Faith and the Power to Change

I read from Ether 11 and 12 this morning.  Chapter 11 covers a lot of years I'm sure, but it seems in reading that there is a fast spiral from righteous living to wickedness among all the people.  That is why I moved onto Chapter 12.

Reading Chapter 12 was like stepping onto a secure lily pad in water.  I love this chapter that explains faith so completely.  As I read I can't help but reflect on my rescue from a dark world and gradually seeing the light.  It was an amazing event in my life and one for which I will be forever grateful.  I don't grieve over the years lost anymore as I use to.

So what is faith?  Moroni says it in a nutshell in v6:  ". . . faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."

What was the trial of my faith?  I was in a miserable marriage.  I was being asked to do things that would have destroyed my spirit and I really feel confident I would not have recovered.  My "missionaries" at work were teaching me from the scriptures, and I'm sure scriptures such as this chapter were being discussed with me.  My work environment was like going to church every day.  I was being taught by bishops, high councilmen, return missionaries and seventies.  It was great!

My trial?  I had to have the faith to walk away from what was familiar in hopes that what my future held would be an improvement.  I've often said a known bad is better than an unknown might be better.  This is what keeps so many people from taking that leap of faith.  The "what if's".  I was a working mother who really had no other financial help.  It should have been a no brainer.

I grew in my faith that what I wanted more in my life than anything else was to have the gospel in my life.  I wanted to speak freely about the scriptures and read them without being mocked.  I wanted to share these things with my family.  I wanted to attend my meetings and learn.  I wanted my daughter to have these things in her life.  I wanted to enter the temple and receive the promises and blessings promised.  I wanted to be free from the chains that bound me, from the hostile environment I was living in and from the wickedness that was so normal to those with whom my husband associated.  The big challenge?  I had never really been on my own and I was afraid.  Ah!  Fear and faith cannot coexist.

And I finally took the leap of faith it required.  I allowed my family and friends to help me.  I asked them to stay near me during the hard stuff and I made my escape.  It was not without conflict and trials, but as I prayed for help to overcome, miracles happened along the way to let me know the Lord was walking alongside me.  It was one of the sweetest yet difficult experiences of my life and gave me the courage to face whatever challenge the Lord has in store for me.

I know the Lord has a plan for me, for my children and husband and for all of His children.  We have to have the faith necessary to do the hard things - to break the addictions and break free of the chains of wickedness in order to find the joy that comes from living as our Heavenly Father has commanded.

Do I have hard things in my life today?  Probably the hardest thing I deal with daily is the heartache of an adult child who is struggling with her testimony and has turned away from the Lord.  She has said she does not believe as I believe.  Yet her life is miserable.  She cries daily, claims she has no friends, and is angry at the world.  I welcome any opportunity she will give me to counsel, but she isn't much interested in "my way".  That is my challenge and for the most part is dealt with on my knees.  The power to change is hers; not mine.

So once we believe and are converted, our assignment is to help others as they deal with the chains that bind men down.