From time to time, I hear fellow members of the Church express disappointment and discouragement about a lack of a testimony born from a spiritual experience. Another is the disappointment expressed in regards to the lack of personal revelations or the infrequency of them. For some time now, I wondered why other members had such a difficult time obtaining a testimony, or why they have such a lack of personal revelation while other members obtained a personal testimony by the Spirit and experienced many personal revelations.
We know that either a personal testimony or personal revelation are born of the Spirit and each full member has the gift of the Holy Ghost. We know that each member has the right to the counsel and guidance of the Holy Ghost, yet some members claim they do not receive such guidance while others have. So why is it that some members do not experience the Spirit of God?
I pondered this for some time and even prayed to the Father for answers until recently I felt impressed to write this particular article.
Within the gospel the Lord tells us that there are many spiritual gifts that we can receive and surprisingly, one of these gifts is the spiritual gift of belief ( DC 46:14 ). We are also told that we do not receive every gift, but what we receive is in accordance to our faith and I am sure in accordance to God’s plan and wisdom for each of us.
I pondered the “gift of belief” and soon realized that for some, this may be the only thing they receive “for a time” or for a season. It could be for many reasons and a few come to mind. The “gift of belief” may be the best they receive for a season or two or three, because it is in his wisdom for the spiritual benefit of that person and others around him or her.
This thought came about as I pondered the doctrine that we are born into a particular family, circumstances of life etc, in accordance to the degree of faith in our pre-mortal days. This saying that a person may be here in this Church to develop faith by way of belief without ever having a spiritual experience. For such a person to remain a member, having no other spiritual experience than the gift to believe, yet remains faithful even under fire by affliction, is a person that shows to be a great example to those of little faith or those whose faith waivers. It is to show by example the power of belief and that belief alone can sustain a person, which is an important role for our faith.
This then asks the question, “Is it such a bad thing”, to just believe?
One may think that those who receive no spiritual experience for their faith and testimony may be failing in someway, or not understanding the mechanics of faith sufficiently, or practicing something that blocks the needed spiritual experiences. I am sure that for some this may apply, but for those who do things properly, are faithful and receive no spiritual confirmation or experience, there must be a reason for it. For these members it has been disappointing, upsetting and even frustrating, thinking they have failed or did something wrong. Unfortunately, some fall into “disbelief” and fall away from the Church, allowing their own personal discord and misunderstanding lead them astray.
Well, I hope that I can help ease the discomfort.
It is not a bad thing to just believe and not get anything more than that. This is not to say that such persons will never receive a spiritual experience like some members have. These believers may very well, after their season has passed, after they endured rightly, repented properly then they may receive a blessing for their diligence in “just believing” and remaining steadfast.
Think about it. What comes with a life that is led by good or excellent beliefs in Christ, in the Father, the gospel, the Lord’s Church, his prophet, the leaders of this Church and so forth? Ask yourself that same question as you imagine yourself in the Early Christian Church when the original Apostles were still on the earth. Imagine what the membership of that time had to endure and for many, belief was the only thing they had.
I submit to the discouraged and the disgruntled, what comes with a good or excellent belief is peace and the blessing of an inner strength from the Spirit. All for maintaining good beliefs and making the choice to persevere in faith and steadfastness in good works and who knows what other blessings God will bestow upon you. Believe me, God can certainly surprise you and sweep you off your feet with his choice of blessings.
Did you know that the Spirit silently supports each person whose heart remains faithful and you will likely not know about it? In addition, to be faithful requires what? …it requires a belief!
Even for those who do experience a vision or visitation from an angel or converse with the Holy Spirit and all these grand type of spiritual experiences, these events are still not frequent because the Spirit does not tarry with man. Remember that scripture?
What remains in-between these spiritual experiences, for most members, is a long time without such experiences. Where the main strength is…you guessed it, “belief”. At times that is all a person has or can muster. That he or she must remain in that place as a believer, to stand strong and sure in those beliefs that sustain faith. Even I, with the spiritual experiences I had, there are many times that I had to rely on just my beliefs. To endure by way of belief, receiving no other spiritual experience.
It is humbling, at least to me, to understand and see that such a simple thing as “beliefs” can be easily missed, and to see that a good and proper belief is greatly loved by God himself ( John 16.27 ).
It is not a bad thing to experience no vision or to have no spiritual experience. The gift to believe can be just as important and promising for salvation as can any vision. Is it not true that God promises salvation to those who believe (among other things), but there is no scripture that says you must have a vision to be saved? Would it not be true then, that the power given to each person who just believes is that needed gift which so many others need to experience by your hand.
Therefore, be that example, fret not about the lack of this or lack of that, even with all thy prayers. Be content with the power to believe for this time and move diligently through life as you strive to be that example as a good and strong believer. Take it from me that the gift of belief is a special gift for that is what must sustain all of us. For Jesus himself was dismayed at those who always sought signs, but to those who exercised belief, he honoured them.
Belief is the very thing that roots a person in the true gospel and with the Spirit, with or without any spiritual experiences. Visions and the sort are important, but equally important is to live contently with the proper beliefs.
For others do not see visions when they watch you, they see how you live your beliefs.
Believe and be good at it.
Amen
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