How to: Grow Your Faith

What is Faith?

To have faith is to “hope for things which are not seen, which are true” (Alma 32:21 & Hebrews 11:1). Each day we act upon or we hope for things, such as the sun rising every day, even before you see it outside your window. This is similar to faith.

Faith in God is more than a theoretical belief in Him. Having faith in God means that you are putting your trust & confidence in Him. But "faith without works is dead" (James 2:26) and you must be willing to act on your belief in Him. Faith is a principle of action and power.

The Book of Mormon prophet Alma compared faith to a seed. If you plant a seed and give it water and a place in the sun, tending to it on a regular basis, it will eventually grow into something beautiful (Alma 32:28-43). It is the same with faith. If you are obedient to God’s commandments, study His word, and have a desire to believe in Christ, and you do so as often as possible, your faith will grow into something magnificent and strong. 

Why is it necessary?

Faith is another word for commitment. When assessing one's own faithfulness, it may be easier to ask, "How committed am I?" Faith is necessary because it helps you gauge where you are in fulfilling your commitments (dare I say covenants?) that you've made to and with your Heavenly Father. It makes you look at how you've grown as a spiritual being. Are you progressing?....or are you stuck in limbo?... not moving forward or backward. Faith is important because it connects you to God. How are you supposed to move closer to Him if you lose sight of or fail to nourish the faith that is inside of you? 

Do I have faith?

Do you have faith? I can't answer that. My advice, find out for yourself. Faith is an often misunderstood word in today's world. Faith is a verb, an action word. When you believe in something you don't see, but you hope for it, and you do all that you can to reach it, you can obtain it. It's simple. if there is no action, than there cannot be a reaction (if you don't believe me check out Newton's law of physics...and also the scriptures). If you believe in Christ and act on that belief, doing all in your power to discover this for yourself, you will find an answer. 

Some suggestions on how to grow your faith: 

Pray. Prayer can be very effective when done with sincerity. If you don't know if you have faith, ask God to plant it in your heart. Just by taking this simple step you have exhibited that you in some way, shape, or form, have at least a particle of faith. 

Read your scriptures. Whether you read the Bible or The Book of Mormon, both hold great treasures of knowledge and light. The same thing applies here as it does with prayer; if done with sincerity and a desire to draw closer to God and increase personal faith, I promise you that you won't be disappointed. 

and finally...

Trust in Him. God loves you. He has been waiting for you to move in His direction. Once you take those steps.... He will happily lead you in the right direction. Just trust Him to do so. 

Hope Once More

Written by Shanna Gregory

May 30, 2013

The waves lap gently cross the shore, I look across the horizon hoping... just hoping that he'll come once more.

The gulls let out a loud pitched squeal...all I want is it to be real. 

Watching, waiting, for the day when he will come and pass my way.

The light is waning and so is my hope...when all of a sudden I see his boat.

Adrenaline is racing through my veins as I stand up and start his way.

I can't believe just what I see, here he is in front of me. 

My days of watching and waiting by the sea are over now, and I am free.

There's a last burst of light that is big and bright, illuminating all that is right.

Here I am, not so alone, I look into his eyes and I am home. 

He opens his arms wide to me, I rush to embrace him endlessly. 

No more watching, no more waiting, no more days of my hope waning. 

He is here, and I am sure, that we were meant to meet this once more.

Who Are You?

"You are a daughter [or son] of God. He knows you, He loves you, and He has a plan for you."

                        -Susan W. Tanner (General Conference, April 2007)

In today's society it seems that our futures become defined by our past. No matter what steps we make forward, we are constantly being dragged back by one thing or another, whether it be the media, the people who surround us, or our own thoughts. It is a never-ending battle between who we were and who we want to become. But amongst all of this, we seem to forget one very important thing, and that is who we are. 

In the midst of trying to figure this rather important piece of information, we may feel overrun by hardships and other difficulties. However, trials are given not to tear us down, but to build us up. Sometimes in the midst of fighting the good fight we fall and can't seem to find the strength to rise up on our own... the moment when you feel like looking down in despair and yelling "I GIVE UP!". In these moments, "it is [always] better to look up" and tell yourself "I can do anything!." In the April, 2010 General Conference, James B. Martino said these words; "Each of us will face adversity no matter where we are...it is how we react to those difficulties that will determine our success and happiness."

A favorite childhood story comes to mind whenever I'm having a hard time remembering who I am. It is called, "You are Special" by Max Lucado. It is a great read and I highly recommend it. It illustrates the importance of remembering who you are and who made you that way. Often times we place ourselves in a particular mindset, one that leads us to be more harsh on ourselves then is necessary. In other points in our lives we make mistakes that seem to us insurmountable. Due to this we lead lives filled with uncertainty and with feelings of inadequacy. Lucky for us, there is a wonderful thing called the Atonement of Christ. The Atonement allows for all of God's children to be made perfect because of and through the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on behalf of all our sins. He made it possible for us to return to live with our Father in Heaven once more. Do not forget that your Savior loves you. Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave his thoughts on the matter during the October 2011, General Conference; "God loves you because you are His child. He loves you even though at times you may feel lonely of make mistakes. The love of God and the power of the restored gospel are redemptive and saving. If you will only allow His divine love into you life, it can dress and wound, heal any hurt, and soften and sorrow."

No matter what you've done, or what people say you've done, in the end it will not matter as long as you put your faith and trust in the Lord, and allow Him to work the saving power of the Atonement in your life. 

You are a child of God. A son or daughter of a King. You are special because He made you. You are His. 
   
 "Do not let your thorns prevent you from seeing your rose"

                                         - Anonymous

A Simple Testimony.

My name is Shanna Gregory. I enjoy playing soccer, camping, cooking, and playing the piano. I am a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a student, and....I am a Mormon.

To be honest, I never fully understood what a testimony was until I found mine. A testimony cannot be found until you bear it. To me, a testimony is one word that encompasses many thoughts, ideas, emotions, and beliefs. It is what forms after you have found or placed faith in someone or something greater than yourself. It is a sure knowledge of things that are not seen, but which are true. It is when your desire for something turns into a sure state of knowledge, and when your hope turns into an unwavering trust.

I have read every single word of the Book of Mormon and I have earnestly prayed to God to know whether or not it's true. And each time I read it the answer I receive is always a resounding "YES, it is true!." I love the scriptures and I love the blessings that have flowed into my life from studying them. They are inseparably intertwined with the Gospel, and because of this (and many other reasons), I know that the Gospel is True. And because I know that both of these are true I also know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet who was called of God, as is our current prophet, Thomas S. Monson. I am grateful for the blessings that are available to us because the Lord saw fit to call these men, and many others, to help His children in returning to His presence. I am grateful to be a part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, it is beyond a doubt God's true church upon the earth at this time.

I hope that you will take the time to find your own testimony. For when you find that, you will find God.