Mormon Direction

We all know of what God said about faith and what diminishes it. The most common thing is sin, or to be wicked, to abide in Satan’s rule or influence and so forth, but what many people do not realize is there are other things that also diminishes faith, such as the act of remaining in fear or fear based thoughts, choices and actions. Allow me to explain.

Everyone has shortcomings, personal faults that affect their life. God gave us shortcomings so that we may be made humble by them (Ether 12:27), but also by them, through faith and enduring, God can help us make these weaknesses into a strength when these shortcomings or faults are overcome in the right way (2 Nephi 3:13 / 2 Corinthians 12:10 / Hebrews 11:34).

What many do not realize is that by these inward personal faults, a person can easily diminish his or her faith instead of increasing it and this is all by their own doing, in how they use free will and choice and the manner of beliefs they carry and choose to live. This speaks of two sides, the good and the bad.

When a person chooses to overcome their shortcomings or personal faults, this is the good side, but only if they choose the help of the Holy Spirit and that person allows the Spirit to humble them. Then that person’s faith is increased, made deeper and more rooted and he or she gains an inner spiritual strength that withstands negative spiritual influences. This is a process that takes time if a person perseveres, abides in the Spirit, journals, prays, repents, remains obedient, that person will overcome their fault, made stronger and faith surer.

When a person chooses not to overcome their shortcomings or personal faults, ignores the Holy Spirit, whether or not they pray, chooses to forsake humbleness as part of the process, gives in to their faults or justifies them in any way to keep them, ignore them or both, that person’s faith is diminished, and the scriptures say so.

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( Always a bad apple somewhere)

Remember the Mountain Meadows Massacre in 1857, where some Church members killed many innocent souls? Now, jump to these current days, where on occasion there is a member who committed serious crimes.

These events can be discouraging to members, to see some foolish or outright wrongs committed by a small few and how it reflects on the Church as a whole. These wrongs and foolish actions, when found by ex-members and Anti-Mormons, play up the bad image upon all good members and the Church. It is wrong by them to do this, unethical and even unfair, but because they desire to discredit, they will make any opportunity they can.

Many members know this already, so this not news, why then is this entry important? The importance is for those members who are questioning their faith and membership in the Church because of these events that have happened, who make the interpretation that something is wrong with the Church.

When I view these unsavoury events, I keep in mind a fact that some members seem to ignore. This fact is that God’s true Church invites all people to his salvation. Everyone is to be given this opportunity to accept the restored gospel and this acceptance is one of faith and belief. The problem that occurs are people who join this Church with questionable characteristics and ethics and make no effort to change them. These are people from the world, the converts, who were born and raised in worldly ideas. We all know the tendency of the world to love corruption so people (converts) who join the Church carry this corruption within them.

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I am sure you have heard this cry before from many Christians, that to enter the Kingdom of God, his salvation is for free, meaning there is no work that can be done to obtain it because it is a free gift from God.

How can I determine if that claim is true? After all, there are so many Christian denominations, over 38,000 of them across the world and all of them have different claims about salvation. So how can I test this claim? Well, other Christians say that by comparing it to the Bible, a person can “try the spirit” of something and determine if it is biblical. In all fairness then, I will do the same to determine if salvation is truly a free gift.

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How many people complain about how this person did this or that, or how they should have done something differently? How many complained about the prophet or any of the General Authority?

When reading the scriptures, what pattern exists between God and his prophet(s)?

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Wonder what must be done to develop a relationship with God, even his Son and Saviour Jesus Christ? Having trouble with this development such that you may feel or believe that it is not possible or is an impossible task because everything about it seems insurmountable? Another troubling question some may ask is “How can mere mortals, especially those who believe themselves to be completely inadequate to succeed in this task?”

Hopeless? …as it may seem to be.

Have I painted the right picture of how many have felt or believed, maybe even experienced? I hope so, because that is the first step toward a successful relationship with the Father in heaven.
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