touched on it last week talking about sacrifice, the role 14 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:51,440 of sacrifice and then briefly they'll have the laws of sacrifice and obedience are so critical to 15 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:59,520 obtaining the faith of power but I'd like to talk about other things today about how we can maybe 16 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:06,000 obtain faith. I think it's a good place for us to take off from here. I know that you know we've 17 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:13,440 had some good responses from some of our listeners and continue to send those responses to us. You 18 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:20,240 can do that at heredeemsusatgmail.com but a couple of really kind of tender experiences that were 19 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:26,640 actually asked not that we share them but a couple of tender experiences around that this very 20 00:02:26,640 --> 00:02:32,800 topic and faith and how that faith and just faith in the general can help us come closer to God and 21 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:37,840 maybe even bring and as we come closer to God give us the confidence the spiritual confidence that 22 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:45,440 that maybe we may be lacking but then as we move into faith in Jesus himself how that even expands 23 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:51,440 because that faith comes through a knowing Him, a getting to know Him and then following Him and 24 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:57,600 then a deeper desire to be like Him. We talked a lot about Dave also you know that getting to 25 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:03,120 know Him you know having faith in Him is so important but a really important component 26 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:08,320 of that is getting to know Him and then as you said moving into having faith in the name of 27 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:14,640 Christ and how those covenants that covenantal relationship that we enter into they're really 28 00:03:14,640 --> 00:03:21,040 kind of bolsters us in our spiritual lives and our spiritual being and you know we made reference to 29 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:27,280 one of President Nelson's great talks I think we'll be making deeper reference of that today 30 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:34,000 about faith and moving mountains and and all of that so I'm excited to continue where we're 31 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:41,520 where we're going today so let's let's take it from here. Okay well Scott I also hope people 32 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:51,280 feel a need to increase their faith I don't quite know how to teach that or help give that to others 33 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:58,800 through a podcast but I'm sure hoping that people feel a need to connect with their Heavenly Father 34 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:04,400 and to grow their faith all of us we're all at different levels again you can only speak of faith 35 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:12,960 if you you think of it as levels because none of us either have it or we don't it's we all have some 36 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:22,240 degree of it it just depends on what degree of it you have and I hope that all of us myself included 37 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:32,080 who may need it more than anybody that we really try hard to put together a plan that we don't 38 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:39,120 just think about this or feel somewhat motivated by this but that we actually we actually give us 39 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:48,240 some thought maybe write down some things and put together a plan to grow our faith to increase our 40 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:58,080 faith you know I I love that story the New Testament that that brother who prays you know in Mark 9 41 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:07,120 what is what does that go Scott in Mark 9 when he says increase my faith or yeah yeah yeah it's 42 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:14,640 actually isn't the father help me to believe yeah and he he says you know I know that you could heal 43 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:22,320 is my son yeah yeah yeah and and he said Jesus says to him all things are possible to those who 44 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:32,800 believe and he says oh help help thou my unbelief elder elder Holland gave Chisto wonderful talk 45 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:40,400 on that I don't remember exactly when but boy I leaned on those words that that talk was given 46 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:47,200 at a time in my life when I really needed to you know oh strengthen now my unbelief was in yeah 47 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:52,800 almost every one of my prayers at that time yeah do you have a mark can you see it the the point is 48 00:05:52,800 --> 00:06:00,000 here's the point the point is it's not something we just can even with a plan which I think is critical 49 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:08,320 but even with that and all of our work it is not something that we obtain or earn on our own 50 00:06:09,280 --> 00:06:19,280 faith I repeat is ultimately a gift of God it is a gift of the spirit and you have to think 51 00:06:19,280 --> 00:06:28,880 of it that way and therefore we need to pray for faith pray with real intent with faith to obtain 52 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:34,880 great faith the faith of power do you have it there yeah I do I'm not exactly sure where to 53 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:41,200 start so I think I'll just start this is we're going to start in let's start in nine mark nine 54 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:48,880 we're going to start in 20 and they brought him unto him and when he saw him straight way the spirit 55 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:54,400 tear him and he fell on the ground and wallowed foaming talking of the son yeah and he asked his 56 00:06:54,400 --> 00:07:03,600 father how long how long is it ago since this came unto him and he said of a child and so 57 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:09,120 apparently this young man had been suffering this for since he was a baby almost it sounds like and 58 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:15,760 often off times it hath cast him into the fire and into the waters to destroy him but if thou can't 59 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:22,000 do anything have compassion on us and help us there's the plea of a father you know how many times 60 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:29,040 have I have I said that in behalf of my own children you know as recently as this week honestly 61 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:36,560 and there there is just a a indication brief I'm not judging the man but there's a brief indication 62 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:42,960 there that he lacks a little faith because he says how does he say it well if you can't do anything 63 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:49,680 yeah well okay so I would never say that personally yeah because I know he could do something if it 64 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:55,200 was his will well yeah would do something but he says if he can't do anything at least show us some 65 00:07:55,200 --> 00:08:03,680 compassion so it gives us some indication you know where this man stands and then Jesus said 66 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:11,520 unto him if thou can't believe all things are possible to him that believeth and straight way 67 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:17,760 the father of the child create cried out and said with tears with tears I think that's important 68 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:26,320 that that's noted he has a need Lord I believe help thou my unbelief and when Jesus saw that the 69 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:31,920 people came running together and and he rebuked the foul spirit saying unto him thou dumb and deaf 70 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:37,280 spirit I charge thee come out of him and enter no more into him and the spirit cried and rent 71 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:43,680 him sore and came out of him and he was as one dead in so much that many said he is dead 72 00:08:43,680 --> 00:08:51,760 but then it goes on and you know obviously he's healed but the point here is is you know the 73 00:08:51,760 --> 00:09:01,760 Lord I believe help thou my unbelief I hope that we can all offer that prayer to whatever degree 74 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:08,800 we lack belief or we lack faith that will offer that prayer for God to help us to increase our 75 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:15,440 faith wherever we are I don't know Scott some people I think do not are they really don't think 76 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:23,760 enough ponder or meditate on it enough that faith is ultimately the power in our lives 77 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:31,440 that brings all good things into our lives from God if there is no we're going to talk about 78 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:39,520 repentance in our next podcast there is no power in repentance there is no power in repentance the 79 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:48,080 power to repent in in the in the name of Jesus Christ and through his redeeming blood is through 80 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:56,400 our faith in Jesus Christ faith is the power to be forgiven faith is the power to even repent 81 00:09:56,400 --> 00:10:03,920 faith is the power faith is the power of godliness it is a principle of action and it is a principle 82 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:13,200 of power faith is power and I just hope that our listeners and you and me and our families can 83 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:20,880 can see the need that we have for faith I remember President Hinckley this was always in my 84 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:28,080 PowerPoint when I taught this this segment on faith the greatest need in the world today is faith 85 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:39,760 and it's amazing how how so many in all religions in all countries are losing faith because of 86 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:47,840 the overload of information and confusion and contention and the the weary world that we live 87 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:54,080 in are losing their faith and it's the greatest need that we have and it's the greatest need in 88 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:59,200 my life it's the greatest need in your life and our families and our country in the world in the 89 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:07,600 church so anyway this is a universal problem not just you and me or even church or country problem 90 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:14,240 it's universal yeah and it expands into so many other areas too I this reminds me of you know 91 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:21,280 this prayer sprinkled help down my unbelief you know I had I've had a couple of really kind of 92 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:29,520 poignant conversations with a couple of people who are suffering from addiction in the throes of 93 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:36,960 the very throes of addiction not even in recovery but they are in deep addiction who think that maybe 94 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:44,640 through recovery there could be some hope which is obviously you know another act of faith 95 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:50,400 but but oftentimes David and this has been the case with at least one of these people this week 96 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:56,400 though they're they're they want to be willing but they're not willing you know and it's kind of 97 00:11:56,400 --> 00:12:02,000 the same prayer you know help down my willingness even and and you know maybe for some of us that's 98 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:07,760 where we even start because big just desire because you can only desire because you know 99 00:12:08,560 --> 00:12:13,360 and you made the point you know we we get so there's so many things the enemy's really done 100 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:20,960 his work in creating confusion and distraction and and everything around us and just diversion and 101 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:28,880 divisiveness and and all of this around us that's so much takes us away from the true spirit and 102 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:34,320 and you know when sometimes we just even have to pray for the willingness and then that will 103 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:39,040 turn into the hope and then into the faith and then all of this builds as as we've already talked 104 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:44,000 about you know and here now we're continuing to talk about faith in the name of Christ but 105 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:50,480 you know all of that kind of has an impetus and a beginning you know absolutely and probably begins 106 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:58,400 with the acknowledgement of need or in other words the desire to believe and our own inadequacy 107 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:06,400 man are yeah absolutely are we lack humor yeah well so let's talk a little bit more about and 108 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:15,440 try to help each other and and listeners how can we obtain this faith what can I do to increase 109 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:24,240 my faith to strengthen our unbelief I always think of elder Nelson's talk which we've referenced 110 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:30,080 and I think you even shared a link two podcasts ago it'll be in the link we could probably do it 111 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:35,840 again in this one too but it was in the two podcasts ago I think 19 or 20 it was in the show notes 112 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:45,520 well it's an amazing talk by president Nelson given in April of 2021 2021 yeah 2021 it was on 113 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:54,560 Easter Sunday yeah and it's entitled Christ is risen faith in him will move mountains and he 114 00:13:54,560 --> 00:14:02,320 references that scripture that faith of a mustard seed can move mountains but he gives us five points 115 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:09,600 five suggestions may I offer five suggestions before you do that can I just read one paragraph 116 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:14,560 please can kind of lead into that so this in this paragraph that's coming you know just before what 117 00:14:14,560 --> 00:14:19,760 Dave's going to get into under these five suggestions is that I think this is important this is from a 118 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:27,920 prophet faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation of all belief and the conduit of divine power 119 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:34,960 according to the apostle Paul without faith it is impossible to please God for he that cometh to God 120 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:42,320 must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him he was 11 exactly 121 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:49,840 and we reference that so what does he say the faith is the conduit the conduit of divine power 122 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:56,800 there you go the foundation of all belief we can't have belief according to this without a 123 00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:02,480 particle of faith right and then with that comes so if we want the conduit if we want to fill that 124 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:09,600 divine power the steps that you're about to go into from this talk really kind of follow along 125 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:14,880 with what he just said there yeah absolutely and maybe even before I give these five Scott let me 126 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:22,720 preface it with this idea you know we we all quote the scripture in James 127 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:31,040 James that faith without works is dead and we've always thought that that meant that if I'm not 128 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:37,520 keeping the commandments if I'm not striving to be perfect or like Jesus then I can't have faith 129 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:45,920 well I kind of think it has that meaning but it also in addition to that it means that without 130 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:52,400 work there is no faith faith takes work I mean it takes great effort to obtain great faith 131 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:59,520 if you if you're not willing to work to strengthen your faith you will not receive the gift 132 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:07,600 it takes great work in fact in this in this very talk and there were some who were really offended 133 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:14,240 by this I've read some of the social media and Facebook stuff and I've even had a few people 134 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:21,520 talk to me oh did you yeah about about President Nelson calling calling certain people out 135 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:31,120 about you know which is what prophets prophets should do but he says the answer to all of our 136 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:39,920 challenges is to increase our faith that takes work it takes work to increase faith and then he 137 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:46,320 says this is the part that people got offended lazy learners yeah that's right and lacks disciples 138 00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:55,840 that's right we'll always struggle to muster even a particle of faith I love that lazy learners and 139 00:16:55,840 --> 00:17:02,240 lacks disciples we've all been there we we're all lazy learners at times and we're all lacks 140 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:07,920 disciples at times and that's a constant battle for me I know that I know that's something that I 141 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:13,920 have to continually work with it takes great effort and it takes it takes plan and discipline 142 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:20,320 I'm telling you so so before we give these five points let's just write off the bat say 143 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:27,760 man it takes great work to obtain great faith to receive the gift of faith yeah but but let me 144 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:32,960 but let me throw this at you too it takes great work not to if you think that not having faith 145 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:39,680 is just an easy way to go and if you think that if I don't work towards having faith and having 146 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:46,720 that conduit open try living your life that way I see the misery and I've lived up my in my own 147 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:52,720 life we all have to some degree it takes as much work to not have faith because of all of the things 148 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:57,200 that come to us you know at least when we're putting forth work to have faith we feel like 149 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:02,240 there's solution let me let me rephrase that we know there's solution because we know and we feel 150 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:07,840 heavenly fathers power at work in our life through the atonement of Jesus Christ there's work in not 151 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:12,240 having faith because all of our life goes to hell in a handbasket and then what do we do that takes 152 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:20,400 a lot of work to well the the antidote of faith right is worry and fear and despair yeah so that's 153 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:25,600 what you're saying yeah yeah the antithesis the the not the anecdote the antidote you can make a 154 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:32,800 choice that's right you you can have exercise great faith in God and faith in Jesus Christ and 155 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:39,680 obtain a perfect brightness of hope in Jesus Christ or you can be filled with despair and wonder and 156 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:47,040 worry yeah and it's a choice yeah absolutely well here's the five he says may offer five 157 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:54,800 suggestions to help you develop that faith and trust yeah first study he spends a long time on 158 00:18:54,800 --> 00:19:00,880 this one Scott he just says you've got to be an engaged learner it takes great work to immerse 159 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:08,320 yourself in the scriptures and to better understand Christ's mission his ministry his atonement his 160 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:16,080 attributes I'm paraphrasing his attributes but once you once you pay that price and you come to know 161 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:25,120 and you begin to obtain knowledge through your study your faith will grow and it will become a 162 00:19:25,120 --> 00:19:30,560 faith of great power I like here where he says he took in that it's in the same paragraph he took 163 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:36,480 upon himself your misery your mistakes your weakness and your sins he paid the compensatory price 164 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:42,320 and provided the power for you to move every mountain you will ever face yeah I love that 165 00:19:43,120 --> 00:19:49,680 that's kind of where I'm one of the places where I have to use the term compensatory power right 166 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:57,200 you tell me Jesus Christ gives us compensatory power so anyway you we have to study we have to 167 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:06,720 learn more we have to accept the invitation that he's given us to to learn of me and that takes 168 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:14,160 that takes effort and work and a plan and hope that our even in small increments Scott even if 169 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:20,240 we're imperfect at it we need to try to do better strengthening our faith through study 170 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:29,520 well second he says you must choose to believe and it is a choice yeah faith is a choice believe 171 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:35,120 is a choice and so second you have to choose to believe in Jesus Christ 172 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:44,960 that's something that as a as a moral agent that I can choose or not choose 173 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:54,640 and not only that we believe in him Scott but I've always loved the idea that was put into a book 174 00:20:54,640 --> 00:21:02,960 by Steven Robinson it's one thing to believe in him it's another thing to believe him and 175 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:10,160 to believe him Scott you have to know what he said what did Jesus say you have to know his 176 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:19,680 doctrine that takes study so so believing in him and believe him again requires great study great 177 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:25,840 work to to be able to you can't choose to believe in Jesus if you don't know anything about Jesus 178 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:30,960 you can't even believe in Jesus if you haven't studied his words know what he has said what he's 179 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:37,600 taught so we have to believe in him and we have to believe him and we'll talk about how that that 180 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:44,000 applies directly to being able to forgive ourselves so many people can't forgive themselves because 181 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:50,080 they don't believe Jesus they don't believe in his mercy and his grace and they don't believe him 182 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:59,520 when he whispers that they're forgiven well third is to act that of course is the from the 183 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:05,680 lectures on faith that faith is action it's it's action it's principle of action principle of power 184 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:12,480 power so we have to act and he he he asked some questions in in this he asked this question 185 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:19,520 what would you do if you had more faith whenever a prophet asks a questions Scott 186 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:29,280 in any of the conference talks that deserves some meditation I know we read them we listen to them 187 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:39,280 and then we gloss right over this but when a prophet has by the spirit when he is written 188 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:46,560 crafted an inspired question from and if it's right whether from my own voice or the voice of 189 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:53,120 my servants it is the same if you take this as a question from God it deserves an answer 190 00:22:53,120 --> 00:22:59,360 what would you do if you had more faith yeah I like I like too that it kind of gives you 191 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:04,160 when I'm asked these questions sometimes I think well I know the answer to that 192 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:09,200 you know and without even without even formulating in my mind where the of course I know the answer 193 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:14,720 to that but he and he's he's extends an invitation around that and then he says think about it think 194 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:20,480 about it write about it exactly then receive more faith by doing something that requires more faith 195 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:32,320 more faith what can we do to exercise and strengthen our faith another thing I like to 196 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:37,040 something that requires more faith another thing I like to think is and I pose this question to 197 00:23:37,040 --> 00:23:42,080 myself a lot because it was posed to me when I was first getting my life turned around again and 198 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:46,320 stuff like that but I and I pose this to people that I work with is what how would your life be 199 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:53,360 different if you had more faith yeah similar question yeah absolutely and how can you make 200 00:23:53,360 --> 00:23:59,520 that happen right well fourth per take of sacred ordinances worthily yeah we talked a lot about 201 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:06,480 that last week in regards to what it means to have faith in the name right of Jesus Christ well 202 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:14,240 and we even took that to a bit a bit further when we said that anytime that we are invoking the name 203 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:19,200 of Jesus Christ even in the bearing of our testimonies even in the participation of ordinances 204 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:24,800 whether we're receiving or the we're administering the those the atonement is alive in our lives 205 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:29,200 and we're filling the administration of the atonement through the spirit when we do that 206 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:36,320 that's one of the ways one of the most effective powerful ways to access the atonement of Jesus 207 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:47,680 Christ is to participate in his ordinances and fifth just simply president elson says quote 208 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:59,440 and fifth ask your heavenly father in the name of Jesus Christ for help well there you go yeah 209 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:07,760 yeah and the next the next sentence is the next paragraph begins in his talk faith takes work 210 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:15,840 receiving revelation takes work so my question to you scott is what's the connection between 211 00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:22,720 faith and revelation how are faith and revelation connected well without without faith there's 212 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:27,440 there's not going to be much revelation and without revelation there's no faith 213 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:33,440 it's a gift of the spirit yeah it just has his faith and that's how it grows by receiving 214 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:37,840 more revelation but I like what he says after that receiving revelation takes work and that you 215 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:43,280 know that's true but then he says but everyone that receive asketh receiveeth and he that seeketh 216 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:50,320 findeth and to him that knocketh shall be opened of course you know quoting that great scripture 217 00:25:50,320 --> 00:25:58,320 from Matthew seven eight but and that may be great knocking and it may be long yeah not seeking may 218 00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:05,680 be may be likely arduous and difficult yeah it's not it's not it's simple but it's not easy 219 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:13,120 I I think him come follow me we've we've recently studied the parable again of the import tuning 220 00:26:13,120 --> 00:26:22,000 I prefer that name the the import tuning widow who goes to the unjust judge and knocks and knocks 221 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:27,920 and knocks and begs and begs and begs and finally the judge says okay I'll give it to you know 222 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:38,560 and and Jesus makes the point that the great faith requires great endurance yeah really it 223 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:47,760 requires great effort and endurance yeah so I think those are five great principles that we 224 00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:58,240 should all seek to implement into our plan to grow great faith study with great effort 225 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:08,160 choose to believe in Jesus Christ third act in faith fourth partake of sacred ordinances 226 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:15,520 and fifth ask your heavenly father in the name of Jesus Christ for help there's some other things 227 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:21,840 Scott that I think I'd like to just emphasize in obtaining great faith in you know in lectures on 228 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:28,560 faith in the seventh lecture it talks about how to obtain faith through mental exertion 229 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:38,800 we're not talking about brainwashing we're not talking about convincing yourself of things 230 00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:47,680 that are true that aren't true we're talking about looking forward to things with an eye of faith 231 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:54,240 of faith and to be able to use what the scriptures I love this term it's one of my favorites in the 232 00:27:54,240 --> 00:28:03,120 Book of Mormon and it's unique to the Book of Mormon the term is a firm mind that's that's what 233 00:28:03,120 --> 00:28:08,720 mental exertion is you know I my stake president called me in I love my stake president to bless 234 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:14,960 his heart he's moving and we'll have a new one here in a in another month or so but 235 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:23,040 uh he called me in to his office about a month ago you know I'm a former former counselor and 236 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:30,240 and we've had lots of interviews as him being stake president me being a patriarch and 237 00:28:31,360 --> 00:28:35,920 he said brother derpy you know I've been listening to the brother and and I've been 238 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:43,520 observing our our young man our youth and uh I'm just really troubled can you help me 239 00:28:43,520 --> 00:28:48,560 uh what can we do to toughen up our boys 240 00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:59,120 wow yeah isn't that a sweet that's awesome isn't that a sweet question for a mistake president yeah 241 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:08,400 and what can we do to help our boys become tougher what did he mean by that well he he was 242 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:15,680 just seeing so many of them who were you know so many young men going on missions coming home because 243 00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:23,440 they couldn't you know couldn't kind of and and I I'm not casting any judgment here believe me 244 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:31,360 but just the culture that they are growing up in that uh were so many I mean we had this 245 00:29:31,360 --> 00:29:38,800 discussion so many play video games and so many are are lost in in doing things that don't really 246 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:47,120 matter and uh don't have maybe the the opportunity it's not all their fault don't have the opportunity 247 00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:53,440 in our current culture to work on the farm uh to do chores every morning get up every morning at 248 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:59,200 four a.m. and milk a cow or how can we toughen our boys how can we just make them mentally 249 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:11,120 mostly and emotionally and spiritually and even physically tougher how can we toughen them up 250 00:30:12,800 --> 00:30:18,720 I thought it was such a great question so for I don't know half hour or more we sat and talked 251 00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:24,320 about this but the first thing that I thought of when he asked me the question was the stripling 252 00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:30,240 warriors the first thing I thought of my mind went to the book of Mormon you know stripling 253 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:40,000 means literally very young I mean these could have been deacons these 2060 uh heal them and led 254 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:48,160 into war and not not a soul was lost not one of the many were wounded but not one was lost that 255 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:56,080 they might have been 12 and 13 year olds 14 or 15 maybe at the oldest and he leads them into 256 00:30:56,080 --> 00:31:03,920 battle and the the whole key to their uh toughness and their faith is given to us in the Alma chapter 257 00:31:03,920 --> 00:31:11,760 57 Scott so uh let's just turn there real quick into Alma 57 I think some of our listeners can 258 00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:19,120 anticipate what I'm going to read right now but it's this amazing faith that they had which is 259 00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:27,760 described in in 19 through 21 and again I think it applies to how in our current culture can we 260 00:31:29,440 --> 00:31:36,640 can we strengthen maybe that's a better word than toughen but how can we strengthen our our youth 261 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:45,120 our children our grandchildren the rising generation verse 19 in Alma 57 maybe I can read but behold 262 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:56,240 my little band of 2060 fought most desperately yay they were firm they were tough strong before 263 00:31:56,240 --> 00:32:02,720 the Lamanites and it administered death and all those who opposed them and as the remainder of 264 00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:12,400 our army were about to give way before the Lamanites behold those 2060 were firm and undaunted 265 00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:16,560 love that two two great words they're firm and undaunted 266 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:24,560 yay and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness 267 00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:34,960 and even this is the parts God and even according to their faith it was done 268 00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:41,520 and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them 269 00:32:42,640 --> 00:32:47,360 so these boys had been taught they had studied and they had such powerful faith 270 00:32:47,360 --> 00:32:55,040 that whatever they spoke it was done no wonder they didn't lose any souls but but if you go 271 00:32:55,040 --> 00:33:03,120 across the column scott to verse 26 and 27 and maybe you can read those for us yeah you got it 272 00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:10,640 and starting in 26 and now their preservation was astonishing to our whole army yay that they 273 00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:18,800 should be spared while there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain and we do justly ascribe 274 00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:25,440 it to the miraculous power of God because of their exceeding faith because because of their 275 00:33:25,440 --> 00:33:31,840 exceeding faith I have that because circled in my verse because why did they have such 276 00:33:31,840 --> 00:33:39,760 miraculous power because of their exceeding not just faith yeah their power was dependent on their 277 00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:45,200 exceeding not just faith exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe 278 00:33:45,840 --> 00:33:51,920 that there was a just God and whosoever did not doubt that they should be preserved by 279 00:33:51,920 --> 00:33:58,640 his marvelous power now this was the faith of these whom I have spoken they are young 280 00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:03,360 and their minds are firm and they do put their trust in God continually 281 00:34:03,360 --> 00:34:10,560 in that powerful yeah so powerful they they have firm minds scott 282 00:34:12,400 --> 00:34:17,600 they have firm minds that that is a unique phrase in the book of Mormon it appears later 283 00:34:17,600 --> 00:34:25,520 in Moroni chapter seven about angels appear to those whose minds are firm I I love that phrase 284 00:34:25,520 --> 00:34:31,040 in the book of Mormon I actually picked up on that phrase it meant it meant so much to me on my mission 285 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:38,080 and it has it has all of my life since what does it take scott to have a firm mind what what are we 286 00:34:38,080 --> 00:34:45,600 talking about or lectures of faith talking about that that faith comes to those who exercise mental 287 00:34:45,600 --> 00:34:54,000 exertion how can we how can we do that how can we strengthen our minds how can we firm up our 288 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:58,880 minds you know we're we're always talking about firming up our bodies yeah right people are always 289 00:34:58,880 --> 00:35:04,080 saying you got you got to firm up I'm going to go firm up and that takes work and that takes great 290 00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:09,920 work right to strengthen our muscles are our bodies to look good to whatever and that also 291 00:35:09,920 --> 00:35:18,880 takes faith and what does it take to firm up your mind takes work and it takes and it takes that 292 00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:24,480 kind of exertion that it would take to firm up our bodies right we know that based on science and 293 00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:29,680 based on outcomes that we've seen in others and I think that can be applicable here the outcomes 294 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:35,600 that we've seen in others we can take the examples around us of our family or of other prophets or 295 00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:41,520 you know even even out of the scriptures we can take those examples right here is one in Alma 296 00:35:41,520 --> 00:35:47,680 57 you know of these stripling warriors you know we can take these to help us to firm up our minds 297 00:35:47,680 --> 00:35:52,080 but it does it but it goes right back you can if you're not willing to study them and that's what 298 00:35:52,080 --> 00:35:58,080 I was just going to say it goes right back to you know President Nelson's talk here and so much of 299 00:35:58,080 --> 00:36:03,040 the things that we've talked about in the past as well is we really have to come to know him we 300 00:36:03,040 --> 00:36:09,760 have to walk where he walked we have to be willing to go where he went we have to you know come to 301 00:36:09,760 --> 00:36:15,360 me fill the prints of the nails in my hands in my feet and look under me and every thought every 302 00:36:15,360 --> 00:36:21,040 thought that Scott do you know what kind of mental exertion that takes yeah I I've experienced it to 303 00:36:21,040 --> 00:36:26,960 a degree I mean if you experiment with that just experiment with it I know I invite all our listeners 304 00:36:26,960 --> 00:36:32,480 to experiment try to look under him in every thought try to connect every thought you have to Jesus 305 00:36:32,480 --> 00:36:42,400 Christ that requires great mental exertion and the the the result or the wake of that is a firm mind 306 00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:51,520 and increased faith in Jesus Christ so I I don't know a firm mind I just always I've come to the 307 00:36:51,520 --> 00:37:02,240 conclusion Scott God loves a soft heart and a firm mind and a firm mind and he hates a hard heart 308 00:37:02,960 --> 00:37:10,880 and a soft mind wow that's pretty incredible and I think I think too many of our minds because of 309 00:37:10,880 --> 00:37:17,040 information overload yeah really because of information overload how Satan has just just 310 00:37:17,040 --> 00:37:26,320 flooded our culture with information and most of it's not even true and we have so many things 311 00:37:26,320 --> 00:37:31,680 flowing through our minds we see so many things we are looking at so many different things 312 00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:39,920 try to try to contrast this to 200 years ago when a farmer is looking the back end of his 313 00:37:39,920 --> 00:37:46,000 horse as he's plowing you know 100 acres of land trying to I mean what is he what's he looking at 314 00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:51,520 what does he see that day what does he learn that day what does he know that day what information 315 00:37:51,520 --> 00:37:57,680 does he receive that day working in the fields for 12 hours a day and what is our youth what are 316 00:37:57,680 --> 00:38:04,880 they receiving what are their minds receiving and what are they looking at for 12 hours a day 317 00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:10,960 and which of these lends itself to greater faith and and I'm not sure the answer to that question 318 00:38:10,960 --> 00:38:16,080 really because it depends on what you choose to look at and it just depends on what you choose to 319 00:38:16,080 --> 00:38:22,640 study and read which comes down to your discipleship your discipline yes and what you choose right 320 00:38:22,640 --> 00:38:29,680 exactly and what you choose but I I just think it's really hard in our culture today because of 321 00:38:29,680 --> 00:38:35,440 information overload and everything not to have our minds go to mush yeah or be all over the place I 322 00:38:35,440 --> 00:38:40,240 find you all over the place not focused I find myself getting trapped into that sometimes you know 323 00:38:40,240 --> 00:38:48,080 faith requires great focus yeah and and planning you know if I'm if I if I have something an idea 324 00:38:48,080 --> 00:38:53,120 that I want to research on the internet for example you know I'll hop on our good friend Google and 325 00:38:53,120 --> 00:38:58,640 I'll put in and before you know it I'm down a rabbit hole that I never even intended to be 326 00:38:58,640 --> 00:39:04,800 because of the distractions that can come I know it it's it happens so you can get so far away 327 00:39:04,800 --> 00:39:09,280 yeah you don't even know what the original you forgot what your original question was that happens to me 328 00:39:10,320 --> 00:39:18,720 I know and so I I don't know I'm not I don't have the answers yeah and I anyway how does all of this 329 00:39:18,720 --> 00:39:24,720 affect our faith in Jesus Christ I mean that's what we should really be asking ourselves what 330 00:39:24,720 --> 00:39:33,040 can I do what do I need to change what what do I need to work at more to obtain this faith of power 331 00:39:33,600 --> 00:39:38,800 that we all need to strengthen our relationship with Jesus Christ well one thing I know it 332 00:39:38,800 --> 00:39:44,560 needs to be intentional I know that it can't be just a Google search I know that it can't be just 333 00:39:44,560 --> 00:39:49,040 oh I had a thought or a feeling let's explore it for a minute so I can get distracted by another 334 00:39:49,040 --> 00:39:54,160 thought or a feeling okay so Scott that takes great mental exertion and it has to be planned out 335 00:39:54,160 --> 00:39:58,960 that takes great mental exertion and it has to be executed that takes great mental exertion 336 00:39:58,960 --> 00:40:04,480 and it has to be prayed about so that's the mental exertion that's right that we're talking about 337 00:40:04,880 --> 00:40:09,760 that the lectures on faith was talking about yeah it takes great mental exertion to ponder 338 00:40:09,760 --> 00:40:17,360 the things of God to meditate upon the things of God to choose to to learn of him to I mean that 339 00:40:17,360 --> 00:40:22,880 takes great mental exertion the study that president Elson was talking about is great mental 340 00:40:22,880 --> 00:40:29,280 exertion to meditate I can't have you ever really tried to meditate for 15 minutes yeah I have tried 341 00:40:30,240 --> 00:40:35,440 I have tried this is one of those things Dave that you know in in Alcoholics Anonymous and other 342 00:40:36,080 --> 00:40:40,720 recovery programs you know sought through prayer and meditation to main our conscious contact with 343 00:40:40,720 --> 00:40:46,960 God that's step 11 oh really yeah sought through prayer and meditation and you know meditation 344 00:40:46,960 --> 00:40:52,080 can be defined in in a myriad of different ways there's no question but yeah I have I remember 345 00:40:52,080 --> 00:41:00,800 actually sitting when I was I wasn't that I wasn't that new but I wasn't that seasoned either in 346 00:41:00,800 --> 00:41:05,600 recovery you know I had maybe four or five years and I go to a men's retreat in lava hot springs 347 00:41:05,600 --> 00:41:12,000 and one of the things that we were doing there was it was on a step 11 and we were to try and do a 348 00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:17,840 meditation and this meditation was going to last five minutes it was a five minute meditation 349 00:41:17,840 --> 00:41:23,200 meditation actually 10 minutes first five minutes of it was a guided meditation and then after that 350 00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:30,400 we were just left to to meditate clear our minds go to you know all of that stuff and I remember 351 00:41:30,400 --> 00:41:36,880 about the guided meditation I could do that it was uncomfortable but I could do that and then 352 00:41:36,880 --> 00:41:41,680 once we got into the other part of the meditation it felt like an hour to me and finally I looked 353 00:41:41,680 --> 00:41:48,560 at my watch we'd only been going for two and a half minutes I know it's work it's work I can do 354 00:41:48,560 --> 00:41:54,960 better with it today and I do make that as part of my spiritual practice or my my way to you know 355 00:41:55,600 --> 00:42:01,120 invite heavenly father spirit I am a lot a lot better at it today but it's not something that 356 00:42:01,120 --> 00:42:06,240 comes easy it takes a great deal of work even to you know consecrate our meditation consecrate our 357 00:42:06,240 --> 00:42:15,040 prayers even sometimes yeah I I know president Hinckley years ago back in the 1990s I picked up on 358 00:42:15,040 --> 00:42:21,520 this when he said we need to meditate more yeah and I began then try to do that in the mornings 359 00:42:21,520 --> 00:42:28,320 and in the evenings as I would begin my day or I'd wind down my day I would try to meditate 360 00:42:28,320 --> 00:42:34,480 upon the the word of the Lord really it wasn't just to clear my mind I'm I wasn't so much into that 361 00:42:34,480 --> 00:42:40,640 form of meditation I was more into the meditation of meditating upon kind of the things of God 362 00:42:40,640 --> 00:42:50,400 how I've seen his hand how I can strengthen my my faith or my relationship with him so I but that 363 00:42:50,400 --> 00:42:57,840 requires all of that requires great mental exertion at us and requires a firm mind and 364 00:42:57,840 --> 00:43:05,600 through that mental exertion our minds will become firm I think a final maybe just aspect of obtaining 365 00:43:05,600 --> 00:43:10,800 great faith Scott is we talked a little bit about this I use this term this is another one of my 366 00:43:10,800 --> 00:43:17,280 favorite terms in the book of Mormon that is unique to the book of Mormon is the the term the eye of 367 00:43:17,280 --> 00:43:26,720 faith Alma used it first I think in Alma chapter five verse verse 15 I have it right here he said 368 00:43:26,720 --> 00:43:35,680 do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you do you look forward with an eye of faith 369 00:43:37,200 --> 00:43:44,560 and view this mortal body raised in immortality and this corruption raised in in corruption 370 00:43:45,360 --> 00:43:49,840 to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body 371 00:43:49,840 --> 00:43:58,080 speaking of questions there's 42 questions in this chapter Alma 44 all inspired it's like a 372 00:43:58,080 --> 00:44:04,320 interview by a prophet if you want to ever feel interviewed by a prophet go read and meditate 373 00:44:04,320 --> 00:44:13,440 on Alma chapter five but he's he's the first to use this term eye of faith Moroni uses it later 374 00:44:13,440 --> 00:44:19,680 in the book of ether chapter 12 on his great lecture on faith but do ye exercise faith in the 375 00:44:19,680 --> 00:44:26,960 redemption of whom do you look forward with an eye of faith and view you see met great mental 376 00:44:26,960 --> 00:44:35,200 exertion and the eye of faith Scott is actually the ability to see something happened before 377 00:44:35,200 --> 00:44:46,240 it happens that's the eye of faith and I I think it's an amazing gift really that does come from 378 00:44:46,240 --> 00:44:53,280 God to be able to see things as God sees them or to see things before they are created or before 379 00:44:53,280 --> 00:45:00,880 they occur is really a gift of God and this is really the faith of power this is God's faith 380 00:45:00,880 --> 00:45:10,960 faith God sees his creations he plans them blueprints them then he sees them and carries them out 381 00:45:11,840 --> 00:45:17,600 according to his faith no one has a greater eye of faith than God and that's the faith that we 382 00:45:17,600 --> 00:45:25,520 should all be seeking to obtain in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 13 speaking of Abraham and the 383 00:45:25,520 --> 00:45:33,280 and the great patriarchs and the ancients in describing their great faith Paul writes these 384 00:45:33,280 --> 00:45:44,000 all died in faith not having received the promises but having seen but having seen them far off 385 00:45:45,840 --> 00:45:53,120 having seen them a far off and were persuaded of them haven't received them 386 00:45:53,120 --> 00:46:01,600 them but they've seen them they're persuaded by them and embrace them and confess that they were 387 00:46:01,600 --> 00:46:09,200 strangers and pilgrims on the earth Scott that's amazing faith they these all died in faith not 388 00:46:09,200 --> 00:46:19,120 having received the promises but having seen them a far off and were persuaded of them and 389 00:46:19,120 --> 00:46:25,040 embrace them and of course some of those promises would be the promise of eternal life and exaltation 390 00:46:25,680 --> 00:46:35,600 but they saw it with an eye of faith they saw it they were persuaded by it it influenced their life 391 00:46:35,600 --> 00:46:43,360 their daily life moment by moment and they embraced it even before they received it they embraced it 392 00:46:43,360 --> 00:46:53,600 this is great faith and to to have that kind of faith you have to have that eye of faith 393 00:46:54,320 --> 00:47:00,000 which requires great mental exertion how about how about in first Nephi chapter five Scott you 394 00:47:00,000 --> 00:47:06,320 want to read these two verses in first Nephi chapter five verses four and five I think we 395 00:47:06,320 --> 00:47:16,960 have an amazing little example of here of Lehi and his faith and how Sarah accused him of being a 396 00:47:16,960 --> 00:47:23,360 visionary man you know and he says yeah you're right I am I am a visionary man this is a great 397 00:47:23,360 --> 00:47:28,240 principle for husband here great principle for husbands to know that they should just agree 398 00:47:28,240 --> 00:47:34,240 with their wives yeah try even if their even if their wives are mocking them yeah they should 399 00:47:34,240 --> 00:47:39,440 they should probably just agree with them and it came to pass that my father spake under her 400 00:47:39,440 --> 00:47:45,200 saying I know that I am a visionary man for if I had not seen the things of God in a vision I 401 00:47:45,200 --> 00:47:50,720 should not have known the goodness of God but had tarried in Jerusalem and had perished with my 402 00:47:50,720 --> 00:47:58,160 brethren but behold I have obtained a land of promise no wait he's in the wilderness what he 403 00:47:58,160 --> 00:48:04,160 says this guy that's right he has very out of Jerusalem that they the ship's not even built 404 00:48:04,160 --> 00:48:10,000 the ship's not even this is chapter five there's not a leahona yet there's no leahona there's no 405 00:48:10,720 --> 00:48:16,480 yeah but he says I've already I've already obtained it I already got I've seen it I got this yeah 406 00:48:17,200 --> 00:48:24,000 I have obtained a land of promise in the witch things I do rejoice yay and I know that the 407 00:48:24,000 --> 00:48:30,160 Lord will deliver my sons out of the hands of labum and bring them down again unto us in the 408 00:48:30,160 --> 00:48:39,280 wilderness so this is another great example of the faith of prophets they see it they see it 409 00:48:39,280 --> 00:48:44,320 you know you ask the brother what's the second coming going to take place well to them it's 410 00:48:44,320 --> 00:48:50,480 already as if maybe it has taken place they've seen it they've obtained it they've embraced it 411 00:48:50,480 --> 00:48:56,960 they're persuaded by it moment by moment they live for it they know it's going to happen 412 00:48:57,920 --> 00:49:05,600 it's I just got I wish that we me you all of us could could have that kind of faith 413 00:49:06,160 --> 00:49:12,480 where we could see it now think about how this relates to repentance and forgiveness 414 00:49:13,840 --> 00:49:20,160 and as we move into repentance in our next podcast I just really invite our listeners 415 00:49:20,160 --> 00:49:28,720 who are struggling with their mountains of addiction and sin or challenges or problems 416 00:49:28,720 --> 00:49:37,280 adversity and trials in their life to be able with an eye of faith to see them receiving 417 00:49:37,280 --> 00:49:47,040 forgiveness to hear not maybe just not only see but to hear the voice of the Lord say well done 418 00:49:47,040 --> 00:49:55,200 now good and faithful servant enter into the rest of my Lord you know if we could see it if we 419 00:49:55,200 --> 00:50:06,160 could hear it with an eye of faith and air of faith wow it would take so much so much pressure off 420 00:50:06,160 --> 00:50:11,680 us and it would again this requires great mental exertion it requires great study it 421 00:50:11,680 --> 00:50:18,080 requires meditation it requires actually Scott and I know this word gets often a bad rap 422 00:50:18,880 --> 00:50:24,800 it takes great imagination I think imaginations is an inspiring word I think it's a godly word 423 00:50:25,360 --> 00:50:29,600 to be able to have things that you that you can imagine that you can see 424 00:50:30,880 --> 00:50:36,560 but what there wasn't there when there was a song about that wasn't there was a Christian movie 425 00:50:36,560 --> 00:50:43,680 and song about that if I if I can only imagine or something that's exactly what it was 426 00:50:44,800 --> 00:50:50,080 you don't you know what I'm talking about yeah exactly there's a there's a movie made about 427 00:50:50,080 --> 00:50:55,520 yeah there was a whole movie made about it yeah anyway I can only imagine I can only imagine 428 00:50:56,160 --> 00:51:01,680 you know there there is power in imagination yeah the prophets are they have this power 429 00:51:01,680 --> 00:51:11,600 which is akin to not exactly the same as but akin to being visionary and they see it I know they see 430 00:51:11,600 --> 00:51:17,840 it some ask if if the apostles and prophets have seen Jesus and my answer to that says well I don't 431 00:51:17,840 --> 00:51:22,880 know if they've had a personal manifestation but I know they've seen him they have an eye of faith 432 00:51:22,880 --> 00:51:32,000 yeah they have seen him I I think that all of us can see him if we would with an eye of faith 433 00:51:32,640 --> 00:51:39,920 do what he's asked us to do look unto me in every thought doubt not fear not behold the wounds 434 00:51:40,880 --> 00:51:49,680 behold the prince yeah I mean he invites us to look and to see with an eye of faith I'm going to 435 00:51:49,680 --> 00:51:56,720 post a YouTube video of that song I can only imagine I just found the lyrics just looked 436 00:51:56,720 --> 00:52:00,800 him up I'm just going to read the first verse and the chorus but to just kind of give you an idea 437 00:52:01,840 --> 00:52:08,640 it this is by mercy me actually and this the story was written it's a kind of a true story 438 00:52:08,640 --> 00:52:14,560 about a young man who grew up in a very abusive household his mom left him his dad was extremely 439 00:52:14,560 --> 00:52:19,760 abusive physically and everything if you watch the movie I don't know how accurate it is but it gives 440 00:52:19,760 --> 00:52:25,520 you a kind of a feel here's the song that he wrote he had been in a rock band you know following and 441 00:52:26,640 --> 00:52:32,000 down the wrong path and was bringing more you know turmoil into his own life and somehow he 442 00:52:32,000 --> 00:52:37,120 was able to receive a portion of Christ in his life and and by when he did that these are the 443 00:52:37,120 --> 00:52:42,160 lyrics of the song he wrote he says I can only imagine what it will be like when I walk by your 444 00:52:42,160 --> 00:52:49,520 side I can only imagine what my eyes would see when your face is before me I can only imagine 445 00:52:49,520 --> 00:52:53,840 and and each one of the power in that and each one of these verses there's just like that I'm not 446 00:52:53,840 --> 00:52:59,840 going to take the time to go through them all but I love the chorus surrounded by your glory 447 00:52:59,840 --> 00:53:08,000 what will my heart fill will I dance with you Jesus or in awe of you be still I get emotional 448 00:53:08,000 --> 00:53:16,240 when I I can when I consider these lyrics will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall 449 00:53:16,240 --> 00:53:21,520 will I sing hallelujah or will I be able to speak at all I can only imagine 450 00:53:22,480 --> 00:53:29,760 that's bad it's powerful there is a power of imagination and a power of vision when we have 451 00:53:29,760 --> 00:53:36,720 the eye of faith Scott and it's sacred it's really sacred it really is just maybe a few final verses 452 00:53:36,720 --> 00:53:42,400 I I love how Alma you know in Alma chapter 32 and he's talking about the seed and he's talking 453 00:53:42,400 --> 00:53:47,840 about how this seed if we'll plant it it will begin to swell and it'll begin to enlighten and 454 00:53:48,640 --> 00:53:53,920 all of those things and it begins to grow right and of course we know this seed to be the word of 455 00:53:53,920 --> 00:54:01,760 God and it right the seeds the word of God which is study great work the word we plant the word 456 00:54:01,760 --> 00:54:09,040 and it begins to grow by faith and it grows up to become this this great tree and Alma says in 457 00:54:09,040 --> 00:54:18,480 Alma chapter 32 and thus if we will not nourish the word looking forward with the eye of faith 458 00:54:18,480 --> 00:54:27,360 to the fruit thereof which is Jesus Christ we can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life 459 00:54:27,360 --> 00:54:35,440 now he's referring back to Lehi's dream no doubt he knows Lehi's dream that's in the record and 460 00:54:35,440 --> 00:54:42,960 Alma is referring back to that read that verse again we've got it's in verse 40 Alma 32 and thus 461 00:54:42,960 --> 00:54:48,960 if I will not nourish the word looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof you 462 00:54:48,960 --> 00:54:55,120 can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life and verse 41 for if you will nourish the word 463 00:54:55,120 --> 00:55:01,600 yey nourish the tree as it begins to grow by your faith with great diligence and with patience 464 00:55:01,600 --> 00:55:09,040 looking forward to the fruit thereof that is the key looking forward to the fruit thereof faith is 465 00:55:09,040 --> 00:55:15,760 never looking backward always faith is always looking forward that's elder Holland in the 466 00:55:16,560 --> 00:55:22,560 devotional he gave called lots wife many years ago faith is always looking forward to the fruit 467 00:55:22,560 --> 00:55:30,000 thereof it shall take root and behold it shall be a tree springing up onto everlasting life there 468 00:55:30,000 --> 00:55:37,680 you go and the final scripture that maybe we'll end with today on this idea of an eye of faith 469 00:55:38,240 --> 00:55:47,280 is ether 12 ether 12 verses 19 Moroni giving his great commentary on how the brother of 470 00:55:47,280 --> 00:55:56,400 how ether the prophet ether was trying to see things and Moroni goes off on this great commentary 471 00:55:56,400 --> 00:56:05,200 on faith verse 19 it says and there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong even before 472 00:56:05,200 --> 00:56:15,920 Christ came who could not be kept from within from within the veil but they truly saw with their 473 00:56:15,920 --> 00:56:24,720 eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith and they were glad 474 00:56:27,120 --> 00:56:35,280 oh I love that verse how I love that verse and they were glad that Scott thousands of years 475 00:56:35,280 --> 00:56:44,960 before Jesus was ever born for these saints but they saw him they saw Jesus and they were glad 476 00:56:44,960 --> 00:56:51,360 thousands of years before he ever carried out the atonement they were using the atonement of Jesus 477 00:56:51,360 --> 00:56:58,240 Christ and repenting and receiving their salvation and participating in all the blessings of redemption 478 00:56:58,800 --> 00:57:06,960 even before he came because they had an eye of faith and thus it is for us today looking forward 479 00:57:06,960 --> 00:57:13,360 to his second coming Scott when he comes in glory and he appears to Adam on diamond I'll be there 480 00:57:13,360 --> 00:57:18,880 soon I'm going to be there in the next few weeks Adam on diamond and some of these places where he 481 00:57:18,880 --> 00:57:27,040 will come again where a new Jerusalem will be I've I've seen that with an eye of faith I have seen 482 00:57:27,040 --> 00:57:33,200 where I'm going to sit in the Valley of Adam on diamond with my family I've tried to envision 483 00:57:33,200 --> 00:57:41,280 all of that and it it is powerful in it's a powerful thing in my life Scott to see the Savior 484 00:57:41,280 --> 00:57:48,000 here in the Valley of Adam on the almond and receive the keys from all of the prophets and all 485 00:57:48,000 --> 00:57:55,920 the dispensations back to Adam and Adam to Jesus Christ that I have seen that with an eye of faith 486 00:57:55,920 --> 00:58:01,680 I know that's going to happen I don't know when but it doesn't matter to me because I've already seen 487 00:58:01,680 --> 00:58:08,880 it when we think of forgiveness and repentance I don't know if he's forgiven me but I know he will 488 00:58:08,880 --> 00:58:16,240 I I don't know that I'll ever be completely free from sin in this life but I know I will 489 00:58:17,360 --> 00:58:24,080 because of Jesus Christ and because of the faith that I have in him that I have in his name 490 00:58:24,800 --> 00:58:32,240 that I have obtained as a gift from the Holy Spirit because of work and mental exertion 491 00:58:32,240 --> 00:58:39,840 and an eye of faith having a firm mind and hopefully soft art I wonder how each of our 492 00:58:39,840 --> 00:58:44,880 lives would be different if we could adopt this as part of our lives and to really invite the 493 00:58:44,880 --> 00:58:51,600 spirit into our lives to administer this part of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to us I know that 494 00:58:51,600 --> 00:58:57,440 my life as I do this and gets enhanced and I draw closer to him and as I do that I have a 495 00:58:57,440 --> 00:59:04,240 stronger spiritual confidence if you will a new humility at the same time and I'm just grateful 496 00:59:04,240 --> 00:59:08,800 for that I'm grateful for these principles that we talk about David thanks for being with us today 497 00:59:09,360 --> 00:59:15,040 these things that we talk about are of utmost importance we invite you to pray about them to 498 00:59:15,040 --> 00:59:21,840 consider them and to maybe this week be based on the things that we've talked about maybe even 499 00:59:21,840 --> 00:59:28,720 consider a plan of how it is that we can develop the faith that we've talked about the faith of power 500 00:59:28,720 --> 00:59:35,360 in our own lives I'll go ahead and attach again that talk from President Nelson I invite you we'd 501 00:59:35,360 --> 00:59:41,040 invite you to go in there and consider those five steps to developing that faith and maybe taking 502 00:59:41,040 --> 00:59:46,640 a personal inventory on where and how those things could be better implemented into our lives thanks 503 00:59:46,640 --> 01:00:02,560 for being with us everybody please remember that you have been redeemed through his blood 504 01:00:16,640 --> 01:00:17,680 you