Self-Reliance Resources
Exercise Faith in Jesus Christ
From My Foundations
As we intensify our thoughts of our Savior at this time of year, it is a perfect time to remember how through Him, all things are possible with faith.
Taking action is the exercise of faith. The children of Israel are carrying the ark of the covenant. They come to the River Jordan. The promise is they will cross over on dry land. When does the water part? When their feet are wet. They walk into the river—act. Power follows—the water parts. We oftentimes believe, “I’m going to have this perfect understanding, and then I’m going to transform that into what I do.” I would suggest that we have enough to get started. We have a sense of the right direction. Faith is a principle—the principle—of action and of power. True faith is fo¬cused in and on the Lord Jesus Christ and always leads to action. (Elder David A. Bednar, “Seek Learning by Faith”)
“And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God” (Ether 12:18).
“Faith in God includes faith in His purposes as well as in His timing. We cannot fully accept Him while rejecting His schedule” (Neal A. Maxwell, That Ye May Believe [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1992], 84).
“Faith in Jesus Christ propels us to do things we otherwise would not do. Faith that motivates us to action gives us more access to His power. We also increase the Savior’s power in our lives when we make sacred covenants and keep those covenants with precision. Our covenants bind us to Him and give us godly power” (Russell M. Nelson, “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 41).
“When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation . . . and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening— or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy” (Russell M. Nelson, “Joy and Spiritual Survival,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 82).
Contact your ward Self-Reliance Specialist, or myself, for more information. If you have any other questions or concerns, please let me know.
The Lord has declared, “It is my purpose to provide for my saints” (D&C 104:15).
Diane Burgoon
Stake Self-Reliance Group Coordinator
330-430-9912
diane.burgoon@yahoo.com
Akron Ohio Stake News 