Lesson 26: After the Trial of Faith
1. From the Book of Mormon we learn that having faith in Jesus Christ makes it possible for God to work
miracles in our behalf. Exercising faith can also prepare us to receive
spiritual witnesses of truth.
2. Robert D.
Hales, “Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son,
Jesus Christ,” Ensign , Nov. 2009.
3. David A.
Bednar, “Ask in Faith,” Ensign,
May 2008, 94–97.
4. Neil L.
Andersen, “You Know Enough,” Ensign, Nov. 2008, 13–14.
8. “Just as important as mighty miracles’ are the smaller
‘private miracles’ that teach each of us to have faith in the Lord. These come
as we recognize and heed the promptings of the Spirit in our lives. …“I
believe that all of us can bear witness to these small miracles. We know
children who pray for help to find a lost item and find it. We know of young
people who gather the courage to stand as a witness of God and feel His
sustaining hand. We know friends who pay their tithing with the last
of their money and then, through a miracle, find themselves able to pay their
tuition or their rent or somehow obtain food for their family. We can share
experiences of prayers answered and priesthood
blessings that gave courage, brought comfort, or restored
health. These daily miracles acquaint us with the hand of the Lord in our
lives” (Sydney S. Reynolds, Primary general presidency “
Ensign, May 2001).
9. Ether 12:6– Before we can receive a spiritual witness, we
must first exercise faith in Jesus Christ.
10.
“You can learn to use faith more effectively by applying this principle taught
by Moroni: ‘… ye receive no witness until
after the trial of your faith’ Thus, every time you try
your faith, that is, act in worthiness on an impression, you will
receive the confirming evidence of the Spirit” (Richard G. Scott, Ensign
May 2003, 76).
11. “In our world where instant gratification is the
expectation, we are often guilty of expecting the reward without having to work
for it. I believe Moroni is telling us that we must do the work first and exercise
faith by living the gospel, and then we will receive the witness that it is
true. True conversion occurs as you continue to act upon the doctrines you know
are true and keep the commandments, day after day, month after month”
(Bonnie L. Oscarson, Ensign, Nov. 2013, 77).
12. How is the approach to receiving a witness of truth
described by Elder Scott and Sister Oscarson different from the approach of
those who want evidence before they will believe or act?
13. Ether 12:7, 12, 19, 31 Note the phrases “after they had
faith”& “until after their faith” “Somewhere
in your quest for spiritual knowledge, there is that ‘leap of faith,’ as the
philosophers call it. It is the moment when you have gone to the edge of the
light and stepped into the darkness to discover that the way is lighted ahead
for just a footstep or two” (BKPacker, New
Era, Jan. 2007).
“Exacting faith, mountain-moving faith, faith like that
of the brother of Jared, precedes the miracle and the
knowledge. He had to believe before God spoke. He had to
act before the ability to complete that action was apparent.
He had to commit to the complete experience in advance of even the first
segment of its realization. Faith is to agree unconditionally—and in advance—to
whatever conditions God may require in both the near and distant future” (JRHolland,
Christ and the New Covenant: 18–19).
15. Ether 4:13–15 - What should we do to
receive knowledge and manifestations from the Spirit?
16.
God hath not revealed anything to Joseph, but what He will make known unto the
Twelve, and even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to
bear them, for the day must come when no man need say to his neighbor, Know ye
the Lord; for all shall know Him … from the least to the greatest [ Jeremiah 31:34]” (TPC-Joseph Smith [2007], 268).
