The Trial of Your Faith

The Trial of Your Faith


Agency—Our gift from God. Marta my gift from God.
The following is a quote from John M. Pontius’s book “Following the Light of Christ into His Presence.” p. 169-172
The need for concentrated, soul-stretching growth makes this life, of necessity, trying and painful. In the course of the journey home, we will be tested to the limits of our ability. ….I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy. (D&C 98:14)
Therefore, they must be needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son. For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified. (D&C 101:4-5)
You will experience many challenges throughout your sojourn here on earth and experience many trials of your faith. However, “the trial of your faith” generally occurs only once. It is a test of such gravity, it appears to be a contradiction or paradox. (A paradox is something which appears impossible or untrue, but which is in fact true.) During the test, the still small voice of the Holy Spirit will be your guide. It requires great faith to follow the still small voice, especially in times of great trial, sorrow, suffering and confusion, (This certainly describes Marta after meeting with the Stake Presidency to reprimand her.) The purpose of the test is twofold, it demonstrates our willingness to obey Him at all costs, even unto death. Secondly, it sets our faith in the guiding voice of the Holy Spirit in immutable stone. It makes of willing soldiers, powerful generals clothed in the full armor of God. It tempers the metal of the soul as nothing else can, and is absolutely essential to our spiritual development As D&C 101:4-5 above indicates, if we truly desire exaltation, we will be tried, even as Abraham.
….In Abraham’s case, he knew than human sacrifice was vile and abhorred by God. …..This obvious contradiction, the paradox as it were, was not lost to him. He must have struggled tremendously, yet while he struggled, he prepared his journey to the mount to sacrifice his son. He did not know how the Lord would reconcile the obvious contradictions.
Such obedience and faithfulness is also expected of us it we desire the ultimate celestial reward. The test will come. It will come when we are prepared, and when we have become capable of such obedience—not before. It will be the most difficult, soul-wrenching experience of our lives, but it will not overwhelm us because we will be prepared with the power of great faith. It is impossible to know what form this test might take, or to recognize when it begins. You will not know if you are being tried as Abraham was, or if this is just another trial. The only way you might know that what you just experienced was “the trial of your faith,” is that it will occur after the rebirth, and you will shortly thereafter find your calling and election made sure…..
Joseph Smith outlined the course this way:
After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost,…. Which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted. When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and his election made sure….(Smith, Teachings, 150) End of John Pontius Quote.
Marta, thank you for your humility and your great faith and example. My prayers have been for angels to minister to you, and the Holy Ghost to comfort you, in this time of trial, great sorrow and hurt. You come through the fire again sanctified. The greatest desire of your heart is always to serve the Lord with all your heart, might, mind and strength and to serve Jesus Christ your Savior, then to have your leaders not praise but reprimand reminds me of the Savior healing on the Sabbath. I chose to follow your example of purging and righteousness and forgiving and loving when it hurts.
For the World---This is my Beloved Daughter, in whom I am Well Pleased.
MOM