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.)

The Book of Mormon: A Type and Shadow.

"Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given;  and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him."  2 Ne 11:4

I was studying types and shadows in preparation for the Gospel Doctrine lesson I taught Sunday on Abinadi.  I ran into this comparison developed by Robert Norman, (LDS Institute at the University of Utah.  Quoted in an article entitled Abinadi, The Message and the Martyr by Todd B. Parker.)  It outlines a comparison between Christ and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. Nephi says all things given by God are the typifying of him,  The coming forth of The Book of Mormon —a witness for Christ—is also a type and shadow of the mission of Jesus Christ. 


"The Book of Mormon's coming forth was declared by an angel named Moroni; Christ's coming forth was declared by an angel named Gabriel. The Book of Mormon came forth in time of apostasy, to restore truth; Jesus Christ came in the meridian of time to an apostate Israel, to restore truth. The Book of Mormon was laid away in a stone receptacle; Christ was laid away in a stone receptacle. The Book of Mormon was taken from that receptacle by a man named Joseph; Christ was put into the receptacle by a man named Joseph. The Book of Mormon came forth after the stone was moved away; Christ came forth after the stone was moved away. At the Book of Mormon's coming forth, an angel, Moroni, was there to see the coming forth of the plates from the receptacle; at Christ's coming forth, an angel was there to oversee his coming forth from the tomb.  The first to see the plates, Joseph, was forbidden to touch them at first; the first to see Jesus, Mary, was forbidden to touch him.  [John 20:17].  The Book of Mormon was attested to by twelve witnesses, the three and the eight plus Joseph; Jesus Christ had twelve special witnesses. The Book of Mormon is the word of God; of Jesus, the scriptures say: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). The Book of Mormon teaches the fulness of the gospel; Christ taught the fulness. The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion; Christ is the cornerstone. All things testify of Christ."  Todd B. Parker

Christ, the Sure Foundation

 Not your mother or your father.  Not your best friend.  Not the brilliant philosopher nor the scintillating professor..  Not the politically correct public figure.  Not the cultural guru.  Not the bishop, nor the religion teacher. 

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.  (Book of Mormon | Helaman 5:12)

This morning as I was saying my prayers I began to think about how truly profound the concept is that we must build our foundation upon our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God.   We are so often tempted to build foundations elsewhere.  We look to others, friends, family, associates, leaders.  We look to philosophies, sciences, the learning of men;. We look to governments, organizations and institutions.  Even the church, as important as it is cannot be the "Sure" foundation.  All of these sources have offerings that are important but they are infallible.   Christ is the only perfect being, the only Sure way.   If our foundation is build upon Christ we can then turn to serve and lift and be a strength in our relationships, in our endeavors, in our activities.  We can further His work in the church without being dismayed at the imperfections of it's members or leaders.  We are not swayed by the philosophies of men.  We may experience fog or disorientation for a time but we will survive the storm.  Our foundation will be Sure.

How to we build our foundation upon Christ?  In my mind we study his words and teachings.  We build a relationship with him through humble prayer.  We partake of the ordinances and covenants which symbolize His atonement and bring added power of faith into our lives.  We repent of our sins.  We follow his commandments and example.  We lift and serve our fellowmen.  We seek humility and teachability.

That Ye May Be Filled With Love

This 1768 parchment (612×502 mm) by Jekuthiel Sofer emulated the 1675 Ten Commandments at the Amsterdam Esnoga synagogue

Our society has for the most part forgotten the connection between love and restraint.  

4 And also that they might give thanks to the Lord their God, who had brought them out of the land of Jerusalem, and who had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies, and had appointed just men to be their teachers, and also a just man to be their king, who had established peace in the land of Zarahemla, and who had taught them to keep the commandments of God, that they might rejoice and be filled with love towards God and all men.

(Book of Mormon | Mosiah 2:4)

Genuinely keeping the commandments of God results in personal development that turns one outward. The result is that we experience greater joy and are more likely to be filled with love towards both God and all men.  Alma’s counsel to Shiblon also connects the idea of love with reining in individual desires which is an element of keeping the commandments of God:

12 Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness.

(Book of Mormon | Alma 38:12)

Alway Before our Eyes

5 I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their fathers, which are not correct.

(Book of Mormon | Mosiah 1:5)

In Mosiah 1:5 King Benjamin uses a phrase I love,  “and have his commandments always before our eyes….”  We do need to cast our eyes upon the word of God daily or we drift and dwindle in unbelief.  That is the nature of our mortal beings.  The other benefit King Benjamin give us in partaking of the scriptures iis so we might “understand of his mysteries.”  The mysteries of godliness won’t just float into our lives.  Like the pearl of great price Christ talks about in Matthew, we have to seek them and treasure them in order to have them opened up unto us. 

I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon and for the sacrifices many have made over thousands of years in order that we might have it “before our eyes.”    

Jacob 4:6 - A Key to Mighty Faith

Tucked away in Jacob 4:6 is a beautiful little formula for developing mighty faith.  

6 Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.  (Book of Mormon | Jacob 4:6)

The words of the prophets are found in the scriptures and from the mouths of the living prophets.  We don’t just hear them but we search them.   We seek greater light and knowledge and greater understanding.  Our searching provides witnesses upon which we obtain hope that these things are true.  Not a passive hope but an active motivation to reach for those things for which we hope.  The scriptural hope is much more substantive than the wishful meaning behind our daily usage of that word. 

One dictionary definition of  hope is: desire with expectation of obtainment.  I like the phrase "expectation of obtainment" and think that that expectation coupled with desire is a good description of scriptural hope.

An article in the Britannica Encyclopedia further describes Christian hope:

“Hope, in Christian thought is one of the three theological virtues, the others being faith and charity (love). It is distinct from the latter two because it is directed exclusively toward the future, as fervent desire and confident expectation. When hope has attained its object, it ceases to be hope and becomes possession…The ancient Greeks used the term hope (elpis) in reference to an ambiguous, open-ended future; but the Resurrection of Jesus Christ gave the term, for Christians, a positive expectation and a moral quality. Throughout the New Testament, Christian hope is closely tied to the ultimate hope of the return of Jesus Christ as the judge of the living and the dead. Yet this eschatological hope does not eliminate intermediate hopes for lesser goods, even for material blessings.”

John Welch wrote an article entitled The Power of Evidence in the Nurturing of Faith that is worth a read.  http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=8&chapid=60  Witnesses (in the case of Jacob 4:6 we gain these witnesses through revelation by searching the prophets) help lead to hope which leads us to an unshaken faith, the kind that can move mountains and calm the waves of the sea.  If only we truly believed these words our faith would be more than a belief.  It would become a mighty power in our lives. 

The "Cannot" Scriptures

There are several ways that the word “cannot” is used in the scriptures.  

The first has to do with human inability where there are declarations that one cannot do more because of limitations of time, space or strength.  This is how we commonly use the word cannot in our everyday language.  “I can’t do more than I’m already doing.  I can’t go to the store right now because….”   This usage of the word “cannot” has many variables and is not particularly pertinent as far as teaching doctrines of the gospel.   An example of this use of “cannot” in the scriptures is as follows:

8 And there had many things transpired which, in the eyes of some, would be great and marvelous; nevertheless, they cannot all be written in this book; yea, this book cannot contain even a hundredth part of what was done among so many people in the space of twenty and five years;

(Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 5:8)

A second and by far more profound use of the word has to do with eternal laws..  In the “cannot” verses of the scripture we have a picture clearly laid out before us of the roles of justice and mercy and the plainness in which these truths are communicated to man so that man cannot misunderstand the plan of salvation.  This is particularly true in the Book of Mormon but all of the scriptures contain such declarations.  There are laws given unto this world and laws that pertain to the next world  that are immutable and “cannot” be violated or “God would cease to be God.”  (Book of Mormon | Alma 42:13)

The “cannot” scriptures testify of the atonement of Jesus Christ and that He is the only way by which man can be saved.  Whereas at first we may feel that the “cannot” scriptures are in the negative realm, upon closer reading we find that they are joyous declarations that salvation is ”sure” and “cannot” fail us if we but heed those directives given to us plainly in the scripture.  The Book of Mormon particularly seems to play a roll of plainness so that man “cannot” misunderstand the way in which he may return to God.  The Book of Mormon clearly illuminates the path and then states that we are “free to choose.”  It is not God who determines our salvation or condemnation.  The path is laid out before mankind and he chooses his own destiny in the end.  It is through God’s perfect love and charity and compassion for his children that He speaks plainly through His prophets to his children upon the earth.  The “cannot” scriptures are spoken in plainness so that we cannot misunderstand.

Here are a few examples:

24 ¶ No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.  Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

23 And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.

(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 9:23)

Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof

Alma 32:38-39

34 And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity; wherefore, except men shall have charity they cannot inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy Father.

(Book of Mormon | Ether 12:32 - 34)

My favorite “cannot” scripture is as follows:

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

(Book of Mormon | Helaman 5:12)

Helaman could have used the phrase “will not” but instead he said “cannot.”  When “cannot” is used the implication is that the end result is built upon something that is unchangeable, something that is larger than will.  It is “sure” because there is no other possible outcome.

Helaman is teaching his sons that if they will build their lives upon Christ it will be a “sure” foundation and they “cannot” fall.  What a joyous declaration that is.

 And how about:

34 Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.

(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 6:34)

The "cannot" scriptures remind us that mercy is as sure as justice.