To whom it may interest: My talk I gave in church last Sunday

I truly feel humbled to be asked to give this talk today. I shared my misgivings with my family this week as I prepared, telling them I felt INCAPABLE or Overwelmed or underwhelmed. I thought of calling the bishop and talking to him to tell him that they certainly asked the wrong person to give this talk. I played that scenario out in my mind thinking of what Bishop Pace might say when I told him that I didn't think I had enough faith to give a talk about increasing our faith in Jesus Christ. The impression came to me that he might suggest the perfect solution would be to spend hours studying the scriptures and conference talks on faith... So I continued on, still anxious. I even had stress dreams where I ended up at church and had forgotten to prepare my talk or couldn't find the talks I had researched. As I started to do more work on
the talk, I realized that the word that truly described how I felt about giving this talk was HUMBLED.

As I researched I found words from Elder Scott that said "Humility is that quality that permits us to be taught from on high through the Spirit to be given Divine inspiration to accomplish His inspired will." So I have humbly prayed to communicate what He would have me to share.

Faith has never come easily to me-- I was a stalwart member while I was a teen- probably a little over confident in my faith. Then adulthood came, living on your own, financial strain, jobs, marriage, a baby, divorce, heartache, grief over the death of one of my dearest friends to suicide, poor health- REAL LIFE- and it slapped that over-confidence right out of me. And though I still have sincere faith in my Savior, I have much less confidence in myself.

I felt like life was like Elder Uchtdorf described in one of his talks on faith from last conference: "The continual bombardment of messages [from the world] may cause confusion, doubt, and pessimism, each attacking the fundamental truths we believe in, our faith in God, and our hope in the future."

I have struggled in my life to have hope for the future and to hold on to the fundamentals of the Gospel. When I discovered myself wavering, I was shocked. How could I, someone who was SO SURE of the gospel, struggle?

As I was studying for this talk, I read the amazing talk by Richard G. Scott, The Transforming Power of Faith and Character. In his discussion on faith he described exactly how I felt. He said:

"I have personally verified that concepts like faith, prayer, love, and humility hold no great significance and produce no miracles until they become a living part of us through our own experience, aided by the sweet prompting of the Holy Spirit. In early life I found that I could learn gospel teachings intellectually and, through the power of reason and analysis, recognize that they were of significant value.

"But their enormous power and ability to stretch me beyond the limits of my imagination and capacity did not become reality until patient, consistent practice allowed the Holy Spirit to distill and expand their meaning in my heart. I found that while I was sincerely serving others, God forged my personal character. He engendered a growing capacity to recognize the direction of the Spirit. The genius of the gospel plan is that by doing those things the Lord counsels us to do, we are given every understanding and every capacity necessary to provide peace and rich fulfillment in this life. Likewise, we gain the preparation necessary for eternal happiness in the presence of the Lord."

What a wonderful promise! and assurance. I WANT that- I want to take the concepts of faith, prayer, love, and humility-- especially faith, and have it produce miracles in my life. SO HOW do we do that?

Elder Scott said: "true faith, faith unto salvation, is centered on the Lord Jesus Christ, faith in His doctrines and teachings, faith in the prophetic guidance of the Lord’s anointed, faith in the capacity to discover hidden characteristics and traits that can transform life. Truly, faith in the Savior is a principle of action and power."

Elder Richard C. Edgeley said:
"Because of the conflicts and challenges we face in today’s world, I wish to suggest a single choice—a choice of peace and protection and a choice that is appropriate for all. That choice is faith. Be aware that faith is not a free gift given without thought, desire, or effort. It does not come as the dew falls from heaven. The Savior said, “Come unto me” (Matthew 11:28) and “Knock, and it shall be [given] you” (Matthew 7:7). These are action verbs—come, knock. They
are choices. So I say, choose faith. Choose faith over doubt, choose faith over fear, choose faith over the unknown and the unseen, and choose faith over pessimism."

His talk is titled, "Faith- the Choice is yours." He tells us that it is our responsibility to develop our own faith. He also says that we are responsible for our lack of faith as well, which depending on where we are, can be daunting! As real life has come at me, as it does to each one of us, I have not always CHOSEN faith-- I have looked for other sources to satisfy me with happiness. fill the aching voids inside of me. But I have always come back. The reason I have always come back is simple. MY SAVIOR.

I truly know that Jesus Christ LOVES me. He is the physician for the sick. True peace of mind and healing for the soul comes only through Him.

These words from Elder Garret W. Gong truly resconate in my heart. He said:
"Having dwelt in flesh and subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, our Savior knows how to succor us, His people, in our pains, afflictions, temptations, sicknesses, even death. Having “descended below all things,” our Savior can bear our griefs and carry our sorrows. “He was wounded for our transgressions, … bruised for our iniquities … ; [with our Savior’s] stripes we are healed.

"From the councils in heaven, our Savior sought only to do His Father’s will... “He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” The world pursues enlightened self-interest. Yet the power is not in us to save ourselves. But it is in Him. Infinite and eternal, only our Savior’s Atonement transcends time and space to swallow up death, anger, bitterness, unfairness,
loneliness, and heartbreak.

"Sometimes things go wrong even though we have done our very best. A Lamb innocent and pure, our Savior weeps with and for us."

I think of the many times in my life when I have wept, truly wept... I know He was there with me! Or waiting just outside the door waiting for me to let him in so he could comfort me...

"When we always remember Him, He can stand with us “at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in.” His “faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.” In drawing us to Him, our Savior also draws us to our Father in Heaven. While some things are imperfect on earth, we can trust our Heavenly Father to complete “redemption’s grand design, where justice, love, and mercy meet in harmony divine!”

I know that we cannot live passive lives! Our faith in Jesus Christ must be a choice we make every day! To obey, to study His word, to serve others. This is our responsibility and privilege.

Elder Neil L. Anderson said: "As we follow the Savior, without question there will be challenges that confront us. Approached with faith, these refining experiences bring a deeper conversion of the Savior’s reality. Approached in a worldly way, these same experiences cloud our view and weaken our resolve. Some we love and admire slip from the strait and narrow path and “[walk] no more with him...”

"In our weakened moments, the adversary seeks to steal our spiritual promises. If we are not watchful, our injured, childlike spirit will retreat back into the cold, dark crust of our former bloated ego, leaving behind the warm, healing light of the Savior...."

President Monson has promised, “Your testimony, when constantly nourished, will keep you safe.” We push our spiritual roots deep, feasting daily on the words of Christ in the scriptures. We trust in the words of living prophets, placed before us to show us the way. We pray and pray and listen to the quiet voice of the Holy Ghost that leads us along and speaks peace to our soul. Whatever challenges arise, we never, never leave Him.

In John 6, The Savior asked His Apostles, “Will ye also go away?”

Peter answered: “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

“… We believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”

When I have struggled with my faith and considered "going another way," I realize that I KNOW there IS no other way to truly find happiness.

I want to conclude with these words from Elder Gong that have gotten me through a lot, just in the last five months since I first heard them:

"The world is in commotion, but in His “only true and living Church,” there is faith and no fear. In the words of the Apostle Paul, I also solemnly testify:

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, …

“Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I humbly witness: God lives. He “shall wipe away all tears from [our] eyes” —except the tears of joy when we see through temple mirrors of eternity and find ourselves home, pure and clean, our family generations sealed by priesthood authority in love, to shout, “Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna."

I testify that I know that God's love is real. Our Savior is waiting to comfort us. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.