Moving Forward with Faith in Christ

No matter how dark and alone we may feel when struggling with our trials, there is always a path forward as we walk along the covenant path and seek guidance from a loving Savior and Heavenly Father. In this issue, Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shares the importance of the lifelong quest of seeking faith in Jesus Christ (page 4). He writes, “It is not so difficult to choose faith in Jesus Christ when we feel spiritually energized, but we must also choose faith when life becomes difficult.”

My article and one of the young adult articles in this issue focus on one of the common trials many families and individuals battle with in our modern world: pornography (pages 8, 34). President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, taught that those struggling with pornography “are not evil or without hope” (“Recovering from the Trap of Pornography,” Liahona, Oct. 2015, 55). Anyone can find strength to overcome the grips of pornography through building faith in Jesus Christ and tapping into resources from friends, family members, ecclesiastical leaders, and mental health professionals.

In my article, I describe different levels of pornography use and address specific ways that individuals can move past pornography use at each of these levels. I highlight the importance of spiritual resources and the pivotal guiding role that the Holy Ghost can play in providing support for overcoming pornography.

I hope this issue will help you feel peace and love from your Heavenly Father and from your Savior, Jesus Christ, and will help you understand that with true faith, any obstacle in life can be overcome.

Brian J. Willoughby

Professor, School of Family Life, Brigham Young University