Center Your Life on Jesus Christ

Asking sincere questions is part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Become more familiar with skills and principles for seeking answers and helping others with their questions.

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Faith in Jesus Christ is vital to our pursuit of answers to the most challenging questions in our lives. We often think that having faith means that we have a strong belief. But faith is far more than belief. It involves trust, confidence, loyalty, and love. When we have challenging questions or concerns, we can cultivate our faith by trusting in Jesus Christ. We can listen to His words, follow His teachings, and strive to love others the way that He loved.

President Russell M. Nelson taught that “peace can come to your soul as you build faith in the Prince of Peace.”¹ Here are some things to remember as you strive to draw closer to the Lord:

Jesus Christ is the sure foundation for our faith.In our everyday lives, we exercise faith or extend trust in many ways. We place faith in family members, friends, governments, and employers. But there is no individual or institution in which we can place our complete trust and hope for peace and salvation except Jesus Christ. The Church was established to bring people to Him. You can fully trust Jesus Christ, even when you are struggling with other aspects of your faith.

Jesus Christ has perfect empathy.Our moments of deepest trial can be moments of closeness to the Savior. His suffering draws us to Him. No one other than Christ can fully empathize with our struggles. He wept with those He served. He experienced loneliness, anguish of spirit, and even the withdrawal of His Father’s presence. You can turn to Him and find understanding and compassion.

Jesus Christ has the power to heal.We all experience pain and injustice. Through His Atonement, Jesus Christ can heal and strengthen us. Our afflictions can be “swallowed up in the joy of Christ” (Alma 31:38).

The plan of salvation provides perspective.Many of our questions may look different when we keep Heavenly Father’s plan in view. “Because of our knowledge of this plan,” taught President Dallin H. Oaks, “we start with different assumptions than those who do not share our knowledge. As a result, we reach different conclusions on many important subjects.”² Examining our questions within the framework of the plan of salvation can help us see things with an eternal perspective and influence the way we seek answers.

There are primary and secondary questions.Sometimes we have questions or concerns related to historical events, Church teachings and policies, or human failures. Finding peace with such questions deserves our honest effort. But it’s important to distinguish primary questions about core gospel truths from questions about things that aren’t as essential. Joseph Smith taught that “all other things are only appendages” to the truths surrounding the Savior’s saving mission.³

Hold fast to your faith.When you feel unsure of your faith, “hold fast to what you already know,” counseled Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “and stand strong until additional knowledge comes.”⁴ It’s normal to experience periods of spiritual growth and stagnation. Alma compared developing faith to the natural and time-consuming process of cultivating seeds (see Alma 32:28–43). It may take time and persistence, but the fruits of faith in Jesus Christ are worth the work.

Key scriptures: Romans 8:35; 2 Nephi 4:34–35; Mosiah 4:9; Helaman 5:12

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