Strengthening Our Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

“Faith is knowing the sun will rise, lighting each new day. Faith is knowing the
Lord will hear my prayers each time I pray. Faith is like a little seed: If planted, it will
grow. Faith is a swelling within my heart. When I do right, I know.”

“Faith is knowing I lived with God before my mortal birth. Faith is knowing I can
return when my life ends on earth. Faith is trust in God above; In Christ, who showed
the way. Faith is strengthened; I feel it grow Whenever I obey.”

The Apostle Paul taught that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1; see footnote b). Alma made a similar
statement: “If ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true” (Alma
32:21).

Faith is a principle of action and power. Whenever you work toward a worthy
goal, you exercise faith. You show your hope for something that you cannot yet see.

In order for your faith to lead you to salvation, it must be centered in the Lord
Jesus Christ (see Acts 4:10–12; Mosiah 3:17; Moroni 7:24–26; Articles of Faith 1:4).

You can exercise faith in Christ when you have an assurance that He exists, a
correct idea of His character, and a knowledge that you are striving to live according to
His will.

Having faith in Jesus Christ means relying completely on Him—trusting in His

infinite power, intelligence, and love. It includes believing His teachings. It means
believing that even though you do not understand all things, He does.

Remember that because He has experienced all your pains, afflictions, and
infirmities, He knows how to help you rise above your daily difficulties (see Alma 7:11–
12; D&C 122:8). He has “overcome the world” (John 16:33) and prepared the way for
you to receive eternal life. He is always ready to help you as you remember His plea:
“Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not” (D&C 6:36).

Faith is a gift from God, but you must nurture your faith to keep it strong. Faith is
like the muscle of your arm. If you exercise it, it grows strong. If you put it in a sling and
leave it there, it becomes weak.

Mayroong sinabi si Elder Claudio D. Zivic Of the Seventy noong April 2018
General Conference(“He That Shall Endure unto the End, the Same Shall Be Saved”):
 “We must strive to obey all the commandments and pay close attention to those
that are hardest for us to keep. The Lord will be at our side, helping us in times of need
and weakness, and if we demonstrate a sincere desire and act accordingly, He will
make “weak things become strong.”

Obedience will give us the strength to overcome sin. We must also understand
that the trial of our faith requires us to obey, often without knowing the results.

I suggest a formula that will help us endure to the end:

1. Daily, pray and read the scriptures.

- As you express your gratitude to your Father and as you plead with
Him for blessings that you and others need, you will draw near to Him.
You will draw near to the Savior, whose Atonement makes it possible
for you to plead for mercy (see Alma 33:11). You will also be receptive
to the quiet guidance of the Holy Ghost.

- The prophet Alma taught that the word of God helps strengthen faith.
Comparing the word to a seed, he said that the “desire to believe” can
lead you to “give place” for the word to be “planted in your heart.” Then
you will feel that the word is good, for it will begin to enlarge your soul
and enlighten your understanding. This will strengthen your faith.

- As you continually nurture the word in your heart, “with great diligence,
and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root;
and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.” (See
Alma 32:26–43.)

2. Weekly, partake of the sacrament with a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
3. Pay our tithing and our monthly fast offering.
4. Every two years—every year for the youth—renew our temple
recommends.
5. Throughout our whole lives, serve in the work of the Lord.”

You can strengthen your faith by keeping the commandments. Like all blessings
from God, faith is obtained and increased through individual obedience and righteous
action. If you desire to enrich your faith to the highest possible degree, you must keep
the covenants you have made. Sabi nga ni President Nelson: “Keep on the covenant
path. If you are off, repent and get back on the path.”

“You may in time of trouble think that you are not worth saving because you have
made mistakes, big or little, and you think you are now lost. That is never true! Only
repentance can heal what hurts. But repentance can heal what hurts, no matter what it
is.” (“Counsel to Youth”, in Conference Report, Oct. 2011)

As you strive to trust the Lord during times of trial, remember the following
counsel given through the Prophet Joseph Smith:

“He that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom
of heaven.

“Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your
God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall
follow after much tribulation.

“For after much tribulation come the blessings” (D&C 58:2–4).

Alam ko na si Heavenly Father at si Jesus Christ ay totoo at buhay sila. Alam ko

na si JesuCristo ay ang ating tunay na tagapagligtas. Sa pamamagitan niya,
makakabalik tayo muli sa piling ng ating Ama sa Langit kapag tayo ay sumusunod sa
kanya.

Alam ko ang Aklat ni Mormon ay totoo at tunay ngang nababago ang ating buhay
kapag binabasa natin ito at ating isinasabuhay. Alam ko si Prophet Joseph Smith ay
tunay na propeta ng Diyos at si Pres. Thomas S. Monson ay ating tunay na buhay na
propeta dito sa mundo. Alam ko ang Simbahang ito ay totoo at iniiwan ko ito sa
pangalan ni JesuCristo, amen.