Believing Him

[Sunday21]

Dear Bros and Sis's, The information below is a snippet entitled "Believing Him" from a talk from David A Bednar. The title of the full talk is "If ye had known me". You will find the link to the entire talk at the end of this message. I will be teaching this lesson at the end of this month. I am trying to understand this snippet. Bro Bednar feels that some people follow the gospel but do not believe that they personally will: 1) be exalted?; 2) are loved by God?; 3) will receive answers to prayer?; 4) will have their calling and elections made sure?. I am just not sure what Bro Bednar means. I have meet lds folk who feel that it is selfish to pray for themselves. Who feel that they will never be exalted. I am not sure if this downgrading of yourself is a cultural norm amongst lds folk or if they really feel that they are not worthy. I did meet a women who due to a very minor flaw in her endowments, felt that she was not celestial material so perhaps self-esteem is low for some lds women.

I feel that believing that you are worthy for exaltation or simply some help from the heavens is very motivating. If you do not believe that you will ever be able to skate, how hard will you work to learn skating? Not hard at all. You are beat before you start.

I also feel that life is pretty tough. It is hard to compete in life when you pay 10% tithing and don't work on the Sabbath and don't cheat or lie. Consequently, we need to pray and ask for some help from Heavenly Father just to keep our heads above water. Thus, I feel that Believing God is a key motivating force in remaining active and in striving towards exaltation. What do you think? Any ideas, gratefully received!

Believing Him

Is it possible to exercise faith in Him, follow Him, serve Him, but not believe Him?

I am acquainted with Church members who accept as true the doctrine and principles contained in the scriptures and proclaimed from this pulpit. And yet they have a hard time believing those gospel truths apply specifically in their lives and to their circumstances. They seem to have faith in the Savior, but they do not believe His promised blessings are available to them or can operate in their lives. I also encounter brothers and sisters who fulfill their callings dutifully but for whom the restored gospel has not yet become a living and transforming reality in their lives. We come to know the Lord as we not only believe in Him but also believe Him and His assurances.

In the New Testament, a father asked the Savior to heal his child. Jesus answered:

“If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

“And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”³²

I have reflected many times on this father’s request: “Help thou mine unbelief.” I wonder if the intent of the man’s pleading was not primarily to help him believe in Jesus as our Redeemer and in His healing power. He already may have acknowledged Christ as the Son of God. But perhaps he needed help to believe the Master’s healing power indeed could be so individual and so personalized as to bless his own beloved son. He may have believed in Christ generally but not believed Christ specifically and personally.

We often testify of what we know to be true, but perhaps the more relevant question for each of us is whether we believe what we know.

Sacred ordinances performed by proper priesthood authority are essential to believing the Savior, coming to know Him, and ultimately, believing what we know.

“And [the Melchizedek] priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.

“Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.”³³

We believe and come to know the Lord as the key of the knowledge of God administered through the Melchizedek Priesthood unlocks the door and makes it possible for each of us to receive the power of godliness in our lives. We believe and come to know the Savior as we follow Him by receiving and faithfully honoring holy ordinances and increasingly have His image in our countenances.³⁴ We believe and come to know Christ as we experience personally the transforming, healing, strengthening, and sanctifying power of His Atonement. We believe and come to know the Master as “the power of his word [takes root] in us”³⁵ and is written in our minds and hearts³⁶ and as we “give away all [our] sins to know [Him].”³⁷

Believing Him is trusting that His bounteous blessings are available and applicable in our individual lives and families. Believing Him with our whole soul³⁸ comes as we press forward along the covenant pathway, surrender our will to His, and submit to His priorities and timing for us. Believing Him—accepting as true His power and promises—invites perspective, peace, and joy into our lives.

 

if-ye-had-known-me.htm

[my two cents]

5 minutes ago, Sunday21 said:

I also feel that life is pretty tough. It is hard to compete in life when you pay 10% tithing and don't work on the Sabbath and don't cheat or lie.

Disagree.  We're blessed when we do these things.  My parents are exhibit A.

[zil]

7 minutes ago, Sunday21 said:

We often testify of what we know to be true, but perhaps the more relevant question for each of us is whether we believe what we know.

I think the above emphasizes one meaning or example of what Elder Bednar is saying.  How many people get up and testify that the Book of Mormon is true, but then never study it?  They don't think they have time (i.e. don't believe that the Savior can help them to make this a priority over other things in their life), they don't understand The Isaiah Chapters™ (i.e. don't believe the Lord can help them to understand).  How many testify of the Savior's Atonement, but can't bring themselves to confess some sin or other, or feel themselves unworthy of forgiveness?  How many testify of the truthfulness of the Church, but then turn down callings because they don't think they're capable of filling the calling (or that the Lord is able to magnify their efforts)?

We could probably go on all day.  To believe Christ is to trust that he will help you to do what he asks of you.  IMO, it's not the easiest thing in the world to step out of your comfort zone and into the realm of "oh, I cannot do this myself" trusting that He will take your hand and lead you along.

[Sunday21]

11 hours ago, my two cents said:

 

[CV75]

13 hours ago, Sunday21 said:

Dear Bros and Sis's, The information below is a snippet entitled "Believing Him" from a talk from David A Bednar. The title of the full talk is "If ye had known me". You will find the link to the entire talk at the end of this message. I will be teaching this lesson at the end of this month. I am trying to understand this snippet. Bro Bednar feels that some people follow the gospel but do not believe that they personally will: 1) be exalted?; 2) are loved by God?; 3) will receive answers to prayer?; 4) will have their calling and elections made sure?. I am just not sure what Bro Bednar means. I have meet lds folk who feel that it is selfish to pray for themselves. Who feel that they will never be exalted. I am not sure if this downgrading of yourself is a cultural norm amongst lds folk or if they really feel that they are not worthy. I did meet a women who due to a very minor flaw in her endowments, felt that she was not celestial material so perhaps self-esteem is low for some lds women.

I feel that believing that you are worthy for exaltation or simply some help from the heavens is very motivating. If you do not believe that you will ever be able to skate, how hard will you work to learn skating? Not hard at all. You are beat before you start.

I also feel that life is pretty tough. It is hard to compete in life when you pay 10% tithing and don't work on the Sabbath and don't cheat or lie. Consequently, we need to pray and ask for some help from Heavenly Father just to keep our heads above water. Thus, I feel that Believing God is a key motivating force in remaining active and in striving towards exaltation. What do you think? Any ideas, gratefully received!

if-ye-had-known-me.htm

I think the difference between believing in Him and believing Him is the difference between having weak faith and stronger faith. Akin to the pride cycle, a saint can awaken his faith under some of life’s circumstances and let it lapse under others--whether he considers life hard or easy at the moment. And akin to the parable of the sower, he can hear the word in different ways under different tests and trials. I think the more personal we make living the gospel, the more likely we are to believe Him.

[Anddenex]

15 hours ago, Sunday21 said:

Dear Bros and Sis's, The information below is a snippet entitled "Believing Him" from a talk from David A Bednar. The title of the full talk is "If ye had known me". You will find the link to the entire talk at the end of this message. I will be teaching this lesson at the end of this month. I am trying to understand this snippet. Bro Bednar feels that some people follow the gospel but do not believe that they personally will: 1) be exalted?; 2) are loved by God?; 3) will receive answers to prayer?; 4) will have their calling and elections made sure?. I am just not sure what Bro Bednar means. I have meet lds folk who feel that it is selfish to pray for themselves. Who feel that they will never be exalted. I am not sure if this downgrading of yourself is a cultural norm amongst lds folk or if they really feel that they are not worthy. I did meet a women who due to a very minor flaw in her endowments, felt that she was not celestial material so perhaps self-esteem is low for some lds women.

I feel that believing that you are worthy for exaltation or simply some help from the heavens is very motivating. If you do not believe that you will ever be able to skate, how hard will you work to learn skating? Not hard at all. You are beat before you start.

I also feel that life is pretty tough. It is hard to compete in life when you pay 10% tithing and don't work on the Sabbath and don't cheat or lie. Consequently, we need to pray and ask for some help from Heavenly Father just to keep our heads above water. Thus, I feel that Believing God is a key motivating force in remaining active and in striving towards exaltation. What do you think? Any ideas, gratefully received!

An aspect I love about Elder David A Bednar is that he is studied accompanied with the spiritual gift of the word of wisdom. I recently read and listened to this talk a few times last week before I spoke on Sunday. Let's review different mental thoughts that I believe Elder Bednar is referring to:

1) The gospel is true, BUT I have sinned and do not feel myself "worthy" of exaltation. Forgiveness is for others, but not for me, I am truly "bad" -- "evil."
2) The gospel is true. Priesthood blessings are beneficial for others; although, I struggle that they actually bless me (they only give generalities). This would be similar to the father expressing, "Jesus, help thou my unbelief."
3) The gospel is true. I believe all the scriptural stories. The spirit has born witness, but that if for people with more faith than I, and who are more spiritual. The favor of the Lord is for prophets, apostles, you know general authorities, not your everyday member of the Church. The mentality that separates past and present and has a hard time believing these same miracles exist today, but have received witness from the spirit that the scriptural stories are true.
4) The gospel is true. I have prayed. I have fasted. AND my prayers and fasting are left wanting, while other of my brothers and sisters, their prayers are answered. This is the mentality that sought to exercise belief and faith, BUT the fruit was barren, but they have recognized others receiving answers. This turns again to, it is for others, but not for me. I believe the gospel is true, but the blessings aren't for me. Another situation where a father or mother would say, "Jesus, please help my unbelief." As it must be unbelief, lack of faith, because doesn't the Lord say if you have the faith of a mustard seed you can move mountains, BUT I can't even get a simple prayer answered.

Often, I get a sense that people isolate themselves from others and from scriptures. Blessings are for the favored (loved) of the Lord. You know those people who are just good people, because they are being blessed, and according to the individuals minds eye -- they are not.

I asked a question once as a gospel doctrine teacher, "Please raise your hand if you feel you will be exalted." No one raised their hand, and some hands started to raise but only half way. The class was full of people who believed in Christ, his gospel, and his atonement, then why was not every hand raised?

I believe @Carborendum thread coincides with why people believe, but not always believe in, and part of this is due to being unstudied, and part of this is misunderstandings of what scriptures represent. The spirit is to help us know things as they really are, not the illusions we create and sometimes the illusions or misunderstandings of gospel principles keep us from believing in.

 

Edited April 19, 2017 by Anddenex

[Sunday21]

@CV75. Thank you for your response! If you don't mind, can you explain what you mean by making the gospel more personal?

[zil]

13 minutes ago, Sunday21 said:

@CV75. Thank you for your response! If you don't mind, can you explain what you mean by making the gospel more personal?

While we're waiting for CV75 to answer, I'll give you my take on this.  I know people who are well into adulthood who still hear talks, lessons, and other counsel in church as adding to their "to do" list.  They have yet to figure out that the things we hear in church are principles and examples of how to apply doctrine, and that it is up to each of us to figure out how the gospel applies to our own lives rather than how to fit its list of to-dos in between the things which make up our "real life".  They have yet to figure out that studying the scriptures is a personal joy as opposed to a church-mandated task to be checked off.  They have yet to figure out that their daily chores (yes, even the laundry) can be done righteously or not; that our interactions with anyone and everyone can be gospel-centric (without having to go all preachy) or not, etc.

In other words, the gospel is a task list to them and not a way of thinking, feeling, speaking, and acting.  (Even though for the most part, these people I know are doing their best to live the gospel and are generally good people who I'm sure will figure it out eventually, they just haven't figured out how to make it personal.)

Magnifying your calling is another way to make the gospel personal, IMO.  The handbook contains the duties, but you have the unique personality, skills, weaknesses, and gifts to receive revelation and then make it yours.

[Sunday21]

@Anddenex. Thank you very much! I have read this over many times. Most insightful. Very helpful! Thanks again!

[CV75]

22 minutes ago, Sunday21 said:

@CV75. Thank you for your response! If you don't mind, can you explain what you mean by making the gospel more personal?

The following phrases from Elder Bednar’s talk brought this concept of making the gospel more personal to mind:

• “…the restored gospel has … become a living and transforming reality in their lives.”

• “…we believe what we know.”

• “…we experience personally the transforming, healing, strengthening, and sanctifying power of His Atonement.”

• “…we “give away all [our] sins to know [Him].”

• “…we press forward along the covenant pathway, surrender our will to His, and submit to His priorities and timing for us.”

• “[…invite] perspective, peace, and joy into our lives.”

I think when we really want to accept the invitation from Jesus to authentically be like Him, this happens. It requires more than merely acting like Him--that is an early step in the right direction, but mustn’t terminate with going through the motions.

[Sunday21]

@zil and @CV75

Thank you so much. I see what you mean...however I am somewhat horrified! I had no idea that there was this higher level of existence. Somewhat concerning! I had no idea anyone actually expected me to be authentically like Christ. No one mentioned this at the baptismal interview! Oh my. Here I am just working on getting my visiting teaching done every month. Lots to think about. Thank you

[zil]

30 minutes ago, Sunday21 said:

@zil and @CV75

Thank you so much. I see what you mean...however I am somewhat horrified! I had no idea that there was this higher level of existence. Somewhat concerning! I had no idea anyone actually expected me to be authentically like Christ. No one mentioned this at the baptismal interview! Oh my. Here I am just working on getting my visiting teaching done every month. Lots to think about. Thank you

It's a journey, Sunday.  Doesn't matter where you are on the path right now, keep traveling in the right direction and you'll get there.

[Sunday21]

3 minutes ago, zil said:

It's a journey, Sunday.  Doesn't matter where you are on the path right now, keep traveling in the right direction and you'll get there.

Thank you ? Sigh. 

[zil]

Just now, Sunday21 said:

Thank you ? Sigh. 

You've got this, IMO.  You have a better attitude about the gospel and service than a lot of life-long members I know.  Don't forget all the good you have done and are doing.  You'll be OK.  Just keep moving.   As my dad's doctor tells him: the secret to living is to just keep breathing in and out.  As long as you do that, you won't die.

[Sunday21]

Just now, zil said:

You've got this, IMO.  You have a better attitude about the gospel and service than a lot of life-long members I know.  Don't forget all the good you have done and are doing.  You'll be OK.  Just keep moving.   As my dad's doctor tells him: the secret to living is to just keep breathing in and out.  As long as you do that, you won't die.

Thanks! I will try to buck up! I sometimes wonder how LDS people keep moving. What do lds doctors do? What do people trying to set up a business do? Teachers in their first few years of teaching? I guess they have family support.

In my town, we have 100-150 members and 500 inactive. I have to find 100 toothbrushes for the homeless by Sunday! Oh well. 

Thanks for all your help!

[zil]

We keep moving by recognizing there is a time and a place for everything, and here and now is not the time and place for everything all at once. You do what you can and stay on the path.  You live the gospel rather than trying to fit it like a task list between other things.  I will tell you something which many don't seem to believe, but which I have personally experienced, and to which the scriptures attest repeatedly: The Lord is master of all, including time and space.  When we put the things of the Lord first, He helps us with all the rest (one way or another).  I have gotten more done in the "left-over" time after my scripture study, or lesson prep, or service, than I ever could have done on my own had I chosen not to do the things the Lord asks me.

Whether it's loaves and fishes, or time and energy, the Lord can take our measly offering and make it so that not only is it enough, but at the end the "left overs" are more than we started with. Trust him.

[Sunday21]

@zil. Thanks so much! I really appreciate your help. I will reread this often. Hope I get to your level someday. Many thanks!!

[CV75]

11 hours ago, Sunday21 said:

@zil and @CV75

Thank you so much. I see what you mean...however I am somewhat horrified! I had no idea that there was this higher level of existence. Somewhat concerning! I had no idea anyone actually expected me to be authentically like Christ. No one mentioned this at the baptismal interview! Oh my. Here I am just working on getting my visiting teaching done every month. Lots to think about. Thank you

I joined the Church in 1975, and am only beginning to appreciate the meaning of becoming like Christ. King Benjamin in the beginning of his address reminded everyone, "I am like as yourselves, subject to all manner of infirmities in body and mind." And so is everyone of us, so if someone as holy as he can do so with all the challenges of life, so can we.

The parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 21:16) applies to all of us, as well as Mosiah 4:27: "And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent ...therefore, all things must be done in order." In that verse, "all these things" refers to everything taught from Chapter 2 onward, which is founded on the name of Christ (Mosiah 3:9 and 5:7-10). As Jesus' sons and daughters, we are made free, which is precisely what He is, having overcome all sin and death. We are indebted to render to Heavenly Father all that we have and are (2:34), which is precisely what Jesus did, but without indebtedness.

And by all means your visiting teaching is a reflection of becoming like Christ!

[Sunday21]

Thanks so much! @CV75! I very much appreciate your thoughts. Very wise. Best Wishes

[CV75]

2 hours ago, Sunday21 said:

Thanks so much! @CV75! I very much appreciate your thoughts. Very wise. Best Wishes

I appreciate your thoughts too -- I hope / I'm sure your lesson goes well!