Greetings and Salutations.
I would like to blog about something that touched me yesterday. I was teaching a lesson in church from a talk given by Elder Jeffrey R Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles titled "Lord, I believe"
In this talk, he speaks about 3 observations he has about an account in the scriptures. The account is in Mark 9: 14-24. In this account the Savior came upon a group arguing vehemently with His Disciples. When the Savior inquired as to the cause of this contention, the father of an afflicted child stepped forward, saying he had approached Jesus' disciples for a blessing for his son, but they were not able to provide it. With the boy still gnashing his teeth, foaming from the mouth, and thrashing on the ground in front of them, the father appealed to Jesus with what must have been last resort desperation in his voice:
"If thou canst do anything," He said. "Have compassion on us, and help us.
"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."
"And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."
His first observation was that when facing the challenge of faith, the father asserts his strength first, and only then acknowledges his limitation. His initial declaration is affirmative and without hesitation: "Lord, I believe." I would say to all who wish for more faith, remember this man. In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited... When those moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes.
This is so true. It doesn't matter how much faith you have, if you fan the flames of faith and stand strong, the more faith you wish to have will come.
Stay tuned for the next observations he gives. Till next time.
Kerry
