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Alma 32:28
Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.
For a little while now, in our home, we have been working on memorizing the Articles of Faith. It is very helpful that they have been put to music, as it helps the kids memorize them. When I was a kid we committed them to memory without the aid of music. I love using the Articles of Faith as teaching tools; they hold so much truth stated in a definitive manner, they truly are Gospel gems.
I was pondering the points laid out in 4th Article yesterday. This Article states: "We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; forth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost."
The first principle listed in this Gospel gem is concerning faith, "Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ." Of faith the Bible says, "Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Josephs Smith taught that, "If men were duly to consider themselves and turn their thoughts and reflections to the operations of their own minds, they would readily discover that it is faith, and faith only, which is the moving cause of all action in them; that without it both mind and body would be in a state of inactivity, and all their exertions would cease, both physical and mental."
I struggle in life when I fail to appropriately feed my faith. Conversely, when I take the time required to feed my faith I excel in all aspects of my life, my work moves smother, my marriage is more loving, my friendships grow, and naturally I am then a happier person. I have learned that there are four things that I must do in order to feed my faith and they are:
Study the Scriptures daily
Attend sacrament meeting
Pray in secret
Practice patience
When I do these things each day, weekly in the case of sacrament meeting, it nourishes the soil so my faith has the proper nutrients to increase.
Secret Prayer
There is an hour of peace and rest,
Unmarred by earthly care;
'Tis when before the Lord I go
And kneel in secret prayer.
When sailing on life's stormy sea,
'Mid billows of despair,
'Tis solace to my soul to know
God hears my secret prayer.
When thorns are strewn along my path,
And foes my feet ensnare,
My Savior to my aid will come,
If sought in secret prayer.
May my heart be turned to pray,
Pray in secret day by day,
That this boon to mortals giv'n
May unite my soul with heav'n.
https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/secret-prayer?lang=eng
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/the-transforming-power-of-faith-and-character?lang=eng&query=faith+in+jesus+christ
http://josephsmithpapers.org/paperSummary/first-theological-lecture-on-faith-circa-january-may-1835