Hello Sisters! I hope you are all doing well and adjusting to your new schedules. I know it has to be a different start to school than you have ever experienced! I pray we can find good in this situation we have been put in. How I wish we could be together and share testimony as Young Women this Sunday but, this is the next best thing. I hope you can read through this and gain some personal insight and knowledge that can help you in your every day life.
I have been thinking about this topic “building Faith in Jesus Christ” all week and reading all of the recommended references and trying to gain a greater understanding on how to build more faith in Jesus Christ. The talk “Faith is Not by Chance, but by Choice” by Neil L Anderson (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2015/10/faith-is-not-by-chance-but-by-choice?lang=eng) really spoke to me. He started out with in introspective question, “How does the Savior see your faith?” What do you think the Savior would think of your faith right now? During his ministry he perceived the faith of those around Him. So again, how would He see your faith right now? If you feel like maybe your Faith isn’t as strong as it should be, there is hopeful news!
The future of YOUR faith is not by chance but by CHOICE.
It is our own personal choice to grow and strengthen our faith and it is up to only us to take responsibility for that action. As much as I would love to give my kids, or you, or my friends, my testimony of the gospel and my faith that I have in Jesus Christ, that is just not possible. And on the flip side, as much as I would want someone else’s pure faith in Jesus Christ, that is not possible either. I can bear witness to them through testimony and example but it has to be their choice to increase their Faith on their own. But it is often through bearing of testimonies that other’s faith is kindled.
Faith is not something we are born with and the beauty of faith is we can help it grow or even just getting started by just the DESIRE of wanting to have faith. Faith is a principal of action and power. We need to DO to receive any increase. Building on even a little bit of faith requires righteous choices. Having faith in Jesus Christ means relying completely on Him- trusting in his infinite power, intelligence and love. Even when the future is uncertain, your faith in the Savior and bring you peace. Helaman 5:12 states, “And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.” What a powerful scripture!! With Christ being our foundation, WE CAN NOT FAIL. It is not often in life that you are guaranteed something, so that is an amazing scripture!
As I was scrolling though my instagram account, I noticed a post by LDSliving that was a quote by Virginia H. Pearce and it said “We all know that more faith won’t make our problems disappear. But I believe as our faith increase, we become more able to not only survive the hard times but become better because of them. I believe faith is the answer.” It makes me think of the different world we are living in now. We could all really be bothered by this pandemic and have it control not only our thoughts but our actions and everyday living. However, if we listen to the prophet and his promise of a better future, to have faith in his words and in Jesus Christ would make these “problems” seem insignificant. Even when the future seems uncertain, your faith in the Savior can bring you peace. We can have peace and hope during the rough times in our lives. There is a hope for a better future through our Savior, Jesus Christ!
Watch this video and respond the questions listed below (in the comments):
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2017-01-003-spiritual-whirlwinds?lang=eng
Why is it important to build our faith in Jesus Christ? What does that mean to you right now in your lives? How did the video portray this?
Christ can help us through all of our challenges, big or small. He wants to help us. We do not have to feel overrun by our challenges, strength in our trails will ALWAYS be found in Jesus Christ. Christ can help us feel peace during the hardest times of our lives. What do you feel like are challenges the youth are facing right now?
What does it mean to you to have faith IN Jesus Christ? What blessings can you receive from having faith?
For me, having faith in Jesus Christ has carried me through some challenging times in my youth but also in adulthood and as a mother. As people, we are always trying to feel peace, which is hard sometimes when know we were put on this earth to have challenges! Developing my faith throughout the years has given me the eternal perspective I have needed to have challenges not overtake me and point me in the opposite direction. My faith has always pointed me to my Savior and His perspective and what he would have me do. Faith does not plateau and it is either diminishing or increasing so there have been times in my life where my faith is not as strong as it should be but we have a wonderful Savior that just cares if the desire is there and he will show us the way. I bear my testimony that I KNOW our Savior loves and cares for us so much that he died for us that we might be able to have eternal life and live with our Father in Heaven again. I know that if we just have the desire to have faith, we will be blessed with the knowledge and peace that we need. We can choose to strengthen our faith. I’m so grateful for the knowledge that we have of our Savior and his perfect example and for the atonement. Bless you sisters and from the words of Thomas S. Monson “Fear not,… The future is as bright as your faith!”
I leave this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Please think about those questions and please comment about any thoughts you had in today’s lesson/study guide on faith. We would LOVE to read your thoughts and testimonies. We miss being able to be with you all the time but grateful for our Wednesday night activities we can still spend together 🙂
Asheville Ward News 
Thank you for this lesson Sister Stohl!
It is important to build our faith in Jesus Christ because faith is something that can always help us when we have it. Having faith is especially important during times of struggle and uncertainty like right now. The video portrayed this by explaining how being rooted in our faith can hold us up in hard times and get us through whatever we’re experiencing. Some challenges the youth are facing now are getting back into school during a weird time, these strange times in general, isolation, etc. Having faith in Jesus Christ means trusting in all that He has said and done and knowing that You can always turn to Him. There is no limit to the blessings you can receive from having faith! You can receive comfort, guidance, answers to questions, protection, etc.
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I think having faith in Jesus Christ is trusting in him and his plan for us, thank you for the lesson:)
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