Faith That Moves Mountains....

Edward Lear -  Mt. Sinai 2

I know that faith can move mountains.  I also know that the kind of faith that moves mountains requires a spiritual labor we are not often willing to perform.  Alma alludes to this exertion when he says:


5 And I trust, according to the Spirit of God which is in me, that I shall also have joy over you; nevertheless I do not desire that my joy over you should come by the cause of so much afflictions and sorrow which I have had for the brethren at Zarahemla, for behold, my joy cometh over them after wading through much affliction and sorrow.

(Book of Mormon | Alma 7:5)

It's the wading part that often deters us.  And where other people are concerned it also involves charity and a willingness to to make sacrifices and offerings in their behalf which include our prayers, fasting, our time and an outpouring of spiritual energy in their behalf.  It means truly being unselfish.  Scott Peck in The Road Less Traveled labels laziness as the opposite of love.  How true!  I wonder what mountains we could move if we weren't so spiritually lazy.

Nephi records:

3 But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great worth, and especially unto my people.  For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry.

(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 33:3)

Nephi's whole heart and soul was motivated by his love for God and his desires for the blessing of his people.  

Last night I was reading Elder Eyring's First Presidency in the the June Ensign - Called of God and Sustained by the People  The entire message is strengthening but this part in particular struck me as I have been thinking about the power of faith in our lives and it's ability to make the gospel "work" for us.

"Years ago an 18-year-old student showed me what it means to sustain the Lord’s servants. I am still blessed by his humble example.

He had just begun his first year in college. He was baptized less than a year before he left home to begin his studies at a large university. There I served as his bishop.

As the school year began, I had a brief interview with him in the bishop’s office. I remember little of that first conversation except that he spoke of his challenges in a new place, but I will never forget our second conversation.

He asked to see me in my office. I was surprised when he said, “Could we pray together, and may I be voice?” I was about to say that I had already prayed and expected that he had as well. Instead I agreed.

He began his prayer with a testimony that he knew the bishop was called of God. He asked God to tell me what he should do in a matter of great spiritual consequence. The young man told God he was sure the bishop already knew his needs and would be given the counsel needed to hear.

As he spoke, the specific dangers he would face came to my mind. The counsel was simple but given in great clarity: pray always, obey the commandments, and have no fear."

Elder Eyring used this as an example of how our sustaining influence sustains and enables our leaders. I saw it as an example of one who is using his faith to move mountains.  I believe we can all do that if we lay aside our spiritual lethargy, our doubt and labor in faith.  Doing it is not as hard as it seems.  It's the deciding to do it that is the hard part.  It's making the commitment.  

Alma talks of the price of spiritual knowledge:

45 And this is not all.  Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself?  Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true.  And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?
46 Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God.  Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself.  And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.

(Book of Mormon | Alma 5:45 - 46)

As we are all human and are growing in the gospel  we are also in the process of growing our faith but isn't it interesting that the new convert in Elder Eyring's story brought an active and firm faith to the table without years of "trying" to get there.  I don't think great faith is as much a matter of time (although the evidence of faith is gathered over time) as it is belief, humility, charity and desire and laying aside the things of the world..  New converts have often just taken steps of putting off the natural man, leaving their old life behind, making covenants, moving into a new life.  They are alive in Christ.  I guess the question for those of us who have been around for a while is "How alive in Christ are we?"

26 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?
(Book of Mormon | Alma 5:26)



(As you can see, I have been reading in Alma this week.)