Faith

Campus is really a beautiful place and I really enjoy doing some study and reading on the lawn, in the shade, or in the sunshine in the beautiful morning hours.

I just wanted to share some awesome things I read this morning. These excerpts are from Richard G Scott's talk the "Transformating Power of Faith and Character."

Click here to read the talk.

First what I really loved was,

"Faith and character are intimately related. Faith in the power of obedience to the commandments of God will forge strength of character available to you in times of urgent need. Such character is not developed in moments of great challenge or temptation. That is when it is intended to be used. Your exercise of faith in true principles builds character; fortified character expands your capacity to exercise more faith. As a result, your capacity and confidence to conquer the trials of life is enhanced."

This is so cool! One of my professors, in situations where we mess up or are ineffective and have to try again or labor a bit more than expected, is often found saying "We do things the hard way, it builds character." This always got a good chuckle and kept things light. I love this professor for their attitude and optimism but I have to admit I haven't always loved thinking I need to do things the hard way to build character. This quote brought peace to my mind over this contradicting value orientation. What my professor I believe is really trying to say is that we DO hard things to USE our character. What a great opportunity no? How many times a day am I faced with a challenge and then I get to exercise my character and my faith to conquer it? This has changed my perspective on my daily decisions and attitude towards temptation and challenge in life.

Elder Scott quoted Hugh B. Brown as well, "Wherever in life great spiritual values await man's appropriation, only faith can appropriate them. Man cannot live without faith, because in life's adventure the central problem is character-building - which is not a product of logic, but of faith in ideals and sacrificial devotion to them."

My life over the past few years can be described as a contrived collaboration between my thoughts, my desires and my belief in my own self will and power to change. I've used logic to brainstorm my own solutions to problems, I have trusted my intellect and motivated myself by awarding or punishing myself in extreme manners depending on the performance of my own self will. But I can attest to you this is no way to build character. This is a great way to distance yourself from God and keep yourself from appropriating the spiritual things of this life, the things that bring real answers, peace and joy.

Faith is the key. It is true that "man cannot live without" it! Faith includes believing Christ's promises and believing He loves you personally and sincerely and that He has answers for you. Faith is the new logic. It's like the pot of gold, only at the beginning of the rainbow. It's where all beauty and enlightenment stems from.

I want to leave one more quote. "Every time you try your faith- that is, act in worthiness on an impression- you will receive the confirming evidence of the Spirit. As you walk to the boundary of your understanding into the twilight of uncertainty, exercising faith, you will be led to find solutions you would not obtain otherwise."

I do not have the self mastery, the solutions or the power I have falsely believed I have had. It is the spirit who can give me answers and it takes walking out into the unknown. Stepping forward with faith and acting on the impressions we receive. Our paths, our decisions, can be directed and we can become who we need and want to be, but only with faith.

Uncertainty: Certainly a favorite.

I love asking questions. To inquire about what is going on around me without the expectation of an answer. It feels so enlivening and so refreshing just to be curious. This is where Anne of Green Gables and I are kindred spirits I think.

Studying math and rote dance steps has left little for my imagination at times and I frequently accept in my mind and my heart that there is an expected and certain answer to every social, spiritual, emotional and physical question I have. But there isn't!

Over the past two years as I've struggled with adjusting my lifestyle to battle an auto-immune disorder and regain my health I have believed in conventional practices such as strict nutritional dieting, supplements and doctor's visits both natural and synthetic, exercise, and massage. So far, these things haven't worked for me and I have put in my best effort. The results just seem to be more depression, feelings of deprivation, exhaustion, lethargy and muscle soreness. I just don't seem to have the answers.

Maybe the problem is that I have had ALL the ANSWERS. For every problem I've hastily created my own solution or answer. But as the scriptures say I have learned that I cannot trust in my own flesh.

I have recently reconciled myself to believe I don't have the answers and I do not have the power to remove my burdens or change my challenges. But I do have a big brother who can "make my burdens light" so that I can carry them with meekness and cheerfulness. And the spirit can guide me to God's will and I can receive answers if I listen for them, instead of create them myself.

Well over the past while I haven't been as cheerful as I could be. But this experience with field studies has taught me how to question. How to question without expectation of an answer. They've taught me that inquiry is a valid and insightful form of learning. It requires faith and patience just as my relationship with the spirit and Heavenly Father does, resulting in answers or new ideas on an unexpected time line or in unpredicted situations.

Pragmatism is a valuable virtue I obviously possess with all the solution making I've done over the past 2 years (sheesh). But it has made me prideful. It has led me to believe I have some sort of power in me when I don't. But God does and I have had to learn to humbly accept His power, help, guidance and love. Inquiry has helped me do this because asking questions requires some degree of humility in order to accept that answers will not be prompt, nor predictable.

Waterfall along BYU's nature walk south of campus where I take my morning stroll.

So this pragmatic attitude is now a skill that I plan to channel into my vigor for questions. Though I miss exercising frequently and rigorously, it does nothing but frustrate me because of my weakness and pain. Therefore I will humbly accept that maybe just a few morning walks will suffice til I find a better solution. I will fill my morning walks with nature and sunshine and questions upon questions for myself to ponder. Oo and maybe some friends I can converse with!? That way I can feel just as energized and excited about life after my walks as I believed I would feel after a good work out.

Thanks field studies, you've already started to change my life.