Invite Them to Act in Faith

Helping Others Acquire Spiritual Knowledge

Encourage students to remember experiences they have had when they felt the Holy Ghost and to hold fast to the truth they have learned until additional knowledge comes.

Suggestions

  • Invite students to reflect on how their understanding and testimony of the gospel can help them resolve their concerns.

  • Invite students to reflect on their past spiritual experiences by asking questions that begin with phrases such as “When have you felt . . . ?” “Think of a time when . . .” “How is your life different because of . . . ?” “When have you seen . . . ?”

  • Invite students to use a personal journal to record their responses to these questions or their feelings about other gospel truths they believe. Invite them to refer to their journal as they continue to acquire spiritual knowledge.

Additional Resources

Elder Paul V. Johnson of the Seventy taught that “the real protection for us and our students is in having the powerful spiritual knowledge that comes from proper seeking and learning and from past spiritual experiences” (Paul V. Johnson, “A Pattern for Learning Spiritual Things” [Seminaries and Institutes of Religion satellite broadcast, Aug. 7, 2012]).

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles also spoke of this principle:

“One of my favorite activities as a priesthood leader is visiting members of the Church in their homes. I especially enjoy calling upon and talking with members who commonly are described as ‘less active.’

“During the years I served as a stake president, I often would contact one of the bishops and invite him to prayerfully identify individuals or families we could visit together. . . .

“Our visits were quite straightforward. We expressed love and appreciation for the opportunity to be in their home. We affirmed that we were servants of the Lord on His errand to their home. We indicated that we missed and needed them—and that they needed the blessings of the restored gospel. . . .

“The bishop and I would listen intently and sincerely. One of us might next ask about their conversion to and testimony of the restored gospel. As we talked, eyes often were moist with tears as these good people recalled the confirming witness of the Holy Ghost and described their prior spiritual experiences. Most of the ‘less-active’ people I have ever visited had a discernible and tender testimony of the truthfulness of the restored gospel” (David A. Bednar, “And Nothing Shall Offend Them,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2006, 89).

After sharing the account of a father who brought his afflicted son to the Savior for healing (see Mark 9:14–29), Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

“In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited. In the growth we all have to experience in mortality, the spiritual equivalent of this boy’s affliction or this parent’s desperation is going to come to all of us. 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. It was of this very incident, this specific miracle, that Jesus said, ‘If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you’ [Matthew 17:20]. The size of your faith or the degree of your knowledge is not the issue—it is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do have and the truth you already know” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Lord, I Believe,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 93–94).

Invite students to study scriptures, prophetic counsel, and other uplifting sources, including the Gospel Topics page on LDS.org.

Suggestions

  • Invite students to continually treasure up and rely on the scriptures and teachings of latter-day prophets as the primary sources in their search for truth. Guide them to seek further understanding through spiritual sources as well as counseling with parents and priesthood and other leaders.

  • Help students identify additional sources that are consistent with principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge, including mormon.org or the Gospel Topics page on LDS.org, Visit some of these sites together, and invite students to study these resources on their own.

Additional Resources

President Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the following:

“The scriptures provide one of the best ways to find our course and stay on it. Scriptural knowledge also provides precious protection. For example, throughout history, infections like ‘childbirth fever’ claimed the lives of many innocent mothers and babies. Yet the Old Testament had the correct principles for the handling of infected patients, written more than 3,000 years ago [see Leviticus 15:13]! Many people perished because man’s quest for knowledge had failed to heed the word of the Lord!

“My dear brothers and sisters, what are we missing in our lives if we are ‘ever learning, [but] never able to come to the knowledge of the truth’ [2 Timothy 3:7]? We can gain great knowledge from the scriptures and obtain inspiration through prayers of faith” (Russell M. Nelson, “Let Your Faith Show,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 30).

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained, “In recent decades the Church has largely been spared the terrible misunderstanding and persecutions experienced by the early Saints. It will not always be so. The world is moving away from the Lord faster and farther than ever before. The adversary has been loosed upon the earth. We watch, hear, read, study, and share the words of prophets to be forewarned and protected” (Robert D. Hales, “General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 7).

Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, General President of Young Women, said, “Should we be surprised that people are still struggling with Joseph Smith as the Prophet of the Restoration, still finding fault with him, and discounting his divine mission? It was prophesied from the beginning of the Restoration. The difference in our day is that those who desire to slander and criticize the Prophet Joseph have at their fingertips a powerful information highway called the Internet, and anyone with an iPad, cell phone, or computer can find the falsehoods and lies with the click of a button. I hope we can teach our youth to be discerning when it comes to what they read on the Internet. As both parents and teachers, we can teach our youth to choose sources and information which build faith and testimony in Joseph Smith rather than that which creates doubt and perpetuates falsehoods. These things have been around for ages and are now being repackaged as something new and shocking” (Bonnie L. Oscarson, “Greater Expectations,” Seminaries and Institutes of Religion satellite broadcast, Aug. 5, 2014).

Invite students to act in faith by seeking help from Heavenly Father through prayer and obedience to the commandments.

Suggestions

  • Invite students to continually do those things that invite the companionship and guidance of the Spirit in their lives.
  • While they are waiting on the Lord for additional spiritual knowledge, invite students to apply principles and practices of acquiring spiritual knowledge:

o   Continue to pray and be obedient.

o   Seek learning by study and by acting in faith.

o   Reflect on times when they have felt the influence or guidance of the Spirit.

o   Study the scriptures or words of living prophets and record spiritual impressions in a personal journal. 

o   Share truths, spiritual impressions, or testimony with others.

Additional Resources

The ancient prophet Alma taught this principle:

“Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?

“Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself” (Alma 5:45–46).

President Thomas S. Monson offered the following truths: “There is no need for you or for me, in this enlightened age when the fulness of the gospel has been restored, to sail uncharted seas or to travel unmarked roads in search of truth. A loving Heavenly Father has plotted our course and provided an unfailing guide—even obedience. A knowledge of truth and the answers to our greatest questions come to us as we are obedient to the commandments of God” (Thomas S. Monson, “Obedience Brings Blessings,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 89).

Elder Paul V. Johnson of the Seventy explained that “answers to spiritual questions are given to individuals who don’t harden their hearts; who ask in faith, believing they will receive; and who diligently keep the commandments” (“A Pattern for Learning Spiritual Things” [Seminaries and Institutes of Religion satellite broadcast, Aug. 7, 2012]).

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, “At times the Lord’s answer will be, ‘You don’t know everything, but you know enough’—enough to keep the commandments and to do what is right” (Neil L. Andersen, “You Know Enough,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 13).