Faith And Power To Accomplish

“And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.” (Moroni 7:33, Book of Mormon)

Christ Hath Said

It is significant that it is Christ who said it. Even if it came from the prophets, it is the same as if Christ said it, because He reveals His mind and will through His living prophets.

If Christ said it, it is true. The Lord has all power and knowledge, and whatever He says He has the power to bring it about.

If Ye Will Have Faith In Me

The word “if” is a keyword. Faith is ultimately a gift, but you have a big part to play. It is ultimately on you to exercise your faith. Only He can give you the fruits of faith, but only you can exercise it. Exercising comes before receiving. The prophets teach that faith precedes the miracle. There are very few if any entitlements in the gospel. All the promises and blessings associated with the covenants in the temple are conditional on obedience and faith. It is in the temple where you obtain the greatest blessings and power. The temple is the Lord’s house, and you are exercising your faith by participating in the ordinances there.

Faith is in Jesus Christ. The most eye opening and inspiring self-help secular principle or idea doesn’t have the power that Jesus Christ can do for you. Jesus Christ is a living God who can and will get involved in your life. It is through Him that you can eventually subdue all enemies under your feet.

Having faith in Jesus Christ is to know that He is the God of Heaven and Earth and has power and authority over all things. He even has power over Satan and the entire forces of hell. Satan operates under the restrains of Christ. The Lord allows Satan power to ensure this life is a time for testing. You and I can bind Satan out of our life through faith in Jesus Christ.

Having faith in Jesus Christ is to know that He is the God of Heaven and Earth and has power and authority over all things. He even has power over Satan and the entire forces of hell. Satan operates under the restrains of Christ. The Lord allows Satan power to ensure this life is a time for testing. You and I can bind Satan out of our life through faith in Jesus Christ.

Two Core Principles of Faith

Belief
Action

I have already mentioned that faith is in Jesus Christ and in nothing else because nothing else can bring the desired results in your life that Christ can. If you don’t believe in Him or of and in His power to do ANYTHING, you won’t realize the results you want.

Action leads to power. Faith is also a principle of power. Faith without works is dead. John Pontius talks about the law of the Celestial Kingdom which is listening to the voice of the spirit. He stresses that great spiritual power is heeding the promptings of the spirit especially in the small things. The small things he identifies are things like the guys picking up your socks and turning off the TV to help your wife with the dishes or cleaning. Or even driving the speed limit. It doesn’t matter what it is, if it comes from Christ it is right.

Acting on the little impressions leads to greater power. Jesus Christ will not entrust you with the power to move mountains if you can’t or will not respond to the little promptings of picking up your socks or getting off the couch to help your wife.

Another aspect of belief is believing that the impressions no matter how small came from Jesus Christ. Everyone who is born to this earth was given the light of Christ, and every member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead whose mission is to testify of Christ. Jesus Christ relays His messages and desires for you through the Holy Ghost or light of Christ.

Ye Shall Have Power To Do Whatsoever Thing Is Expedient In Me

Ye means you. I am sure there are many layers and meanings to the word power. At least one meaning of power that I learned from a temple president is to become something that you currently are not, which is what happens when you attend the temple.

Whatsoever is a keyword. Whatsoever is anything. If Jesus Christ commands it or inspires you to do it, you certainly can do it. If He tells you to literally move a mountain you will do it because it came from Him. If Jesus Christ reveals to you to walk on water, you will do it because it came from Jesus Christ. Whatever Jesus Christ tells you to do through your light of Christ (conscience) or through the Holy Ghost it will happen.

The Lord also wants you to be anxiously engaged in righteous causes. He doesn’t want you and I to be commanded in all things. You can feel at peace that if your desire is righteous even though you are not confident that it was initially inspired by Him, that it is His will that you do it and that He will sanction and help you with it. Righteous desires are those things that build up His kingdom and helps lift the world.

Chapel Address and contact information: 7155 S 540 E Midvale, UT 84047; 801-562-8089. You can also call 801-259-6709 for the mission home in Midvale if you live in the area and want two young men or women to visit you.

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