Digital Only: Young Adults
Applying President Nelson’s 5 Tips to Increase Your Faith
If you feel like your faith is faltering, follow these five suggestions from the prophet.
We all face trials and pressures that test our faith every day. Sometimes these challenges can seem too overwhelming to bear. But let me reassure you that each of us can, in fact, have faith.
President Russell M. Nelson recently encouraged us to recognize and “not minimize the faith [we] already have.” 1 He said:
“Exercising faith can seem overwhelming. At times we may wonder if we can possibly muster enough faith to receive the blessings that we so desperately need. …
“The Lord understands our mortal weakness. We all falter at times. But He also knows of our great potential. …
“The Lord does not require perfect faith for us to have access to His perfect power. But He does ask us to believe.” 2
With this truth in mind, consider these five recommendations from President Nelson on how we can increase our faith in Jesus Christ a little more each day.
1. “Study.”
As young adults, we lead very busy lives. But life will always be busy, and we can still make time for the Lord and study His gospel. President Nelson taught, “The more you learn about the Savior, the easier it will be to trust in His mercy, His infinite love, and His strengthening, healing, and redeeming power.” 3
Studying the scriptures doesn’t necessarily mean reading them for hours on end. Studying could be 20, 10, or even 5 minutes of delving into a topic. No matter the time commitment, if we open our hearts to the messages in the scriptures daily, our faith in Jesus Christ will increase.
The scriptures are filled with real people who had sufficient faith in Jesus Christ to move mountains or experience other miracles. Immersing yourself in those stories will help you to better understand the importance of faith, what faith looks like, the miracles that come through exercising faith, and how you can start making your faith unshakable.
Studying Christ’s mission, ministry, and doctrine in the scriptures will help you to understand the power that faith in Him brings into your life and how His Atonement applies to you. 4
2. “Choose to believe in Jesus Christ.”
It’s OK to have questions. Remember that the Church was restored because a boy had questions and asked Heavenly Father to learn the truth.
If we have questions or lack wisdom (see James 1:5–6), search the scriptures, find faithful sources, and ask Heavenly Father in prayer about those questions. He wants us to seek and to know the truth and will not lead us astray.
Even with those questions or doubts we may have, President Nelson has pleaded with us to still “choose to believe and stay faithful. Take your questions to the Lord and to other faithful sources. Study with the desire to believe rather than with the hope that you can find a flaw in the fabric of a prophet’s life or a discrepancy in the scriptures.” 5
We might think, “But how can I stay faithful when I have questions or doubts that I can’t find answers to?”
First, we can continue to search for truth with a desire to believe rather than searching with a hope to find lies or flaws. And second, we can follow President Nelson’s counsel to “stop increasing [our] doubts by rehearsing them with other doubters. Allow the Lord to lead you on your journey of spiritual discovery.” 6
As we put these things into practice, the Holy Ghost will testify to us of the promise that we “may know the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:5).
3. “Act in faith.”
We learn from the scriptures that faith cannot exist without action (see Joseph Smith Translation, James 2:17).
President Nelson said: “What would you do if you had more faith? Think about it. Write about it. Then receive more faith by doing something that requires more faith.” 7
Acting in faith doesn’t have to be complicated. Simply reaching for your scriptures every day, trusting that you can find guidance; praying with the belief that Heavenly Father will guide you; and choosing to follow commandments each day despite the world’s temptations are all actions of faith. And the more we do these small faith-filled actions, the more we will receive more faith.
4. “Partake of sacred ordinances worthily.”
Your commitment to partaking of sacred ordinances worthily, including the weekly sacrament, will, as President Nelson taught, “unlock the power of God for your life.” 8
Elder Taniela B. Wakolo of the Seventy said, “Participating in ordinances and honoring the associated covenants will bring you marvelous light and protection in this ever-darkening world.” 9
Heavenly Father wants each of us to reap the blessings of participating in temple ordinances. If you want to participate in these ordinances but aren’t sure where to begin, don’t be afraid to seek out your bishop for help in knowing how to prepare for and be worthy of these ordinances.
5. “Ask your Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, for help.”
President Nelson said: “Faith takes work. Receiving revelation takes work. But ‘every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened’ [Matthew 7:8]. God knows what will help your faith grow. Ask, and then ask again.” 10
As President Nelson testified, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are there to help us. They love us. We can always pray to our Heavenly Father for help in knowing how to grow our faith. And as our faith in Jesus Christ grows, our faith will move the mountains of tribulation in our lives and “help you turn challenges into unparalleled growth and opportunity.” 11
So if you feel like your faith seems to be slipping away, follow these powerful steps to start growing your faith in Jesus Christ and His gospel instead of allowing it to dwindle. As you do so, the Lord will “make weak things become strong” (Ether 12:27), and you will find that your faith will truly become strong enough to move your spiritual mountains.
In an interview with the Church magazines, a young adult shares how heeding President Nelson’s counsel has been pivotal in his life.