Faith

Faith....at times it is a hard concept to fully understand.  This blog is called "The future is as bright as your faith" a quote by President Monson.  I have been trying diligently to live by that quote.  I most definitely have faith in the gospel.  100%.  I have a testimony of Jesus Christ and of the plan for us here on this earth.  This last year has been tough for me.  I have been trying to live each day with faith.  Knowing that God DOES have a plan for me and the things he has promised to bless me with WILL come to pass.  My patience is most definitely being tried.  I am reading a book right now by Gene R. Cook called "Living by the Power of Faith".  I am doing my best each day to apply these principles I am learning.  I know the Lord has given me trials in my life to better me and that there is a sure purpose in everything.  I was in New York last week and when I was on the plane going out there I was reading a talk by President Eyring from the last conference titled "A Living Testimony".  He quoted the story from Alma 32, where he compares faith to a seed.  Every time I have heard this story quoted I've always thought about it in the context of a testimony and how we gain one and then keep it strong.  But this time I had a different feeling.  Last year at EFY one of our session directors Brother Peterson told me I needed to have more faith.  I told him I had faith.  But then he asked if I had faith in dating.  I hesitated because to be honest I didn't.  He said to come talk to him by the end of the week and tell him what it means to have faith in dating.  I thought I knew what it meant, and I think at the time I had an idea of what it meant.  But that was just the start.  After reading President Eyring's talk....it totally hit me.  I now know what he meant by having faith in dating.  The story from Alma 32 says it all.  Read that section again with this perspective.  When it comes to having faith in dating, we need to apply the principles from this analogy!  But not only in dating, but this analogy can help us to figure out how to LIVE by faith and continue on in this life having that strong faith and hope.  This was one of those aha moments that I have every now and then :).  I can't believe a year later I finally figured out what Brother Peterson was trying to tell me.  I get it now.  Our Father in Heaven is all knowing.  He DOES have a plan for us.  But we have to do our part and show him our faith and be willing to take action when needed.  Like the story says, we have to be diligent and patient and look forward...and one day we WILL reap the benefits.  

Like the primary song says...Faith is like a little seed, if planted it will grow.

Much love

Ashley