The sermon of focus this week is Let Your Faith Show by Russell M. Nelson. All quotes are from this sermon unless otherwise noted. I hope my one or two readers choose to read it in its entirety, because his words are much more powerful than my synthesis.
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter," Isaiah 5:20
"Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can be bolstered as we learn about Him and live our religion. The doctrine of Jesus Christ was designed by the Lord to help us increase our faith...The word religion literally means “to ligate again” or “to tie back” to God. The question we might ask ourselves is, are we securely tied to God so that our faith shows, or are we actually tied to something else?...We might each ask ourselves, where is our faith?...There is only One in whom your faith is always safe, and that is in the Lord Jesus Christ. And you need to let your faith show! God declared in the first of His Ten Commandments, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” He also said, “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.” Yet so many people look only to their bank balance for peace or to fellow human beings for models to follow...Truth is truth! It is not divisible, and any part of it cannot be set aside. Whether truth emerges from a scientific laboratory or through revelation, all truth emanates from God...living the Lord’s pure religion, which means striving to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ, is a way of life and a daily commitment that will provide divine guidance. As you practice your religion, you are exercising your faith. You are letting your faith show...The scriptures provide one of the best ways to find our course and stay on it. Scriptural knowledge also provides precious protection...In dealing with controversial issues, we should first search for God’s guidance...The temptation to be popular may prioritize public opinion above the word of God...Evil, error, and darkness will never be truth, even if popular...Day after day, on your path toward your eternal destiny, increase your faith. Proclaim your faith! Let your faith show!"
It was hard to pick the most inspiring things from this talk. The whole of it touched my spirit, as I said yes, yes, yes. It is hard to be good in today's world, where the line between good and bad is blurred. They are not blurred for Christians who seem odd, when we choose to follow God's laws of modesty, morality, holy Sabbath, and more. "Where once the standards of the Church and the standards of society were mostly compatible, now there is a wide chasm between us, and it’s growing ever wider," Thomas S. Monson. When I was a young girl, the prevalence of bad people was less, and they tried to conceal their scornful acts. Now much sin is performed openly, while these people demand acceptance or even advocacy for their evil ways. Now I'm asking myself, does my faith show? I strive to follow Jesus Christ, being His disciple and witness...but...I can't say I'm always the best example I could be. More often than not, I act before I think. Then remorse kicks in and repentance must follow. Maybe by the time I'm 97 like my grandma, I'll learn to give heed; she is a good example. Since my heart is in the right place, God's grace will help me along this desired path.
