Trial Of Your Faith

Piñatas are loved by children of all ages, and they make any party better. Who doesn't like running around blindfolded trying to whack open a paper-mache object, to be showered on by candy, or who doesn't like sprinting to the downed piñata to snatch candy by the handful? Now imagine smacking a piñata leaving a gaping hole only to discover absolutely no candy. With this as a possibility, why are piñatas so adored?



We love Piñatas because even though there is a chance that it could be empty, we know from experience that candy will be inside, and we want the candy from within it. We in a way exercise faith. Alma teaches that "faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true"(Alma 32:21) Our first time with a piñata, we were told that it had candy within it, that we just needed to crack it open to get to the candy, and so for the love of candy (and destruction) we attacked the paper-mache menace that we believed to have gobbled up all the sweets; we trusted in those who told us there was candy, had hope it was true, but did not know for certain, until we did battle with it, and came out conquerer, candy in hand. What good would it have done for us if we believed there was candy inside, but did nothing with that belief? We would not be able to receive the candy.

Faith works the same way, as Moroni describes it, we need a trial of our faith (see ether 12:6). Before we act on our faith it is simply a belief, faith leads us to action, as James taught "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (James 2:26) If we don't exercise our faith by doing as God has asked us we keep ourselves from being blessed, and we deceive ourselves. We are taught that the Lord is bound when we do as He says and that we receive blessings based upon obedience (see Doctrine and Covenants 82:10 and 130:20-21). When we pray, we build a personal relationship with our Father in Heaven, but if we choose not to, then we don't receive the blessing of knowing that God is there listening to and answering our prayers. Christ has also taught very simply "if we love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15), if we, therefore, love Christ, we will want to keep his commandments (also see 1 John 2:3-4). We may not understand a commandment we have been given by God, but we are taught, that as we live it, we will know of the doctrine (John 7:17), meaning we will better understand the commandment, why it was given and the blessings of it as we test our faith and live it.

As we receive the scriptures, our faith is being tried. Before we first read the scriptures, and live the teachings found within them, we may believe they are from God, but until we actually read the scriptures and live the teachings, we will not receive them promise blessing of knowing by the power of the holy Ghost they are from God, that is one reason why I as a missionary ask people to read the Book of Mormon, and follow the promise Moroni gives in Moroni 10:3-5, because by following that promise, God will reveal the truth of it to them.

Our faith is not just tried as we, live the commandments. As we face temptations and challenges our faith is also tested. Part of faith is trusting in God, so as we rely on him to overcome temptations and challenges we strengthen our faith that God is there helping us.

How have you seen your faith in Christ grow?