The second I said to my mom that I hadn’t given a talk in two years I knew it was a bad idea. We were sitting in sacrament on Mother’s Day and I was reminded that my first and only talk was given exactly two years previous, on Mother’s day. I should have learned by now that when ever someone says that they haven’t given a talk in a while, you get one. And of course while sitting in Sunday school Brother Frandsen comes to the door pointing at me. Next time, I’m just going to keep my mouth shut.
What is faith? To a kid it might be, believing Santa will come each year, to an adult it might be knowing that everything will turn out alright, but for everyone the same definition applies. “If ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true” (
True To the Faith says, “Faith is a gift from God, but you must nurture your faith to keep it strong. … You can nurture the gift of faith by praying to Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ. … You can strengthen your faith by keeping the commandments. … You can also develop your faith by studying the scriptures and the words of latter-day prophets.” Doing these things will also help your testimony grow. Your testimony is built off your faith and the more your faith increases the more your testimony does. Daily prayer is an important thing that helps develop both your testimony and faith. I know for most teenagers it’s hard to have a morning prayer when you’re trying to get out the door and run to your bus before it’s too late, but even saying it on the way to school, or at school would be better than not at all. Starting of the day and ending the day in with the spirit really changes the whole attitude of the day. Praying, reading the scriptures, and attending church will strengthen your build your faith and strengthen your testimony.
Paying your tithing is a test of your faith but also provides eternal blessings. Tithing has always been an important law of the gospel. Robert D. Hales said, “tithing develops and tests our faith. By sacrificing to the Lord what we may think we need or want for ourselves, we learn to rely on Him. Our faith in Him makes it possible to keep temple covenants and receive eternal temple blessings.” If you don’t pay your tithing you would be unable to enter the house of god and receive the blessings of the Lord. Robert D. Hales also shared this story about faith “I know of a couple who lived thousands of miles from the nearest temple. Although they earned little, they faithfully paid their tithing and saved all that they could to journey to the house of the Lord. After a year, the husband’s brother—not a member of the Church—unexpectedly came forward and offered them two airplane tickets. This temporal blessing made possible the spiritual blessings of their temple endowments and sealing. An additional spiritual blessing came later as the brother, touched by the couple’s humble faithfulness, joined the Church.” This story shows that many blessings can come out of living faithfully. You never know who your faith may affect so being an example through out your everyday life can not only bless your self, but others.
Through out life, we go through many trials that test our faith. All around us there has been earthquakes, tsunamis, deaths, divorce, and loss, we lose much and suffer through hard times but it is all for a reason. The first reaction of a person when they lose someone or something is to think, “why me?” They wonder why it had to be there family or there home. It is at this time your faith is tested. It is how we deal with the trials that will develop our faith. Russell M. Nelson said, “Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint.” We need to live faithfully and develop our faith to be able to stand strong in the face of lives challenges.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
years old to when I was 6. I remember once at a dance recital I was so mad because my brother had to be my partner when really I wanted to be with Whittney, my best friends from Oregon. I'll just tell you that...we screwed up. Haha, but I put it aside and kept dancing. Unfortunitly I didn't get to continue when we moved to my current home but, there we other ways I danced. Such as, when I was in the King and I. I got to dance in that dressed up as an asian...what an experience. And now, I get to go to church dances every 2nd saterday of the month! And that, is what I am posting about. Tomorrow is one of those dances and I'm grounded! How am I supposed to pursue my dream!? I'm just kidding it's not my dream, but it is one of the few nights I get to hang out with my B-Crew! My B-Crew is Rachel, Chris, Cole, Erik, and Rethlyn. We party it up ;) Haha, so hopefully my mama will let me! Peace out.