- I ask myself, “How does the Savior see my faith?” And tonight I ask you, “How does the Savior see your faith?”
He speaks of faith and the some of its key characteristics:
- Faith emits a spiritual light, and that light is discernible. Faith in Jesus Christ is a gift from heaven that comes as we choose to believe and as we seek it and hold on to it.
As he speaks to the priesthood brethren of the church, he talks of the key roll that we play as priesthood holders helping others gain faith:
- Brethren, we have been given something more: the priesthood of God, the power of God restored to earth by holy angels. This makes you different. You no longer stand on neutral ground.
Our lives have an effect on our faith:
- How we live our lives increases or diminishes our faith. Prayer, obedience, honesty, purity of thought and deed, and unselfishness increase faith. Without these, faith diminishes.
Elder Andersen speaks of doubts that come into our lives about key points of doctrine:
- Not all answers will come immediately, but most questions can be resolved through sincere study and seeking answers from God. Using our mind without our heart will not bring spiritual answers.
- Immersing oneself in persistent doubt, fueled by answers from the faithless and the unfaithful, weakens one’s faith in Jesus Christ and the Restoration.
He tells us of a key way of increasing our faith:
- Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon give us the beautiful assurance that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. When was the last time that you read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover? Read it again. It will increase your faith.
Elder Andersen speaks about increasing our faith by listening to the counsel from our church leaders:
- Another gift from God that enlarges our faith is the guidance of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve.
Elder Andersen summarizes his comment about faith:
- Although your beginning fire of faith may be small, righteous choices bring greater confidence in God, and your faith grows. As you continue to make good choices, trust in God, and follow His Son, the Lord sends increased light and knowledge, and your faith becomes settled and unwavering.
Finally, he shares some words of promise and faith:
- My dear friends, your faith did not begin at birth, and it will not end at death. Faith is a choice. Strengthen your faith, and live to be deserving of the Savior’s approving words: “Great is thy faith.” As you do, I promise you that your faith, through the grace of Jesus Christ, will one day allow you to stand with those you love, clean and pure in the presence of God.
Elder Andersen's words about faith are inspiring. My favorite point of this talk is when has says that our faith is increased of diminished by our actions. Our actions have an effect our spirits and our faith and ability to follow Christ is effected by the decisions we make on a daily basis. My challenge is to try to make my actions ones that will increase my faith. I am going to work harder on pray, study, and share the gospel through my example.