Area Leadership Message
As I Exercise Faith in Jesus Christ, He will Bless Me with His Power
I have always been intrigued by faith and the unknown status of our knowledge. As a seminary student I discovered this verse in The Book of Mormon: “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).
I then realized there are two opposites: faith and knowledge; and when knowledge is achieved then faith no longer exists.
Paul confirms the ideal of faith in Hebrews: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
It is almost as if Paul is saying that when one seeks for evidence or truth, then faith and hope will no longer exist. Alma clarifies this in a true statement: “If a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it” (Alma 32:18).
I have discovered that today many are seeking knowledge and truth, and when they find it, or what they assume to be the truth, then faith and belief no longer exist.
Maurer Faith in Conversion
My family’s faith began years ago when my father was 10. When the U.S. Army, under General Douglas McArthur, left the Philippines because of Japanese advancement, they set up a training/recreational base outside Brisbane, Australia. My grandparents were dairy farmers on the Brisbane River and their farm became the base for the encampment of the American soldiers.
One day, while my father and his sister were milking the cows, a soldier, Danny Roberts, offered to give them a hand. He was lonely and his thoughts were of his home on a farm in America. Danny stayed for dinner, and when asked about his religion, he told the story of the First Vision.
With great interest, my family discussed what they had been taught, and asked the question of most investigators: “Could a young boy of 14 really see God and Jesus Christ in our day?” The feeling surrounding the conversation caused great contemplation. Eventually they determined that if Moses and Abraham in years gone by could see Jesus, then why not a prophet in our day as well.
A flicker of faith began in the Maurer family. Did they know for sure that this was true? No. Did they receive a personal visitation from Heavenly Father? No. What prompted them to take the next step? It was the Spirit of God impressing on their minds that this felt right, and a hope that this, maybe, was true.
Faith brings a power and a desire, and it motivates us to action. So strong was the feeling of faith that they wanted to find out more. The nearest Church meetinghouse was over two hours away, but they attended the next Sunday and loved the Spirit they felt there. They loved the people who were so genuine and friendly.
There were no missionaries because of the war, but the leaders and members taught and helped strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ. The family added to their faith and built a stronger understanding of the plan of salvation. Through sacrifice, their faith in Jesus Christ gave them a power they had not experienced in their life to that point.
I have often reflected on that unique experience that my father, his two sisters, Tess and Julie, and their parents had. They sacrificed, endured hardship, and changed their lifestyle—all because they felt that the Lord led this Church, which provides the greatest chance for eternal salvation and lasting happiness. There is a power that comes when faith is exercised.
The simple story of Joseph Smith seeing the Father and the Son, as unbelievable as some may see it today, brings peace to my soul, satisfaction to my belief, and brings hope and faith in a path for me to draw nearer to our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Faith to make Covenants
The arrival of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple in 1958 stirred a realisation amongst the Saints in Australia that this may be their only chance to make sacred covenants with the Lord. When my father announced that we as a family needed to go to the temple, my mother asked how that was even possible—they had no money and, in his spare time, he was still building the house they were living in. I was two years old then and my brother was recently born.
With unwavering faith, my father set about planning the trip by boat. He did not know how, and had no detailed plans, but he felt an assurance and a hope that the Lord would provide. My father cashed in a life insurance policy, and though we still didn’t have enough money to return, we sailed.
After my family entered the holy temple and were sealed to each other for time and all eternity, my father, once again, set about exercising his faith. He managed to get a job to earn money to live and to return to Australia. Some may say he was delusional, but years later my father and mother declared that this act of faith brought power and direction to their lives.
True faith is believing in prophets, seers and revelators—or their appointed servants—and having the courage to follow their counsel and take action to bring about miracles. Often the big steps of applying faith will only come as smaller steps of faith are taken.
We may not have knowledge, but fixing our gaze on Jesus Christ can help us to act in faith. It is often in hindsight that we look back and recognise the Lord’s power and great value in our lives as we acted in faith—not knowing. This then becomes the “evidence of things not seen.”